A Mistake? Whose?

A Plight of the Modern Era

Much has been said. Much has been warned. Much has been scorned. But when a problem like an unwanted pregnancy and child crops up, how do we go about it?

A dad at 13? A baby for a dad? The West has always been synonymous with premarital sex, a more open attitude towards mistakes and a more forgiving spirit towards teenage fumbles. Sometimes you wonder whether it's better to be the strict disciplinarian or the tolerant and more accomodating adult. If a more condemning facade has been put up towards teenage promiscuity, will mistakes still happen?

The article above appeared in the Star, 18th February 2009 which stated that Singapore girls are engaged in teenage sex by the large numbers , a whopping increase of 45% when compared to last year's figures. This is the East.

Looks like whether it is the East or the West, globalisation and the tranference of attitudes, assimilation of culture and the acceptability of practices are fast becoming one.

Personally, I feel the school, the family and the religious bodies have in one way or another played their roles except in different degrees. Teenagers today, are more careless when compared to the days of old as many have to cope with peer pressure and 'normal' practices. The article also informed that girls who want emotional support might feel trapped and sex is the only way to keep the boy and are turning a blind eye to unwanted babies. A lot of the time, pregnancies occur cos they do not know how to shove the male away.

It's every mother's nightmare, a dad's too to discover an unwanted pregnancy among their children and by the way it happens both ways...the bird's and the bee's... the poor boy to be a father to a child? Agony too.

Incidentally, Juno was shown in HBO a couple of nights ago and I watched it in the company of No.1, No. 3 and dad. A particular scene brought a good awareness when the protagonist boldly told her dad that she was pregnant and how he very logically accepted the reality and took appropriate steps to see her through including the finding of foster parents for the unborn child. Is it becos it's only a movie or is it what should be done? Will Malaysian parents behave the way the dad behaved? Cool, composed, no condemnation but practical ? It's heartbreaking though to see the poor girl trudging up and down with the bulge...oh I know it's only a movie.

But I really like the way he handled his daughter's plight. Find a solution and help her move on in life. But of course, it is even better still if he had taken more concerted effort to look into her relationship with the boy and be more proactive in prevention than cure.Yes, that's the best. A solution and timely help. Some learn the hard way whereas the obedient lot benefits.

Ellen Page and Michael Cera of Juno

No.1 : Dad , if this were to happen to me , what will you do?

Dad : Look here, I will kick you out of the house!

Typically dad.

No.3 : Hey mum, you know I think about 60 -70% of my teenage friends are engaged in sex ah!

Dad : So? I hope it has nothing to do with you.

Reality? Help the poor parents oh you teenagers. Be careful.