Continued from: 16 and Pregnant

Then there is the couple that have a pending wedding who live together (until the end of this episode). This is the typical scenario of girl getting pregnant and being ready for responsibility overnight and boy that wants no part in that. Boy took girls virginity and loved girl until girl started needing more from boy than boy was ready or able to give.

I think these two love birds met on a dirt track, but unfortunately baby boy can’t go dirt bike riding…yet. He leaves to go out of town for a month and comes back to barely greet his fiance and new baby boy. To top it all off, he obviously hasn’t looked forward to coming home to her and new child, but to be “free” while piled up in a car with a group of buddies who are going out to look for “fun” in the club. Didn’t he figure out how he got baby in the first place? After a night of him not coming home, she takes off her ring and heads for the hills back to her parents. She thinks she’ll be able to somehow find someone else for herself, but struggles with the idea of finding that for her son. What a pickle.

Last but not least is the couple who seem to love each other but who are also crumbling due to the stress of new baby. Like the previous couple, the girl seems to be making most of the changes including staying at home full-time while the boy seems to be relieved to school, his job or whatever it is he’s doing to get him out of the house and away from her break downs. She soon realizes even going out to eat with a friend is nearly impossible. She has her friend hold the baby while she eats and has another screaming breakdown while her daughter cries on the way home. Her anxiety and stress are at an all time high leading to medication to help calm her down and curb her depression. It doesn’t however stop her from crying in front of a career counselor who is trying to provide her with options for continuing her education. Later that day she returns home to her boyfriend laughing on the couch with his guy friends when she is searching for emotional support from him. After the disappoinment she goes in the other room, curls up with the baby and gives herself the pep talk and support she needs.

So there you have it, real life, baby style. MTV was the first to provide us reality television with “The Real World” and now they are documenting one of the most stigmatized, challenging and least talked lifestyle choices that teens face. It shows the real consequences of unprotected sex and what having a baby for young people is really like. It takes relational conflict and stress to a whole new level with a few oooh and agh’s here and there from the cute little bundles. It definitely gives a good definition and respect to parenthood in general, while hopefully making young people think twice about making adult decisions. Future episodes look like they are definitely going to continue the awakening