The Baby Borrowers is back tonight - and this time the teen "parents" are caring for toddlers. 

Tune in to NBC tonight to find out who says "This is where they go running for the condom aisle!" and why. 

Episode 2 of the Baby Borrowers premiered last night (July 2) on NBC and was full of many more real life situations for the "parents" to deal with. 

After sleepless nights and busy days feeding, changing, and playing with their infants, two of the "moms" make unexpected requests to their boyfriends -- they want to go to work. And just as the pressure of maintaining a job, house, and family is really starting to build, the "parents" must say goodbye to their infants and get their first evaluation from the real moms and dads of their former babies.

What did you think of Episode 2?  If you missed it, visit the Baby Borrowers official site to watch clips and see interviews with the teen parents.  Then come back here and let us know  what you think on our brief online survey.

Thanks to all of you who have posted your thoughts about the NBC show, The Baby Borrowers.  In addition to the blogging (verb) that has already been done here on the blog (noun), we have also gotten comments about the show on one of our websites---TheNationalCampaign.org. 

By no means complete, here is a flavor of some of the comments we have gotten to date from our website.  The Baby Borrowers runs for five more weeks.  Please continue to let us know what you think. 

The NBC series The Baby Borrowers premiered last night.  We are anxious to hear the reaction of those of you who saw the show.  Some have been highly critical of the show for separating the babies from their parents.  Others have praised the show show and have told us that they think it will be educational. You've seen our take in previous blog postings.

Et tu you?  What's your take?

And now a break from Gloucester...

A provocative (!) ad has been making the internet/YouTube rounds over the past 48 hours.  In the purported ad for staid department store J.C. Penney, two teenagers get undressed and then time themselves as they quickly put their clothes back on.  The ad ends as the teen boy and girl walk past mom on the way to the basement to "watch TV" and the words "Today's the day to get away with it" appear on the screen.   We clever viewers realize that mom is being duped--that the young Lotharios are actually heading downstairs for a roll in the hay.  Aren't we smart?

Turns out the ad wasn't actually an ad for J.C. Penny at all, according to a story in today's Wall Street Journal.  The "Speed Dressing" ad, according to the WSJ report, was created without J.C. Penney's knowledge or consent. 

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.

A new battle front in the culture wars has opened.  The issue is ICK -- in this case, some arguably salacious material in a sex ed curriculum. 

Here are a few thoughts: advocates on all sides of the sex ed battles have found sections in various curricula that they dislike.  As a general matter, the right dislikes sexually explicit content (the current flap) and the left routinely flags material that is medically inaccurate, homophobic and/or tied to religion.  It seems that almost anyone who sets foot into sex education offends at least someone.  It's tough terrain.    

So, what's a parent to do?  By all means review what your child's school plans to offer in sex ed 101.  If you find aspects of the curriculum that you don't like, consider having your child opt out of the class or perhaps just one session.  

But if you do so, keep in mind the following:

1. Some sex ed programs have been proven to help reduce the risk of teen pregnancy.  It is far better to have your child taught using an effective program than one lacking any evidence of good results.

2.  The overall popular culture that our children live in is very sexually explicit---and remember, it is on the watch of everyone reading this note that our culture has become what it is. Your children know and wonder about and hear tales of things that many of us old ones still don't get.  What makes you blush would hardly be noticed by the vast majority of teens.  Sorry.  It's the truth. 

3.  You are bound to find something that you do not agree with in any curriculum.  The question therefore is---on balance---does the curriculum seem right overall?  Does one disagreeable passage negate what might be 100 pages of positive material?  Analogy: Do you vote for a political candidate because you agree with him/her on every issue or just on most issues?

 4 . If you do remove your child from a class or curriculum, all that does is increase the burden on YOU to become a top flight sex educator.  Are you willing to do that?  To learn about the reality of teens' lives and the choices/pressures facing them, and then offer accurate, complete and compassionate advice?

Discuss.

The lovely ladies of ABC's "The View" talked teen pregnancy on Thursday with actors from "One Life to Live" and The National Campaign's own Marisa Nightingale.  Kristen Alderson, who plays 16-year-old Starr Manning on the daytime drama, and Brandon Buddy, who plays her 17-year-old boyfriend Cole Thornhart, talked about their pregnancy storyline - what they've learned, the reaction they're getting from readers of their blog and how they hope its helping others deal with the challenges of teen sexuality.  Marisa contributed some excellent words of wisdom to the segment as well, encouraging parents to talk to their kids about sex and relationships. You can see the whole thing here.

Gentle reminder time friends. 

Although the official 2008 National Day to Prevent Teen Pregnancy has come and gone  (by the way, anyone have any ideas for a pithier title?), remember that May is Teen Pregnancy Prevention Month (again, title ideas anyone?) and the snappy National Day online quiz will be up and operating throughout the month. 

Please alert family, friends, neighbors, and enemies.  Take the quiz, you'll be glad you did.