If you know what I'm talking about, do you let your tween watch it and why/why not? I like it, but I'm concerned about what it's teaching. There's not a whole lot to the disclaimer at the end, but at least they do it.
My dh is concerned about the channel it's on, "ABC Family", especially with it's content. Brenda Hampton is the writer, the same writer who wrote the wonderful show "7th Heaven".
Are they just trying to show us what can happen if the kids aren't careful? Help me here.
Also, I told my dd that I wanted to watch it with her, and she hated that idea! LOL
Any ideas or opinions would help. Thanks.
I have never seen the show (we don't have that channel) but I saw a comemrcial for it and it looks terrible. I wouldn't let my daughter watch it. Abc "family" my butt! There are certain values we have in our house regarding relationships, honesty, faith, trust, sex, marriage, etc that I don't think this show falls in line with. But honestly tv has gone to hell anyway. I pulled up old Muppets videos for my kids tonight on youtube and all 3 were laughing. Even the 12 year old. THAT was on primetime tv whenI was akid. Not junk like this show your talking about. I wouldn't let your kid watch it but if you choose to you better believe your butt better be on the couch beside her (or no show at all for her) so you can discuss issues and how she feels and you feel about it.
I let my 10 yr old DS watch it & it has opened up small windows for us to talk.Also,I have a hard time bringing up the "hard issues" out of the blue,so I somehow feel more comfortable talking to him when the issues are "brought to the table"(actually the couch.LOL) by someone/something else.
For example,when Amy(pregnant girl on the show) was thinking of getting an abortion,I took that opportunity to tell DS my views on abortion.Granted,he is male,so even if he did get someone pregnant,it is ultimately not his decision whether or not an abortion is performed,but I still wanted him to know my views on it & why I feel the way I do.Of course,as we talk,I also give DS the opportunity to ask questions,state his feelings etc.
I'm sorry your DD doesn't want you to watch it with her.I feel it is a great show for parents & teens/tweens to watch together.
i am going to be a grandmother in a few months because my 15 year old ds made a mistake with his now 18 year old gf
Ellie Loving wife to Louie, Mom to teenagers Aidan (15), Maddie & Lexxie (13); preteen Jacob (11); big kids, Katie & Chris (9), Tilly (7), Caleb (5); newborns James & Jane (7-29-08); I'm due with baby number 11 on 1 september 2009; i survived teenage parenthood!!! yes, you read right i have 3 sets of twins; i'm going to be a grandma! Aidan and Franchesca (his fiancee) are due in spring of 2009; It's a GIRL, Arabella Louise.
My daughter (12) and I have watched it from the beginning. It allows my daughter and I to talk about things that I probably would not bring up and I have to say I was surprised at how much she already knew about sex.
These are things that our children deal with everyday, as much as we try to protect them from it. I would rather talk about it with my dd and have her see all of the consequences then have her be a statistic. I was a teenage mom and do not want that for her.
I have to say that I've been surprised by what ABC "family" allows on their station. Is "family" just defined as PG13 & up? I have not watched these shows, but just seeing the commercials tells me that my older kids (12 DS & 10 DD) will not be watching it. While both my kids have had the sex "talk", I do not want them to have sex constantly paraded in front of them or see teen pregnancy as acceptable or commonplace. I have several good friends who were teen moms and I know it is not an easy task. I think TV shows geared towards teens are much too graphic. Our kids grow up fast enough as it is.......
Quoting SandCsMom:
My daughter (12) and I have watched it from the beginning. It allows my daughter and I to talk about things that I probably would not bring up and I have to say I was surprised at how much she already knew about sex.
These are things that our children deal with everyday, as much as we try to protect them from it. I would rather talk about it with my dd and have her see all of the consequences then have her be a statistic. I was a teenage mom and do not want that for her.
As with SandCsMom, I too have watched this with my daughter since the beginning. She had been curious about every aspect of relationships. This helped to open up discussions about what real teenagers go through, the peer pressure they have, and misunderstandings that can happen. We too have strict moral standards in our home, but we have always felt that knowledge is more imporant than rules. If they are curious they will find the answers. Better from her father and I than friends. I agree with SandCsMom when she states that these are things that our children deal with everyday. I know I dealt with them and saw friends who went through similar situations as seen on this program. The key to watching it isn't for the program to send a "message" it's for the parents to discuss the "message" and the children to be able to figure out how it fits into their life.
I LOVE the show!!!!!!!! I tape it in case I miss a show. I have 2 grown kids now, both with chldren of their own and I do NOT think i t promtes teen pregnancys at all. I think i tshows the parents what kind of choices our chldren will najke as they grow up. Growing up is NOT something we can sheild them from so I feel informing them, of the consequendces their choices can have along the way, is very smart! I tlkaed to my children about smoking, my son still smoked but at least he can't say... They never exlplained what can happen to me. I love the show! I think it shows how family can pull together when they need to,
I too understand the concerns about the show and in general I have to agree that ABC Family, is really losing its "Family". I was very concerned that they added "That 70's show" as a Family channel selection. As to "The Secret Life" I don't think my 11 year old son has much interest but my 14 year old son puts it on sometimes as he does his homework. He is pretty mature and realizes that some of the situations are very dramatized but also realistic enough to know that things do happen. I too look at it as a way to hopefully start discussions when they are ready.
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- momofthree1084
on Jan. 6, 2009 at 10:16 PM