Damage control: Jamie Lynn Spears
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Okay.. Please tell me I am not the only one having to deal with questions this whole mess has brought up??
For those that haven't caught it, Jamie Lynn Spears, 16 years old and in the 10th grade, star of Zoey 101 a show on Nickelodeon geared toward 9 to 14 year olds, sister of the infamous Britney Spears, is 12 weeks pregnant.
My girls (10) are avid Zoey 101 watchers. They had missed the news that morning but came home full of questions about how and why, they had heard the story and then some from the other kids at school. Just when I think they have all the answers the need, a news break comes on and they are asking more questions.
That family is in the news so much it makes me ill. How can you have that much money and be that sexually irresponsible. Yes mistakes happen, however... Her sister has two kids she isn't aloud to raise and another baby on the way. Why would you be running around having unprotected sex, she admits to not using protection. This is crap you hear about in my neighborhood not Hollywood. KWIM?
Oh and mom was to come out with a book on parenting in February.. Excuse me?? I think she needs to take some classes not be offering them.
I heard some where that she has lived off & on with the guy for the last 2 years, now I don't know if this is true, but if it is!!!
I am so glad that at this moment my children are Hannah Montana fans & are only 4 & 5 (almost 6).
I can't believe her mom was going to write a parenting book, i think I would do better on my own than with her advice.
I hope that some of her fans don't try to emulate her.
My girls love Hannah Montana too. That was my first concern, the whole emulating thing. If it can work for her, then why not. Keep in mind I am one of the youth leaders in my church, so we are also having to run damage control with our 12-14 year olds, who are attending school with girls that are pregnant in Junior high as it is.
She is getting more air time then the Fire at the White House/Eisenhower Executive Office Building, on Wednesday, did.
Many 16 yr olds get pregnant every year. Some come from really good homes and it still happens. Just because this family has gained "star" status does not automatically make them better parents than those living in anonymity. If anything it makes their mistakes all that more notorious. I'm not defending Mom Spears, but playing devil's advocate, it's possible that she was so wrapped up in older sister Britney's troubles that she neglected, for lack of a better word, the "good" daughter and trusted her to figure out on her own what a "good" girl does and doesn't do. I know friends and I have said to each other many times 'You do your best and hope that it all sinks in.' Unfortunately, it more than likely backfired and Jamie Lynn felt too independent and grown up and thinks, as many teenagers do, that she knows what she's doing. I'm sure the money and attention on Britney made it easy for her to get away with more than the average 16 yr old.
I don't have girls and my boys who are old enough to know who she is don't care who she is, so the questions have not come up in my house. But, I think it would probably be better if she did just fade into the woodwork, have her baby and get the support she needs out of the public eye. I hate to say it, but the track record in that family is not good and I feel for any child born into that family.
As far as all the publicity this is getting, I think it's ridiculous! I, personally, don't care. I change the channel to find real news.
I don't think much more can be expected of her just because she is in the spotlight. She is still a 16 year old. However, I think Nickelodeon has a responsibility to fire her and I hope they do. She already has money but that would at least be some negative repercussion for kids to see. It's bad enough for kids to have fallen idols and the show she is in is geared toward the tween market. My dd is 7 and loves i-carly. I think she is a fan in general of Miranda Cosgrove. She watches Zoey 101 sometimes more by accident. It scares me how fast they grow up nowadays. I wonder if she didn't get pregnant to show that she could do a better job than her seemingly adult sister. It only has to be a fleeting thought to happen.
The biggest lesson to teach your girls is, if you have sex, there can be big consequences. I go with certainly someone with that money and stature had been using some form of birth control and obviously it failed. THE ONLY 100% FORM OF BIRTH CONTROL IS ABSTINENCE. I chose to talk to my daughter about choices, she made a bad choice to have sex at 16, although we believe in waiting till you are married, it is important to wait until you are capable of raising a child no matter what, things happen. We also talked about as a kid she made an adult choice, which is one more reason to be an adult before you have sex.
