Sunday, July 19, 2009

Television makes me mad sometimes.

It is no secret that I love television. It is also no secret that I love really, really bad television. MTV's 16 and Pregnant is no exception. I've seen every episode (numerous times), the special extended episodes and I'm eagerly awaiting the "Life after Labor" reunion show. Which I will TiVo and probably watch more than once.

I got so angry at this show the other day, though. I cried and cried and cried. And I cry when I get really angry, so I know I was REALLY ANGRY.

It was the adoption episode. Out of all the girls/couples on this show, only one couple decided to give their baby up for adoption. Tyler and Catelynn.

Their families? Were all kinds of f'ed up. Catelynn? Had lived in thirteen different houses in sixteen years. Her mom apparently drives drunk and gets arrested for it on a semi-regular basis. At some point Tyler's dad, apparently after various prison stints, had married Catelynn's mom. So technically they were step-siblings. Far worse than that were his dad and her mom's attitude about giving the baby up for adoption. They? Were not supportive. In any way.

At one point, in fact, the father said to Tyler (who I believe is also sixteen years old), "I'll always think about that baby and how you didn't man up".

That? Was about the point in time that I got so angry I started screaming at the television and Jason told me to have a rest period.

That douche, who was out of his own child's life for the vast majority of it because he was in prision, is telling this CHILD who has far, far more sense than his own idiot father, he needs to man up? The same way he "manned up" by getting his stupid ass thrown in prision? OH. MY. GOOD. LORD.

Was it stupid for these two kids to get pregnant? Of course it was. Absolutely, 100% stupid. No doubt. But instead of acting on emotion, they took an honest and mature look at their lives and said, "You know what? Our baby deserves a better life."

How amazingly brave and selfless those two were. I am in awe that two teenagers, who seemed to have genuine love and affection for one other, could say, "She deserves better and we can't give it to her."

Tyler wrote his daughter a letter, that reads, in part:

This is the hardest thing I have ever done in my life. The thought of what kind of dad I wanted to be and what you deserve just didn't mix. It's very hard to admit that you don't deserve me as your dad, but that comes with maturity and you have to be mature to be a parent. You were innocent. You didn't ask to be brought into this world and you didn't choose your parents. Your mom and me made an irresponsible mistake not using protection. I will not punish you for that.

Please. Someone tell me. How is this child not "manning up"? Because it seems to me that a real man isn't a selfish dbag and sometimes gives up something he really wants BECAUSE IT'S THE RIGHT THING TO DO.


Television makes me mad sometimes.



Television makes me cry sometimes.

14 comments:

Shaun, Jessa, Caleb & Lorelei said...

You said it all. Bingo.

Unknown said...

Tyler is totally 'manning up'. His dad? is not. I would have been having a kitten on the couch if I had watched... I prefer your recap.

Anonymous said...

Myself and most of my mother of teenager friends are all watching this show with our kids and then talking about it. We all agreed that those two kids showed incredible common sense and intelligence the whole way through. Putting aside the fact that they got pregnant to begin with, it was all you could not to stand up and cheer for them.

Their so-called parents were despicable people who shouldn't be allowed to call themselves parents (did you notice the little boy when they were walking in for the sonogram? I think that's the mother's youngest)

I cannot wait for the reunion "after labor" episode. Neither can my daughters or my friends and their kids!

Jenski said...

That poor couple to not get support for making such a thoughtful, difficult, and responsible decision with their baby's life. It's a good thing there are people who are angry on their behalf?!

Twisted Cinderella said...

I am totally impressed with that young man's letter to his daughter. He shows incredible maturity in letting her know that he wanted only the best for her and knew he could not provide it.

Kimberly Vanderhorst said...

That letter brought me to tears. Wow.

Mama said...

I was thinking of blogging about this episode but I still tear up when I think back on it.

When Tyler asked why they weren't taking the baby out of the room? Oh I just sobbed for them. I agree they made a mistake in getting pregnant but they showed more courage and conviction than most grown ass adults I know.

I had a nice pile of tissues at the end of that episode. I truly hope they stay together as a couple.

You said all that I was thinking so I thank you LOL Now I'll only need one tissue instead of the whole box.

Dawn~a~Bon said...

We watched this episode. The teenagers had FAR more sense and maturity than their parents. What was it that idiot father said, something about Tyler not being "the cowboy" he thought he was? What an absolute idiot. I was so impressed with those kids. I wish every parent could be so selfless. You know it probably won't happen, but I really sort of wish those two do stay together and get married someday, because I think they will be absolutely excellent parents.

And as an aside, the adoptive parents were so sweet. That baby girl was precious. I know it was so hard for them to give her up but they brought so much joy into that couple's life. I cannot believe that an MTV reality show touched me the way that episode did. I just hope both those kids end up kicking ass and taking names in college and go far beyond the circumstances in which they were raised.

Tricia said...

I was screaming at the TV, too!

Mrs. Case said...

I watched that episode twice this weekend and both times I cried. They showed so much courage and were so selfless. Their own parents could learn a thing or two from them!

Anonymous said...

I def thought he "manned up". They made an very very hard decision to give their baby up for adoption. Their parents are idiots!

Sarah said...

I thought this the entire time I was watching this episode. I actually re-watched it again and I get so angry at those parents. You could honestly tell that those two loved eachother and were mature enough to realize that giving the baby up was the right thing to do.

I'm glad someone else is on the same page as me because seriously I was screaming at the TV too.

NEVER AGAIN said...

That show makes me sad so I don't watch it.

That being said I LOVE "Daisy and the Douchebags" er um "Daisy of Love". LOVE LOVE LOVE Daisy. Think Sinister was SOOOOO hot, even though he weighs about as much as my right leg. I cannot WAIT to see who she picks then dumps.

PaintedPromise said...

Go Tyler!!!!!!!!!