Early February 2008 a young boy, just 13 years old, and a teenage girl, 15 years old, became parents. The young father, who looks no older than eight was interviewed and asked questions about what they are going to do financially. His reply was "What's financially?". This is one of the few shocking quotes from the couple. They claim to have been dating for two years and then decided to have sex. It was their first time and did not use protection. Their families support them and their newborn baby girl who lives at home with Chantelle and her family. Alfie, the father, also lives at home with his own family and travels to his girlfriends house to see her and their baby. To add to the story, two other teenage boys came out claiming they could be the father of the baby. Chantelle denies this saying "There has been no one else". While the young couple are happy to be parents not everyone sees this as a blessing. Sindh Today reported about "Broken Britain" saying how they have the highest rate for teen pregnancy. There are a lot of mixed feelings about not just this particular story, but teen pregnancy as an issue. Can children raise their own children?
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This is a ridiculous story! I can't beleive that two children so young had a baby together. I do not think that they have the responsibility or knowledge to raise a child. I believe that if a child under the age of 18 has a baby, that childs parents should be a legal guardian for the baby until the child has grown and can support their own family. As it is the kid can't even make real decisions for herself, her parents have to sign off on everything, so why should having a child be any different? I don't think that the parents should be allowed to make them have an abortion though. If the parents do not want responsibility of the baby then it should be given to someone else willing to be it's guardian, and when the child gets to be 18b they could have their custody back. I think this way the baby would have a fair chance at being raised properly.
ReplyDeleteA 13 year old does not even have the emotional capacity to have or for that matter take care of a child. When you are 13 your worries are completely around yourself, he doesn't even know what the word financially means! I am scared but relieved at the same time that the grandparents are going to be the ones to take care of the child...it is potentially harmful to the child's development and overall turn out of them.
ReplyDeleteNew update on the story...
ReplyDeleteSince other boys came out and said they could possibly be the father, Alfie (the 13 year old) agreed to take a DNA test to prove he was the father. Well, they have done a DNA test and the results came back that he is NOT the baby's father. Here's the link if you want to read up on the story:
http://www.brisbanetimes.com.au/world/dna-test-proves-babyfaced-alfie-not-the-dad-20090327-9d5d.html
When I read up on this, I couldnt believe it. The fact that her and her mother were trying to keep this whole thing underwraps just so they could make money out of it is ridiculous. The mom at 15 has alreday had sex with seven people..that we know of. It's gross to think that number could be higher. I feel bad for the little boy who thought he was the father, both him and the baby are going to be so messed up after this.
ReplyDeleteAlthough the kid will love his child, and they will probably be loving parrents, they're not mature enough to raise their kid. if their parrents are responsible, they will help their kid's raise their kid. I'm sure he will try his best to raise his child, but i know several people that this has happened too, and the "grandparents" always end up raising the kid.
ReplyDeleteI'm just shocked that the government's child services thought the kids were exceptional enough to raise the baby. Since when is it right to allow "kids" that do not even hold jobs, nor understand that it takes an incredible amount of effort to raise a child with a roof over it's head, clothes on it's back and food on the table. I understand that the other families will be helping out, but how do they feel raising other children they have, plus their grandchildren? Britain's policies on child services should be looked at a little more to prevent future teen families like this one.
ReplyDeleteThis is just the saddest thing to hear about. The kid is barely big enough to hold the kid let alone take care of her. I think the problem is birth control in other countries along with the fact that schools aren't taking the initiative to teach kids early enough about the risks of sex. Kids want to have it because they think its what their suppose to do or they think they feel something but in reality their too young to even know.
ReplyDeleteThis news of the day shocked and upset me. Even though their situation has occurred so many times throughout history, it is nearly impossible to live an easy life when you have a child when you are that young. When i was his age, i was not interested in sex. i was interested in having fun and enjoying the bliss that is youth. This kid will be forced to grow up as fast as he can. His parents will also have a huge burden because they will have to do a majority of the parenting and will pay for most of the child's needs.
ReplyDeleteI am eighteen years old, and I still feel like a child. Having a child, for me, would be completely out of the question. At my age, I still need support from my parents. The fact that these children could have a baby is shocking to me. There is absolutely no way that these children could be prepared in any way to bring up a child. Psychologically, it would be unhealthy for not only the teenagers to raise a child a this age, but for the baby to be raised by teenagers. Babies need complete attention and love, and teenagers, especially young teenagers, cannot accomplish this appropriately. The baby should not be raised by these children parents.
ReplyDeleteI definitely think that these are two young kids who may have simply taken a step too far into adulthood but didn't quite know exactly what it entails. I also think they will get enough shunning in society so I will not come down on their age for birthing children but I can only hope that they have some idea of the depth of which their decision making has led them and that they knew what they were doing when they decided to have children.
ReplyDeleteThis is just so crazy, in our society design from concepts this would never happen!!! PROMETHEUS FTW!
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