So I got this email that got me to think and encouraged me to blog about it.
Jaime Lynn Spears…sound familiar? Not to me, until I had to do some digging. Below is the excerpt from MTV.com
"Jamie Lynn Spears, Britney's sister, is pregnant, the 16-year-old told OK! magazine. The father is her longtime boyfriend, Casey Aldridge, she said. "It was a shock for both of us, so unexpected," Jamie Lynn Spears, who is 12 weeks along in her pregnancy, told the magazine for its new issue, which hits stands this week.
Jaime Lynn Spears…sound familiar? Not to me, until I had to do some digging. Below is the excerpt from MTV.com
"Jamie Lynn Spears, Britney's sister, is pregnant, the 16-year-old told OK! magazine. The father is her longtime boyfriend, Casey Aldridge, she said. "It was a shock for both of us, so unexpected," Jamie Lynn Spears, who is 12 weeks along in her pregnancy, told the magazine for its new issue, which hits stands this week.
"I was in complete and total shock, and so was he," she said. "As soon as I found out for sure from the doctor, I took two weeks to myself where I didn't tell anybody. Only one of my friends knew because I needed to work out what I would do for myself before I let anyone's opinion affect my decision. Then I told my parents and my friends. I was scared, but I had to do what was right for me."
According to the interview, Jamie Lynn confirmed the pregnancy through a home test. She later paid a visit to the doctor, who corroborated the news. She said she revealed the news to her parents shortly before Thanksgiving.
Jamie Lynn said that her mother, Lynne Spears, "was very upset because it wasn't what she expected at all. A week after, she had time to cope with it and became very supportive." Lynne Spears also commented on the news, saying, "I didn't believe it because Jamie Lynn's always been so conscientious. She's never late for her curfew. I was in shock. I mean, this is my 16-year-old baby."
Jamie Lynn, a high school junior, reportedly plans to raise the baby in Louisiana, her home state, "so it can have a normal family life." In regards to the third season of her Nickelodeon show, "Zoey 101," which wraps January 4, Jamie Lynn said: "I haven't spoken to [Nickelodeon] personally, but they have always been so great to me over the past years and have given me so many opportunities." The show is slated to start back up again in February, and fourth-season filming is already done.
Nickelodeon issued a statement Tuesday afternoon, saying, "We respect Jamie Lynn's decision to take responsibility in this sensitive and personal situation. We know this is a very difficult time for her and her family, and our primary concern right now is for Jamie Lynn's well being."
When the magazine reportedly asked her about the message her pregnancy might send to young people, she replied, "I definitely don't think it's something you should do; it's better to wait. But I can't be judgmental because it's a position I put myself in."
Lynne Spears told OK! that her daughter had been dating Casey Aldridge for years. But in an Associated Press interview conducted shortly before Thanksgiving, Jamie Lynn said she did not have a steady boyfriend. "I kind of just keep my options open," she told AP. "I have a bunch of friends that I always hang out with, a bunch of guy friends." In the OK! interview, Jamie Lynn said she had met Aldridge at church.
Lynne Spears told OK! that her daughter had been dating Casey Aldridge for years. But in an Associated Press interview conducted shortly before Thanksgiving, Jamie Lynn said she did not have a steady boyfriend. "I kind of just keep my options open," she told AP. "I have a bunch of friends that I always hang out with, a bunch of guy friends." In the OK! interview, Jamie Lynn said she had met Aldridge at church.
Aldridge's mother, Joyce, spoke with TMZ about the pregnancy, saying, "We are aware of the recent interview regarding her and being pregnant, and we are in agreement with everything that was said by Jamie Lynn about the situation ... everything is fine. ... Casey will address all of this when it is time."
Also yet to be addressed is whether Jamie Lynn and Casey plan to marry. His uncle, Odus Jackson — who is a Baptist pastor — said in an interview with People outside his nephew's house in Mississippi, "They may or may not [get married]. You just never know." He added, "I hope they will stick it out and get married for the child's sake and their sake. But if they're not in love and it was just a fantasy, they don't need to make the same mistake twice."