On a side note. I know we don't really want to interfer too much with our dd's social lives, but I wonder in general about those girls who really start dating in jr high. Really I think if we did a poll, we would find, the younger you date, the more likely you are to end up in a long term relationship in high school. And really after a year or two, how many people choose to not have sex. It seems like you have to move to the next level. Although I want my daughter to date in high school, I don't want her to be serious with anyone until she is a senior, I will encourage her of that. I think the younger they are the easier it is to fall "in love" and make bad choices.
I am using it as an excuse to have, yet another, conversation about OUR values. Sex at that age goes completely against our values. We also discussed how difficult it would be to have a child when you are still a child.
My children will not be dating in Jr. high. Kids need to be kids as long as possible. Luckily, my kids are highly involved in sports. Dating is not something they are interested in---yet.
I agree that she should be removed from the Nickelodeon show. I am tired of Hollywood treating these things as the norm. They have a responsibility to their market (young girls) to show better role models.
I like Hanna Montana. I believe she has a strong family foundation. I believe most of these Hollywood girls lack that secure loving family. The idea that Mrs. Spears would put out a child rearing book is insane. Unless---it is a "do not do what I did" book 
I ditto Sunny, Rayelle, Kaye & Yvonne to a very large degree.
As Sunny said, this statement is very true:
Many 16 yr olds get pregnant every year. Some come from really good homes and it still happens. Just because this family has gained "star" status does not automatically make them better parents than those living in anonymity. If anything it makes their mistakes all that more notorious. I'm not defending Mom Spears, but playing devil's advocate, it's possible that she was so wrapped up in older sister Britney's troubles that she neglected, for lack of a better word, the "good" daughter and trusted her to figure out on her own what a "good" girl does and doesn't do.
From Rayelle:
I don't think much more can be expected of her just because she is in the spotlight. She is still a 16 year old. However, I think Nickelodeon has a responsibility to fire her and I hope they do. She already has money but that would at least be some negative repercussion for kids to see.
From Kaye - KUDOS, BTW!
The biggest lesson to teach your girls is, if you have sex, there can be big consequences. I go with certainly someone with that money and stature had been using some form of birth control and obviously it failed. THE ONLY 100% FORM OF BIRTH CONTROL IS ABSTINENCE.
On a side note. I know we don't really want to interfer too much with our dd's social lives, but I wonder in general about those girls who really start dating in jr high. Really I think if we did a poll, we would find, the younger you date, the more likely you are to end up in a long term relationship in high school. And really after a year or two, how many people choose to not have sex. It seems like you have to move to the next level.
And from Yvonne....
I am using it as an excuse to have, yet another, conversation about OUR values. Sex at that age goes completely against our values. We also discussed how difficult it would be to have a child when you are still a child.
My children will not be dating in Jr. high. Kids need to be kids as long as possible. Luckily, my kids are highly involved in sports. Dating is not something they are interested in---yet.
I agree that she should be removed from the Nickelodeon show. I am tired of Hollywood treating these things as the norm. They have a responsibility to their market (young girls) to show better role models.
I am a *bit* ashamed to admit this here, but my sister and I spoke yesterday, and, not being Louisiana residents, I don't know if you can understand this certain element we have here, but BOTH of us said *The Spears family is the classic example of Louisiana white trash.* I don't care how successful or talented these girls are, IMO, they have had bad parenting, little to no supervision, given free reign, and done exactly what they wanted, and we all know, in children - and they ARE children when they are teens - have made VERY bad choices/decisions with no guidance from Mom Spears, and look what has happened to both of them. I truly believe this has been a life-long pattern for them.
I believe Mom Spears was so involved in Britney's *success* and drama, that Jamie Lynn was sort of left to fend for herself. DUH! I repeat, no 13/14/15/16 y/o should be expected to *figure it out on their own*.
