posted June 27, 2012 09:11 PM            

http://articles.latimes.com/2012/jan/19/news/la-heb-teen-pregnancy-20120119

posted June 27, 2012 09:15 PM            

quote:

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Originally posted by FireMoon:

Good thing abstinence only education and not providing teenagers with proper information, resources, and access to contraception has worked out so well...

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posted June 28, 2012 09:36 AM            

There is a general failure of parenting, and specifically, not enough a$$ kicking.

Children are children and not friends, and it is not the job of the parent to be friends with their kids.

They sent home sex literature and condoms in my son's backpack. She and I marched back to the high school and dumped the condoms on the desk of the headmaster in front of his blushing female staff.

The logic is "kids are going to drink and have sex anyway." The response was: "not my son." And the response was: "yes, he will behind your back." And the rebuttal was: "no he doesn't and won't because he fears the reprisal."

Bottom line: my kid is freaked out by his mom. He doesn't drink an ounce and has never had sex, and I personally think that would end once he goes away to college, where ever that is, but his mom is going to fly over to where ever he is and kick his a$$.

My wife isn't Asian. But the standard Asian mentality is to place kids in a pressure cooker to succeed and they won't have time for hanky panky. That didn't exactly work too well with me because I rebelled and had sex as often as I liked.

But, the combo of a busy life and parents that kick a$$ will ensure that kids remain straight as an arrow.

posted June 28, 2012 10:22 AM            

I don't watch TV, I just see the tabloids at the check-out line.

posted June 28, 2012 12:04 PM            

quote:

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Originally posted by YoursTrulyAlways:
I'm going to present my wife's point of view. I sit somewhere in between, but I support my wife's point of view. Remember that she grew up in the same metropolis you live, Dusty.

There is a general failure of parenting, and specifically, not enough a$$ kicking.

Children are children and not friends, and it is not the job of the parent to be friends with their kids.

They sent home sex literature and condoms in my son's backpack. She and I marched back to the high school and dumped the condoms on the desk of the headmaster in front of his blushing female staff.

The logic is "kids are going to drink and have sex anyway." The response was: "not my son." And the response was: "yes, he will behind your back." And the rebuttal was: "no he doesn't and won't because he fears the reprisal."

Bottom line: my kid is freaked out by his mom. He doesn't drink an ounce and has never had sex, and I personally think that would end once he goes away to college, where ever that is, but his mom is going to fly over to where ever he is and kick his a$$.

My wife isn't Asian. But the standard Asian mentality is to place kids in a pressure cooker to succeed and they won't have time for hanky panky. That didn't exactly work too well with me because I rebelled and had sex as often as I liked.

But, the combo of a busy life and parents that kick a$$ will ensure that kids remain straight as an arrow.

Punishment in the US has become branded as some lefty child abuse nonsense. Spare the rod and spoil the child. My wife and I grew up under parents who kicked the crap out of us, and we turned out just fine.

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posted June 28, 2012 01:52 PM            

quote:

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Originally posted by RegardesPlatero:
I remember those two! Catelynn and Tyler. Out of all of the parents on the show, they seem to be one of the saner sets.

Another thing that your post reminded me of is that it also shows how often the baby's dad bails out on the family, how little fun parenting is, and how it's also a big, unfair burden on other family members. Often, the parents of the knocked up teens have to take care of the baby. If not them, other family members are stuck with it. The show depicts what it's really like to have a baby--not fun, not games, huge responsibility, ruins your life.

Really, the show doesn't make anything about that seem like fun.

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posted June 28, 2012 03:07 PM            

At the end of the day, some people may grumble about the bumps in life but the bottom line is children are around and enrichen lives. Those who haven't got that uneven pavement in their lives don't exactly have 100% happiness in their lives either.

posted June 28, 2012 03:11 PM            

Otto Rank

posted June 28, 2012 09:31 PM            

& i do think shows like Teen Mom & 16 & Pregnant, have helped bring it down. They scare the sh*t out of me and it's been a long time since i was a teen!

Having a child can be the most beautiful thing ever to happen to a person in their life, but it will not solve a couple's issues and make everything perfect.

I think most people know deep down if having a child will better their life or not. Othertimes not - or they dont know. They think they might not want one, then it happens and it's the best thing that ever could have happened to them. Nothing is by chance. And most of what comes into our lives is there to enrich it and people can adapt. Especially to something so profound and beautiful.

It's not a given that having a child will make one's life better, obviously. But for most people, i think it does. Or that someone who chooses not to have children, will have a big gaping whole in their life because the never did. That is also not true.

posted June 28, 2012 10:11 PM            

for an excellently thought out (from all sides) response.

"Not too long ago I read something about the teen pregnancy rate in the US being at an all time low."

posted June 28, 2012 10:22 PM            

It's still high statistically compared to other developed countries.

I think it's because although media is extremely sexually oriented, in everyday life Americans are extremely PRUDE. Nudity is a no-no. Vagina is a bad word. Teen sex is taboo and parents don't want to accept their little angels will have sex so don't teach the importance of contraception.

posted June 29, 2012 04:03 AM            

What these kids lack, is judgment. A lot of these accidental pregnancies are drug and alcohol related from what i have seen first hand. Kids get high or drunk and accidents happen.Others just get too "worked up in the moment" and forget or forgoe using protection. They are teenagers..so, their minds are not fully developed, and imo not fully capable of handling the responsibilites of physical intimacy.Some adults are not capable! much less kids.

Better education would help I agree, by the parents or another source. But i think its always going to be a problem,especially with all we have on tv, the movies, the internet,and music, telling these kids they need to do it.

posted July 07, 2012 03:50 AM            

The problem lies with both the parents and the fact that society is getting dumber by the the day.

Its the Parents fault for not disciplining and educating there children, some a$$kicking is required just as long it doesn't get out of hand.

Society is also getting dumber and people are doing dumber things.

Education has been scaled back first from cuts, the other is the fact that so many students just can't make it so the learning objectives have been lowered or streamlined so more people can pass.

quote:

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Originally posted by YoursTrulyAlways:
Punishment in the US has become branded as some lefty child abuse nonsense. Spare the rod and spoil the child. My wife and I grew up under parents who kicked the crap out of us, and we turned out just fine.

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I'm asian also, the belt was always an option if anyone went out of line.

The problem is society in North America has gone down so far that a lot of these kids would have to be beaten to bloody pulp before they get the message or you have to beat them until they get a comma and that can be debated if its getting out of hand or if its really necessary.

I was working late Yesterday so I took the late bus and I swear a lot of those teens could use some proper discipline, of course that would end up in a blood bath.

quote:

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Originally posted by aquaguy91:
i feared dad when i was younger he would beat the crap out of me when i did stupid stuff, but being a womanizer he encourages sex, he always asks me" hey son,getting any mud for your turtle?" XD

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I never was close to my dad, however I didn't fear him, I just found away to work around him and of course I didn't trust him.

It has a negative effect because he's getting older and I don't see any obligations to take care of him and he's not in great shape right now.

Of course in the case of my mother thats a different story.