I was a little apprehensive when my daughter signed up for a “parenting” class at her high school. I could tell she was going into this thinking it was a “cute” way to see what being a parent is like.
One of the things she was most excited about was bringing home a fake baby. It is one of those really expensive “dolls” that can be tracked. The teacher will know if you took care of the baby’s needs, how often you responded to crying, and so on.
She is scheduled to bring her baby home this coming weekend. We received a letter from the teacher saying to expect disruptions to the weekend and that our child will likely have interrupted sleep.
Already I have seen a change in her attitude. Now she isn’t so crazy about the idea. She has been working with these babies in class and as she says, “They’re annoying.” Yes, they cry a lot and never at an opportune time.
Hmmm…maybe there really is something to this.
I have heard various opinions on whether these programs really work. Some believe they are more likely to cause a girl to wait. It allows them the chance to see what it’s really like.
Others have said that it’s a shame girls are taught how much a baby can ruin your life. There are good sides of having one, which they could end up missing out on if they decide to never have a baby.
I tend to have my own doubts about how well this type of program will work for most teens. In the “heat of the moment,” will they really be thinking about that computerized baby they brought home one weekend?
Although I have my skepticism about the whole thing and really wish we wouldn’t be dealing with it this upcoming weekend, I am thankful for the open conversations I can have with my daughter. I think that talking to our teens goes a lot further than we think it does.
As for this weekend…well, you won’t be seeing me at home very much.
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