On A Bit Of A (Tired) Rant

Did any of you read or see on the news about the pregnancy pact? A group of teenage girls in Massachusetts made a pact to get pregnant and raised their kids together.

17 girls got pregnant.

Now the usual controversies bubble to the surface:
-the schools are to blame
-more birth control and education should be available
-low self esteem
-put the fathers in jail (for statutory rape)
-blame the movies (Juno and Knocked Up)

It's all so tiring. But here's a thought--start paying attention to your kids! Did no one notice their daughter's friends all getting pregnant? Or their son's friends all becoming daddies?

I don't have daughters, only sons, but I noticed when their friends either got pregnant or became a dad. We had conversations. And by the way, the conversation was NEVER about how that other boy or girl was a bad kid. EVER. Very nice, responsible kids sometimes make a poor or hormonal decision and end up pregnant.

Everyone makes an occasional poor decision. My kids, their dad and I talked about that too, and about how integrity is stepping up and doing the right or best thing to handle the consequences.

I'm so glad my sons are grown men now.

Now to move this in a little different direction: Should be blame entertainment for decisions our kids make? Is Jamie Lynn Spears setting a trend of teenage pregnancies? I don't know. I usually believe that entertainment responds what's happening in the world rather than creating the environment.

In the end, though, I think parents and family have a bigger influence on kids than entertainment.

How about you all? Any thoughts?