On Monday I went to watch a play called ‘Benefits and Fags.’ It focused on real accounts from teenage parents about well their experience of parenthood at a young age. Now I’m not going to lie. Before I had my son I was very judgemental on teenage pregnancy. Everyone is quick to assume that young mothers are bad mothers. Most young couples have babies out of wedlock and remain out of wedlock. But is it such a bad thing?
It is so easy for someone to get rid of a baby, a source of human life what with abortions and adoption. But for most young people they decide to take on the responsibility of having the baby and bringing it into this world. There are loads of excuses- scared of what parents will say, not ready to give up partying, can’t look after babies… the list probably goes on. Yep, people are quick to judge aren’t they?
The play captured the perceptions from real teenage parents. It’s not easy to raise a child when you’re a child yourself. But with the support and love of family and friends it doesn’t have to be hard as everyone makes it out to seem. When we hear that a 15 year old is having a baby we are quick to judge and say that they will be a bad mother. But the thing is, by already making the decision to keep the baby it shows maturity and a sense of responsibility from that individual. I’m not just talking about the mums. The young dads that accept the responsibility of having a baby are just as important. I’m not saying having a baby at an early age is right but I am saying that those young people who choose to take on the responsibility of having a child with the commitment of nurturing them for the rest of their life should be given a sense of respect.
Big up all those young mum and dads out there.
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Yesterday if you were watching the news then you would have heard that yet another teenage boy has been killed by knife crime. And he was from East Ham- where I live. The news and a majority of the public continue to wonder why knife crimes keep happening and haven’t stopped. First of all, there are plenty of knife and gun crimes that happen on a regular which are not covered on the news. Secondly- what is the real reason for these knife crimes?
Everyone is quick to say that it is peer pressure or teachers but what about the parents? Every child is bound to rebel at one point in their childhood. It doesn’t matter if you’re a boy or a girl. Neither does it matter if you have A grades or E grades. So many parents are focused on work, making money, problems of their own, their child getting top grades that they turn a blind eye to what their child is doing. Your son or daughter is going to their friends house. But are they really? Do you even know what your childs friends are like? Why is it that Britain seems to have the highest gun and knife crimes? Is it possible that a huge reason for this is because kids don’t get disciplined enough, purely because their parents aren’t there to discipline their child or give their child moral advice? Don’t get the wrong end of the stick though. There are tons of parents that discipline their child(ren) but it doesn’t work. They still smoke or inject themselves with drugs, they still have sex and end up being a parent and for some they still carry guns and knives around. But that child that got disciplined, despite their ignorance , probably carrys around some sort of morals with them in comparison to the child who has a parent that lets them do whatever they want.
Some people need to STOP relying on the media as their answer to everything, especially gun and knife crime. There is a reason for everything. I’m not saying it is right that loads of teenagers are dieing but what I am saying is that there is always a reason for people actions. YA DIG?
R.I.P to all those young people who have lost their lives to gun and knife crime.
stop already
RACHYG 