We all know that *celebrities* - and they both DO fall into that category - are in the spotlight, and WHATEVER they do is *news*. I don't know what Nickelodeon will do (I don't think she should be allowed to continue to do the show), and I'll admit I've never watched Zoey, but from what I understand, they want to portray an innocence, and in light of her pregnancy, she SHOULDN'T be allowed to continue doing the show. And I DO believe that we should expect more from those in the spotlight - after all, they are the role models that kids look up to and want to emulate, so right or wrong, I DO think we should expect more from them, and I think that they should KNOW that.
I am also a big advocate of teaching your kids YOUR values and safe sex/birth control, and about consequences and abstinence.
And, my personal experience, you HAVE to *interfere* or be involved in your teenage kids' social life, whether they like it or not. (No teen pregnancies here, but other issues)
I DO believe 100%, that sometimes no matter HOW good your parenting was/how attentive you were/how many values you attempted to instill in your kids, some kids just have a rebellious streak that leads them down the *less desirable* path. I want to be certain I'm not misunderstood here - I am NOT saying that a young teen who becomes pregnant is a bad person - that is NOT what I mean to imply. *Good* girls get pregnant all the time. HOWEVER, in the Spears' case, I believe that a lot of these girls' problems/issues were the direct result of the parenting - or lack of - that they received.
And I also believe that the media and *Hollywood* glamorize all the scandal, they keep it front and center, which, in some ways, encourages them to continue their behavior.
All said, as much as everyone else is tired of hearing about them, I think here, in Louisiana, we hear a *bit* more, since the family here, and believe me, we are all sick of it too!
My personal opinion? Britney needs to be in lockdown in a rehab center with some serious therapy for 6 months or a year. Not that it will happen. But she is constantly sabotaging her life, she is bent on self destruction, and she already has 2 beautiful children that should give her every reason to clean up her act.
Jamie Lynn, IMO, has probably looked up to her older sibling, admired her, etc., and with the lack of family values/supervision, has grabbed the opportunity to *follow in Brit's footsteps*, unfortunate as it is. (BTDT with my 2 youngest, who, no matter how much preaching and teaching I did RE: drugs and alcohol, for some reason admired their older siblings who had problems with those things, and as Jen told me in recent months, *we looked up to Julie and Jason and wanted to be just like them*.)
Again, I think the issues go WAY back, and though I don't know them personally, have never met them, and can only base my opinion on what I read and see on TV, I think the early successes and popularity, coupled with the parenting, and family dynamics, have actually crippled 2 young girls who apparently have a lot of talent and potential inside them.
I think it's a sad situation for both girls, but I'm sick of the media making sure we all know about every bad move they make, and I DO think there should be consequences, in Jamie Lynn's case. If she chooses to have her child, live with her boyfriend, whatever, then fine. Go about your life. But I don't think she should be allowed to continue to be in a show that young girls admire, when her own values are contradictory to what is intended to be portrayed.
Obviously I don't have young ones to question all of this and expect an explanation from me, but Jules has Madison, and I suspect she's dealing with some of this too.
Facts:
As parents, we are supposed to - and most of us DO - do the best we can do.
No matter what you teach them, sometimes kids make mistakes.
And even though I have my opinions about the entire Spears family, who am I to judge them? None of us knows their family dynamics (though I've heard *quite* a bit locally), what private struggles they've had, but just based on what we hear, I don't think Mom and Pop Spears have done a stellar job with their girls.
Brit needs major help, Jamie Lynn has a situation now that affects the rest of her life. I think Nickelodeon should remove her from the show.
And I REALLY believe the media should stop glamorizing/romanticizing/encouraging ALL celebrities' life struggles and let them deal with their lives and mistakes. I think that often that hinders them from doing so.
I have a 10yo and a 6yo dd who watch Zoey101. Add my vote to those that hope her show is discontinued and that she does some type of PSA to counteract the message she has sent to the girls that watch the show but I don't think that will happen. My dds have yet to hear about Jamie Lynn's pregnancy but I'll use that time to reinforce our family's values of abstinence until becoming an adult. The only positive I can find in this situation, and it's only a positive given my values, is that she must have made the choice not to terminate the pregnancy and I can only hope that this will be a time that she uses to grow, mature and not make the same choices as her sister.
