Young dads...

[Midnight_Fairy]

https://blogs.news.sky.com/familyaffairs/Post:fd7eabfd-4360-4e2f-a251-5808320a3fda

Whats opinion on this? It makes me sad that its probably true

 

[xolily]

"The 16-year-old interviewed about the riots sees himself as a father - we should not afford him that luxury;"

really? yeah, he was committing a crime and may well be immature.. but that isn't to say that he's gonna be one of the ones that doesn't stick around for his child.

 

[Midnight_Fairy]

I know, its sad. I dont agree with the article (not all of it) but the sad side of it is probably true. My OH was a dad at 17 to my LO's and we are still together, our children are now 5 & 7 and we have managed it but it is sad

 

[Lightworker]

I find that the writer of the article should have spent some time thinking and deliberating what the point of the article was. Whether the content is true to me is immaterial as the article itself will probably cause more harm, than that single 16 year old dad.

I understand articles that want to debate the chances of teenagers making good fathers, but this article is an absolute condemnation of teenage dads. It makes use of phrases like "in all likelihood"..in all likelihood according to whom? I think it is very misleading (and convenient) when writers make comments like "most teenage dads", and they don't even bother to reference their article so that we can see where the are getting this "most" from.

The article is a classic example of the hazards of self-fulfilling prophecies. A teenage dad with good intentions may well read that, and then might feel he is already looked down upon by society, has no real support and will fail anyway.

This reporter's article is highly irresponsible. It is again to me a classic example of the demise of journalistic integrity. Thats my opinion on the article.

My opinion on teenage fathers is...They can be as good a parent as they want to be. There are many fathers who are in their 30s, 40s etc who don't do a particularly good job of fathering. Age should not be a precise determinant of who will make a good father (although I appreciate it is a valuable consideration).

 

[Blah11]

Really unfair article. Nothing like yarring them all with the same brush. So what if he's not with the babys mum.

 

[cherryglitter]

i'd be interested to see how many 'young' mums feel about that article.

 

[Midnight_Fairy]

Its sad about not being with the mum by school age, is this a true statistic?

 

[cherryglitter]

im not too sure. but i know a lot of my friends who had their babies when they were 18 or so haven't stayed with the childs father. but this has been fault on both parts, not just the dads.

 

[AirForceWife7]

I am an 18 year old mom & this article is truly appalling. My husband became a dad at the age of 18 & he joined the Air Force to provide for his family. He signed his life away just to give his family a chance while the odds & statistics were against us. He didn't have to do that, he CHOSE to. To say that all teenage fathers are mere "sperm donors" is the most biased, illogical, & ignorant thing I have ever heard in my life.

 

[Natasha2605]

Horrible article. I was dubious about reading it and only skimmed the second half because it was full of crap. Yes the guy did a bad thing but that doesn't make him a bad father.

My OH was 18 when we fell pregnant with Summer (I was also 18). He already worked 40 hours a week and now at 19, he works up to 70 hours every single week whilst he is training to become a supermarket manager, he is hoping to be signed off this month. We could have done it the ''easy'' way and ''slummed'' it in a council house on benefits and with no intentions of working but my OH wanted to do this for him, and for his family. His ambition is to be in the police but he doesn't want to do that for a few years yet.

I suppose we beat the statistics in many ways. We don't recieve anything financially other than child benefit and child tax credits. We both have jobs. We fell pregnant with Summer less than 3 months into our relationship. We're still together and have only argued twice in our whole relationship.

Family is my OH's world. And he'd do anything for his daughter. You only need to see pictures of them together to see how much he loves her.

Love, hard work , determination and ambition is what you need to raise a child. Not an age of over 25!

Sorry for any typos, I have a child jumping about me!

 

[Laura2919]

Its sad about not being with the mum by school age, is this a true statistic?

Well I suppose it is for us.

