June 2008 Archives
Jun 16 2008
Barack Obama and the Dad Talk
Yesterday, on Father's Day appropriately, Senator Barack Obama addressed a congregation in Chicago about the importance of young men supporting their families and taking the responsibility to raise the children they have. Suggesting that too many fathers are absent from their children's lives, the Democratic Presidential candidate said this:
"We need fathers to realize that responsibility does not end at conception. We need them to realize that what makes you a man is not the ability to have a child -- it's the courage to raise one."
Might I suggest that what would be even more courageous would be rewinding the clock a bit, say nine months or so earlier? Responsibility, it seems to me, begins long before sex, pregnancy, and birth. What makes you a man is having the courage to wait to become a father until he is really ready to raise a child. For some that means not having sex at all; for many it means making sure you and your partner use condoms and birth control every single time.
Don't get me wrong; I think the Senator's thoughts about responsible fatherhood are right on target. Where I grew up, a situation like mine--living with both mom and dad--made me a part of the "weird" family. We usually ate dinner together, and my dad would come fetch me from doing ultra-cool things with my pre-teen friends to do so. And research without question shows that kids generally do better when both parents are around.
But why is it that when it comes to male involvement and responsible fatherhood programs, there is so little focus on encouraging men to be responsible by preventing an unplanned pregnancy--before a child or even a pregnancy is involved? While there are numerous attorneys general and child support enforcement officials all over the country doing great work to make sure men take responsibility for their actions and support the lives they helped create, I suspect their jobs would be a whole lot easier if we devoted more attention to making sure they don't become daddies in the first place.
Jun 13 2008
People are Buzzing About "The Baby Borrowers"
Dozens of news organizations are picking up an AP story today with news that readers of this blog already know: NBC's new reality show, "The Baby Borrowers," is a great way for teens (and everyone) to start talking about preventing teen pregnancy.
The show follows five teen couples who think they're ready for parenthood, as they care for babies, toddlers, pre-teens, teens and senior citizens. We urge everyone to check it out on Wednesday, June 25 at 8pm ET/PT.
A discussion guide to help facilitate conversations after watching the show is available from The National Campaign. For the AP story about a National Campaign Youth Leadership Team viewing party, click here.
Watch more clips from the first episodes of "The Baby Borrowers" after the jump.
Jun 10 2008
Plan, Planning, Planful
I am totally on board with a key quote from an op-ed in seattlepi.com:
"It's odd that we live in a culture that values planning in everything from education to retirement to weddings, yet we're expected to believe that starting a family is something that's supposed to happen, without preparation or choice."
We have been saying this for years at the Campaign. Our list of what one is to plan is even longer--meals, vacations, retirement, living wills, outfits, college savings and more. But somehow it is not in fashion to even talk about the value of planning carefully and deliberately--both partners, too--for child-bearing
And if we expand the concept just a bit to include what we are supposed to not only plan but also worry about, the inattention to getting pregnant and starting families is even more striking. I recall years ago getting a pamphlet about how I should worry--REALLY worry--about radon in my basement. When will I get a pamphlet about how planning pregnancy (for those who want children) is worthy of a great deal of thought and consideration and commitment? We worry about nutrition, recycling, bicycle helmets, what to put on the surfaces of playgrounds, and lord knows what else....How about worrying that half of all pregnancies are unplanned? HALF?
When will this nation get serious about getting pregnant?
Jun 04 2008
Running in Place
The CDC has just released new data on high school teens' sexual behavior and contraceptive use. Headline? Not too good.
Teen sexual activity is up and contraceptive use is down between 2005 and 2007. On every single measure (ever had sex, currently sexually active, condom use at last sex, pill use, four or more sexual partners) the arrows are pointing in the wrong direction.
Perhaps the more interesting and significant trend, however, is the tale of two decades. All of these same measures (with the exception of birth control pill use which has declined steadily since 1991) improved dramatically between 1991 and 2001. Between 2001 and 2007? The most charitable description of the current decade is...well...running in place.
A few more YRBS items for your consideration:
· National Campaign press release
· National Campaign fact sheet
· Full YRBS report
Tell us what you think. Why do you think teen sexual behavior is changing?
Jun 03 2008
"It's Not TV, It's Birth Control!"
On June 25th, NBC premieres its riveting new reality show, The Baby Borrowers. Over six intense, heartwarming, and hilarious episodes we see teen couples who think they're ready to have children, care for real, live babies, then toddlers, then tweens, then teenagers and finally senior citizens. It's life in fast forward as they try to negotiate the challenges of parenting along with maintaining their relationships. Unlike other reality shows - no one gets voted off here, no one is competing for a prize - the drama is the journey itself and the rewards are lessons learned about adult life. Learn more about the show at http://www.nbc.com/The_Baby_Borrowers/.
The Campaign has been lucky to work with NBC around the launch of this show, and we've collaborated with them on discussion guides for parents and teens who watch together and want to talk about it. Please take the time to check out The Baby Borrowers on June 25th at 8PM ET/PT. And let us know what you think about it!
Spoiler alert: There wasn't a dry eye in the house when we watched the final episode.