According to a video posted on TMZ.com, Britney appeared not to be aware of the Jamie Lynn news before it broke wide, telling reporters during a shopping spree Tuesday night, "My sister's not pregnant!" But on Wednesday, the site ran a report in which a source said the singer was just being sarcastic."
According to a video posted on TMZ.com, Britney appeared not to be aware of the Jamie Lynn news before it broke wide, telling reporters during a shopping spree Tuesday night, "My sister's not pregnant!" But on Wednesday, the site ran a report in which a source said the singer was just being sarcastic."
[This story was originally published on 12.18.07 at 9:18 p.m. ET]
So here is the question that was posed to me….
“Wonder where the evangelicals are in speaking out on their pro-choice /pro-life position. This teenager made a grave mistake and seems to be taking the heat on her own... having made the choice to keep this baby alive. So far no one wants to touch this one - like she has the plague.Most parents/teens would arrange to get rid of the problem and the world would never know.”
What are your thoughts on this?
Please remember that there is a delay to your post being published and with the season as busy as it is, please be patient with me in getting around to publishing them.
What are your thoughts on this?
Please remember that there is a delay to your post being published and with the season as busy as it is, please be patient with me in getting around to publishing them.
7 comments:
For the record, I'm pro-life (or anti-infanticide, depending on how inflammatory I feel). Given that, I think she's courageous and setting a good example in terms of the baby. Having said that, I wouldn't want my kids looking to celebrities as models of good values.
I would hope that churches would support a pro-life position, but I've been disappointed before. I guess the judgements will start rolling in soon. Someone I know who got pregnant at 15 told me that half of her home congregation supported and loved her, while the other half wanted her excommunicated.
These are just my two cents; maybe I'm misunderstanding what you want me to comment on.
Not looking for anything in particular. Just wanting to know what people think.
Hmmm,
I have a problem with the statement "Grave mistake"
All family issues aside, this baby represents Life, God's creation, and it is something to be celebrated. If all we do is have a debate whether this baby should be aborted or not, the baby is going to become just that. A terrible mistake instead of a new life that should be given a fair shake like every new baby.
I think its funny how Christians will be the on the front lines, and not for the right reasons. This girl needs to be shown love, not the index finger. As I'm convinced this will end up worse then it should, it's sad to see another great opportunity for Christians to show their colors pass by...again.
I think it's great that she's keeping her baby and is planning to give it a life.
I find it a hard balance between celebrating life while not making it seem that i support pre-marital sex. Can there be a balace in the church? Can we love and support unmarried parents without showing other teenagers that pregancy outside of marriage is ok?
i appreciate the fact that she is going to face the consequences of her actions, like your post said most people would just quietly get rid of the baby. Not that i feel like she is a great role model but maybe if a teen who is in her situation sees her doing that they will not go the other route, to abortion. Maybe if a teen pregnancy is center stage they will realize how hard it is to do it and not see it as some trend to follow.
this really could go either way in the media but i see it as a positive choice in a not so great situation.
I think that the fact that such a "good role model" (as viewed by the media) has become pregnant - will send the message to girls that it can happen to anyone, and no one should think it won't happen to them. Maybe watching how Jaime's life changes, and how a baby influences it at such a young age will be good for girls/guys that age to see! (There's always an upside).
Having said that, mom had me when she was young and wanted to get rid of me. She didn't at the last minute, and looking back there were many people in the church that embraced her. I think that the church had a great influence on my mom and I making it to where we are today. There is a huge population of this age here in Manitoba who get pregnant every year. I have worked with them. They just need love and support. That's my 2 cents...
I've always been pro-choice. As in, you makes your choices and you lives with the results. I've made a few bonehead choices in my time. It is a selfish and immature person who runs from the consequences. This young lady has made a foolish choice yet has shown great maturity in her decision to raise her child. I would support that any day of the week. Not the choice, but the good decision. The best thing we can do when we see people living out the results of bad choices is to come along side them with all the love we can and show them how to walk out of it and to learn a better way.
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