I love FOB and he loves me but not like we did before. We have tried on many occasion and it just hasnt worked, we have done all we can and we realise we still love each other but that is only part of what keeps a family together.
I want my girls to be happy and them being happy means me and FOB apart, they get the best of both worlds, happy mum a happy dad and two parents that want the best for them. We dont argue and fight, we dont go over and over the what ifs because we did it all and none of it worked.

He will always be a special part of my life, forever. Afterall he is their dad but we just cant be one. He is a good dad, he will have them every other weekend, he will come to the flat and see them, take them out and enjoy his time and hopefully one day when things have settled down we can do things together, like their school plays and their birthdays.

 

[lesleyann]

Its never right to tarr all with the same brush but I do believe the school stat out of all my group of friends on fb The haha is for the FB bit btw) around my age I think there is 3 of us who are still with FOB. The rest are not witch is about 30, some with 1 child some with 3 with 3 different FOBS.

I noticed all the "ranting" status are the same heres an example from today

"likes it how I stay in most the time pay, look after and keep my son happy but what do u do fuk off out with ure mates have him for 6 hours. 2 be u just seem a worthless piece of shit!"

 

[Laura2919]

Last time me and FOB split we did all that bickering and battling with each other over FB. I dont want to do that this time so if I have a problem I am going to discuss it calmly. This time we are over for good and I knew that from the very beginning. Its hard though being on your own, especially when you have an FOB who couldnt care less

 

[lesleyann]

Last time me and FOB split we did all that bickering and battling with each other over FB. I dont want to do that this time so if I have a problem I am going to discuss it calmly. This time we are over for good and I knew that from the very beginning. Its hard though being on your own, especially when you have an FOB who couldnt care less

I dont doubt its hard hun I would be lost without Oh.. Only bit that gets me is the same girl who posted that status goes out on the booze atlest 3times a week and to the movies 1 other night and the little baby is only 6months old and this has been going on since baby was 2weeks old when her and FOB where still together. She has a bf now who she split up with last week after about 5 days and is back with again now

 

[Laura2919]

Last time me and FOB split we did all that bickering and battling with each other over FB. I dont want to do that this time so if I have a problem I am going to discuss it calmly. This time we are over for good and I knew that from the very beginning. Its hard though being on your own, especially when you have an FOB who couldnt care less

I dont doubt its hard hun I would be lost without Oh.. Only bit that gets me is the same girl who posted that status goes out on the booze atlest 3times a week and to the movies 1 other night and the little baby is only 6months old and this has been going on since baby was 2weeks old when her and FOB where still together. She has a bf now who she split up with last week after about 5 days and is back with again now

Well she needs to take a long hard look at her life because she needs to be home more.
FOB will have the twins every other weekend so shall be planning a few nights out but not when it my weekend to have them

 

[Yammas]

I think its up to the dads to be more determined to be involved in their childrens lives as well, even if they arent with the mother they should still see their child which is what most dont bother to do unfortunately

 

[xCookieDough]

I am an 18 year old mom & this article is truly appalling. My husband became a dad at the age of 18 & he joined the Air Force to provide for his family. He signed his life away just to give his family a chance while the odds & statistics were against us. He didn't have to do that, he CHOSE to. To say that all teenage fathers are mere "sperm donors" is the most biased, illogical, & ignorant thing I have ever heard in my life.

^ couldn't agree more, my OH is a young father to our child and he is working, getting his degree, providing nicely for us, the article is awful, and extemely biased!
---xo

 

[Thaynes]

I find this article to be horrible. To be honest with you some of the best fathers I know are under twenty and most of the worst are over 25 with planned children. I don't think age matters at all. It is what is in your heart.

 

[youngmummy94]

I think this is horrible. I am a young mum and saying this is really offensive and of course just people once again, with that teen parent stigma.

 

[annawrigley]

Haha wow, judgemental much. FOB is a dick but he's still involved in Noah's life, I don't think its sad we won't be together when he starts school. It would be sad if I was still with him We'll probably take him to school together on his first day tbh.