Haven't read all the posts but, I RARELY think parents are to *blame* for underage pregnancies. Everyone makes the wrong decision sometimes, and some decisions have life changing consequences like this one. I think Spears' mother writing a parenting book has absolutely nothing to do with her daughter's pregnancy personally. She may be a terrible parent, but I persoanlly don't know, and don't think it's fair to rate her parenting skills on an underage pregnancy.
I feel quite sad for the girl. Being pregnant at 16 is unimaginable to me, let alone being in the spotlight to boot. Every single thing they say or do from here on out will be in the news and that's terrible to me.
I also don't think she should be on the show anymore.
IF what I have read is correct, Jamie Lynn lived with her boyfriend. What parent allows their 16 year old to do that?
I am sorry but I do think that *some* of the Spears girls issues are from not being in a stable home. Regardless of your childs "stardom" there should be boundaries that you do not let your children cross.
I see Britney and I want to hug her. I feel so bad for her. I think she is crying out for help and she isn't getting it.
Do I blame parents for their 16 year getting pregnant, well not 100%. I am not foolish enough to believe that we can prevent our children from making mistakes. I do think if you allow your daughter to live with a boy, you are asking for this to happen. Parent involvement could make a difference in some of these situations.
>"I do think if you allow your daughter to live with a boy, you are asking for this to happen. Parent involvement could make a difference in some of these situations."<
Ditto Yvonne. If she is living with her boyfriend, then her parents are not doing their job by allowing that, I agree. I have not read that she is/was living with him. On the other hand though, she could just as easily have gotten pregnant whether she was living with him or not.
I agree that you cannot blame the parents' when a 16 y/o gets pregnant - I should qualify that though - in MANY families/situations, etc. you can't blame the parents.
BUT as Yvonne said, there were obviously no boundaries, there were no rules or supervision in place - this is proved by the fact that a 16 y/o was living with her 19 y/o b/f! A 16 y/o is a minor in the eyes of the law, and, as any of us who has ever raised teenage girls knows, is virtually still a child.
I COULD be wrong here, but what I see is a troubled marriage between Brit & Jamie's parents, a child star (Brit) who quickly rose to superstardom, then quickly spiraled out of control, Mom Spears runs to her rescue, there's a troubled relationship there, a marriage and 2 kids come along, Brit is obviously depressed or lost it or whatever, Mom Spears is *trying* to intervene, result is Jamie Lynn is left in the shadows during the years she MOST needs those boundaries and attention and supervision. So, not surprising to me, just tragically sad and unnecessary. JMHO folks............. Yes, even *good* girls get pregnant, and Jamie Lynn could be one of those. The whole point here, IMO, is that there are 2 siblings who out out of control, one is obviously doing everything she can to self destruct, hopefully the other doesn't follow suit.
Bottom line - it's something that possibly could have been avoided.
Lots of thoughts and opinions here, but too tired to go into them. I think that there are a lot of assumptions being made about the Spears parents which may or may not be true. Bottom line is that none of us will ever know. I think it is a sad thing, especially as someone who believes in abstinence until marriage. However, my mom became a mom at 15 (my older sister) and has been a great mother, finished college and even her master's degree, and she and my dad have been married for 45 years so it can have a happy ending. One thing I would like to say as someone who is pro-life...kudos to Jamie Lynn for choosing life!
Pam, you are right, we are all making assumptions. And obviously, we're making them based on what the media has told us. Which, I suppose, is the wrong thing to do. My own thoughts and observations are drawn from that. But I still feel the way I do, and I think some of what I believe is obvious, at least to me it is. But again, you're right. None of us knows their family dynamics/relationships/problems nor the positive things about them.
I think, in the end, everyone's just sick and tired of hearing about the Spears family - not only them, but ALL of the celebrities and their *****ups.
Agreed, "I think, in the end, everyone's just sick and tired of hearing about the Spears family - not only them, but ALL of the celebrities and their *****ups." they do something good it is a BLURP, they do something bad and we hear about it for months.
