I didn't read anything yesterday, I didn't watch the news, I avoided all news feeds. I'm completely distressed on my my own, without reading or hearing abut what Hollywood has to say about one of my children's favorite teenagers. I also didn't want them to hear about it.If you don't know what I'm talking about, you must be over 80 or Amish. No offense to either. :) Jamie Lynn Spears - star of Zoey 101 (which my children watch regularly on Nickelodeon) and little sister of Britney Spears - is pregnant. She's 16.
DH told me yesterday morning and he was downright angry. We have watched Zoey with the kids and have talked about how we hope she takes a different path than her sister and surrounds herself with smart people who only want the best for her. Oh well.
Now, I had my distressing time keeping the Vanessa Hudgens scandal from the kids. But this is so much worse than some nudie cell phone pictures. This is forever for Jamie Lynn and it's sending a message to our children. It's OUR job to decide what that message that is, not Hollywood's.
Now, don't get me wrong, I am not going to toss Jamie Lynn to the curb, she's a child, she made a mistake. We've all made mistakes. She also has a few things stacked against her, one being her Mother of the Year Nominee mom, Lynn. I don't know anything about raising a family in the public eye, but I do what it's like to raise a family. And it is hard work. I said it's hard work being a mother who has the best interest of her children at heart. It's not hard work to live vicariously through your children.
The second obstacle Jamie Lynn faces is being Britney Spears' little sister. Especially recently. No matter what she does, she is Britney's little sister. "I hope she doesn't turn out the same way as her sister!" We even have said it. I did read on a celebrity gossip page (I just ratted myself out, didn't I?) that Britney had warned her sister over the summer against moving in with her boyfriend. Who knows if that is really true, but I can appreciate a big sister wanting the best for her little sis.
The bigger picture here is that an unmarried 16 year old girl is pregnant. She may have a boyfriend, but the reality is that she has to carry & raise this child and face the music. Top it off with the fact that she is a celebrity role model and we have a multitude of children who are confused and wondering what's going on. Now I have several friends who have beautiful children that they had very young. Teenagers. It happens, you know? Their children are beautiful and not mistakes by any means. All children are blessings and deserve to be celebrated. My concern is that, as a public figure, this might all be misinterpreted by children who don't have an adult at home to help them sort it out. Teenage pregnancy is not OK, and it's not glamorous, no matter who it is. Jamie Lynn has a long, hard road ahead of her and I want my daughter to know that.
As I've been typing, I have lost my train of thought several times, there is so much going through my mind! I caught the end of a segment on the Today show this morning where they were talking about this and they were saying this is an opportunity to talk to our children about sex and responsibility. I agree in some respect. There are opportunities to talk to our children about things everyday. A celebrity scandal should not be an opportunity to begin conversations with our children. I hope we can take it as an opportunity to continue to talk to our children about a multitude of things. Responsibility, respect, obedience, life, love, consequences.
I visited Jamie Lynn's website this morning and it was painful to be reminded that she is a child. Simple as that. Go see what I mean.
No, I am not Mother of the Year. In fact, most days I feel quite inadequate. But as a mother, I am full of so many emotions as I hear this breaking news.
Good luck, Jamie Lynn. We wish you the best.
