With the front page featured assault this week touting Britney Spears' little sis Jamie Lynn's teen pregnancy, I can't seem to stop thinking about the whole thing... How in the world would I have prepared for precious Skye at 16 years of age...? I won't claim to be the moral authority, I just worry about the situation. And how would I feel if that were Skye? (WOW.)

In addition, how many people are already working to earn a buck off of her bump? First the magazine that bought her breaking news, and then maternity maven Liz Lange is already offering fashion advice! Did you see that?

"She's a young girl, so I would want to keep [her look] innocent," top maternity designer Liz Lange told PEOPLE at the Great Debaters premiere in New York Wednesday night. "I think little cute dresses and jeans with tight-fitting tee shirts. ... She's 16, and I'd like to see her look her age."

As for how her style should differ from big sis Britney Spears, who frequented Lange's L.A. boutique during her two pregnancies, Lange says, "Britney was into cowboy boots with little dresses. That was her style. I'd like to see Jamie Lynn go a little plainer. [No] belly baring for her!"

Lange continued: "I hope she's ready for this – It's definitely a big step. I know that as a mother myself. But if this is what she wants and what their family wants, then mazel tov."

Mazel tov? If you say so. For the baby's sake, I hope so!

I can tell you how I would feel if that was my child.  Where did I go wrong?!?!  I do not claim to be the moral authority either, however, to allow your 15-16 year old child to live with her boyfriend only says:  Go ahead.  Wow--Liz Lange only sounds to be promoting her teenage pregnancy by making it a fashion statement.  I am flabergasted, for lack of a better word!  Spending quality time with your children, instead of spending their money, may help too.

Tamara, I've checked in on this thread so often --- thank you for breaking the ice!

Like you, I cannot and would not claim to be the moral authority; but goodness, I cannot for a single solitary minute (even with my hard-earned, high school goodie-goodie status) imagine my mama "okaying" even a single "sleep-over" with a boy. Wondering now if Lynne Spears is regretting the permissions granted, or if she is genuinely "okay" with things as they've transpired.

Since what is done is done, I can only hope that every possible effort will be made to bolster and support Jamie Lynn (and the baby's father if he is "joining the family" as it were...). Wonder (and hope) if maybe big sister Britney might use this as an opportunity to take on more of a role-model position for her little sister.... 

Re: Liz Lange, perhaps she is optimistically trying to be upbeat and "make the most of the situation"...I wonder if we could see (rather than read) her speak her words it would convey differently.

(and Tamara, I think "flabergasted" is a perfectly fine and applicable word!   )

Looking forward to getting to know you better on the boards!

Being the bearer of a Bump myself, I can't imagine trying to weather the pregnancy course with oodles of press hounding my every move. I hope that, as fascinating as it all is, we can just back up a second and remember that this is a child with child.

The mother, on the other hand, is an entirely different story... At first, I remembered how completely unlikely I was in my teen years to listen to parental advice, and started to sympathize with her plight. But then it was glaringly apparent to me that, whether your child is interested in what you have to say or not, it is still your duty to not only say it, but to subsequently enforce it. There's no question that she dropped the ball on that one.

On the third hand, Allie's right: what's done is done. Would we have preferred Mama Spears choose to simply make the pregnancy go away...? They could have made the decision to sweep this all under the rug, couldn't they? We never would have known... Of course, then they also wouldn't have pocketed a million dollars selling the story to OK! magazine either...

Isabelle,

I think you summed it ALL up with "parents enforcing the rules", whether your children are interested in the rules or not.  My mother and father allowed me to date a 17 y/o senior when I was a 14 y/o freshman.  I could not go with him in his car, but they would allow me to go to his home with parents there, to my home, or meet at the movies.  I was not angry with them, b/c they did show trust in certain ways, instead of banning me from him totally.  By the time prom came around, they allowed him to pick me up and take me home.  We gradually gained my parents' trust, and I dated him for almost 3 years.  My mother prayed a lot too for my well being!

 I'm sure little Jamie Lynn is devastated to a certain degree, and very embarrassed, as I would have been without all of the paps.

 It seems that all Jamie Lynn knows is what someone has always forced her into, which leads to rebellion and an "I'll show them" approach.  At least she is taking responsibility for her actions, and I wish her the best.  I just hope this incident is not made into an OK thing in her young fans' eyes.

A Very Happy New Year To All!

Tamara Still-McCann