The Baby Borrowers

Posted by Rachel Lister Aug 12, 2008

I have mixed feelings about the reccent reality show "The Baby Borrowers". My first reaction was shock as I wondered how those parents could hand over their infants to teenagers that had little to no childcare experience. Having worked with pregnant teens who have struggled over decisions far too difficult for their age, I can see the reasoning behind the show. I think that the end result was a good one - none of the teens wanted to have a baby before they were ready. I'm positive that I could not have been one of the parents willing to hand over my baby for several days, especially after seeing the way that several of the teens treated the baby's in their care and the parents who were simply trying to help them understand what real life was like.

I had my first baby fairly young. I was 23 when my son was born and while I do believe that I was ready for motherhood I don't think that there was anything that could have fully prepared me for it. Knowing what I do now about how important the first several years of life are, I'm so glad that I was emotional and financially prepared to parent a child.