I heard it might not be that "Casey" kid and rather a Nickolodeon Executive who she "looked up to" as a father figure. Much older than her and possibly married.
I also heard the mother's book is about how Hollywood can affect your family and how you parent and how to beware of the effects of being famous at a young age.
That family is just so sad...living in a "bubble" almost.
I have not read all the responses but my feeling is "this is what happens when you get your children into *show business*, they usually go down the wrong path. I mean, how many "child actors" have ended up in rehab or dead? Lots. Few of them come out as innocent as they went in.
Also, I feel that big sis Brit had so much attention that little Jamie felt left out and wanted attention too (although most of Brittanys attention was negative) so she went out and got preggers.
Luckily we do not have Nickelodeon, or if we do we never watch it. So my kids have no idea who Jamie Lynn Spears is. Now if Mylie Cyrus went out and got pregnant I would NOT be happy because dd LOVES her! And is so sad she is not at the Hannah Montana concert tonight.
I agree with who ever said they were the biggest white trash family ever.
I totally agree that Nickelodeon should fire Jamie Lynn.
I heard tonight here at work that they cancelled the show, good for them!
Patti, I don't see that happening with Miley, she's actually had an upbringing. Jamie Lynn hasn't had the structure and familial support that Miley has, nor does she have the same family dynamics.
I agree with the show being cancelled. But I'm sad for the Spears girls......even though I'm tired of hearing about them.
Miley, interviewed prior to the pregnancy announcement, is fully aware she is a role model to other children, she went on to say her parents played a big part in her understanding of the way her life will effect the children she is performing for. So, I can't see her creating this type of drama in herself.
my understanding is that they are going to continue with the show that they have one full season already tapped and that once she has the baby they will be able to continue taping the next season so I guess Nick isn't going to get rid of her. I feel sorry for her and her sister but I don't see Jamie turing out like britney to me she just don't act like her.( I might be wrong but that the picture i get of her). I hope though all turns out good for her its rough having a baby and still being a young girl. She needs a good support system. My dds werent big fans of her show they knew her and oldest dd said she feels sorry for she would never have a baby at 16 (made me feel good). As for Miley they love about 3 months ago though there were rumors going around that she was pregnate by They youngest Jonas Brother and when she came out and denied the rumors. She was very professional and well grounded with her answer and that she was a role model and wanted to set a good example.
Nice...
link
http://tv.popcrunch.com/jamie-lynn-spears-not-fired-from-zoey-101-video/
CNN’s Showbiz Tonight reports on the future of “Zoey 101,” and the buzz is that Jamie Lynn Spears will not be fired from the series. Junuary 3, 2008
Bitney, lost it again last night.
I can't help but want to shake some sense into Britney & then I want to hold her & tell her it will be okay. I know that she has made bad choices, but somewhere deep inside i think there is a scared little girl that doesn't know how to make the right choices. Especially when she isn't being told that what she is doing is wrong & she has at the very least a bad chemical dependecy.
I think that keeping Zoey 101 on is a bad decision.
Ditto Emily regarding both girls. The show should be canceled IMO.
I don't know much about either one of them. My children are luckly too young to care who either are, but I do feel very sorry for both girls. The media can be brutal! These poor girls just need some good role models in their life.
I heard on the radio that Brit is in the hospital now. Accusations about her being under the influence but after tests the docs say that she didn't have any substances in her body. Now they are doing psychological testing on her. Yea I can already tell you that she's nuts.
oh yeah, they took the kids away get again. I feel so bad for those boys. And I can not believe she is pregnant again, it should be against the law for her to procreate anymore LOL.
She's pregnant again??!!!! I thought that was not proven yet. YIKES!
Yeah, I keep hearing that she's pregnant again, too, but have never really been able to verify it!
I haven't seen the reports that she is again.
I know that Dr Phil is going tape a show with her on Monday & that it is supposed to air on Wed. Hopefully for the kids, he can help her.
She has to choose to help herself first. But I am not sure she is mentally mature enough to recognize that this is a monster of her own making.
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