Lay Off Jamie Lynn

As a mom blogger, I've been reading and watching all the judgemental commentary flying all over the web and TV about the latest train wreck situation to hit the Spears family. After hearing about what an absolute mess Britney Spears' life has become, her sister has now been thrust into the spotlight after the media announced that she's pregnant - at 16.

For any other teenager, this would be one of the most traumatic moments of their lives and they would either be forced to confide in their parents or figure out in private how they are going to deal with this news that will effectively change their life forever. For Jamie Lynn Spears, she doesn't get the chance to keep her secret to herself. She's forced to share it with every entertainment outlet in the free world and is forced to suffer a slew of hateful commentary about what a terrible role model she is for getting pregnant while she's still a kid herself.

What people seem to forget in this process is that Jamie Lynn and her big sister were both children when their careers hit the stratosphere and now they both have to deal with adult responsibilities before they have been given the chance to grow up themselves.

According to Jamie Lynn, she plans to move away from the Hollywood spotlight and give birth to "it" somewhere down South. Let us hope that for her sake, she'll realize that "it" is going to be someone who is going to depend upon her to care for them, love them and teach them not to repeat the same mistakes they did when they were a teenager.

It is sad that so much pressure has been put upon Jamie Lynn and Britney to the point where they are cast into the spotlight with the media watching their every move. But that's what the press thrives on - they love to build someone up only to relish in those moments when that star takes a fall from grace. I am sure there are plenty of people with secrets or indiscretions in their own family that they'd like to keep to themselves. Why not give Jamie Lynn and Britney the same respect - it's their life, it's their decisions - we're just the the ones watching them from the comfort of our homes casting judgement as we peer into the window of their misfortune.

So how about in 2008, we all make a resolution to leave Britney and Jamie Lynn alone. Let's stop building up these teen stars only to rip them apart when something in their lives goes wrong. And perhaps if we do lay off, Britney can work out her litany of problems and focus on being a good mom to her kids. And while Jamie Lynn experiences pregnancy and prepares for motherhood, let's hope she has a strong support system by her side who will help her close the door on her childhood and prepare her for one of the toughest challenges of her life.

Comments

[cinemaven]

You're so off base with this article. Your assumption that these girls were forced into anything is absolute nonsense. Allowed would be a much more appropriate word. They both were allowed to live in a fantasy world without good parental guidance. Jamie Lynn was allowed to begin a relationship when she was much too young for that responsibility. She was given so much freedom that at 16 she was living with her 19 yr. old boyfriend of several years.

How about holding the parties who are responsible for this responsible instead of once again giving these girls and their parents someone else to blame? If you really believed that the best way to deal with this was to leave them alone, you would have tossed this article.



"So how about in 2008, we all make a resolution to leave Britney and Jamie Lynn alone."

I've left them alone for their whole careers but every time I open a paper, turn on the "news" or click open a favourite website, there they are.

I'd like to see them make a resolution to leave me alone. I'd like that whole family to just go away. They've made enough money now that they could easily all wander off to a nice trailer park and retire. I promise not to look for them.

[cheesewiz]

Does the writer of this silly blog know that Mama Spears sold the rights to her daughter's story for one million dollars? Does she know that Brit herself lets the paps know when she leaves the house? I'd like to see an addendum to this blog in light of this. White trash characters are quite funny and this explains the public's fascination with the Spears family.

[wshanks]

Mama Spears sold the story - "thrust into the spotlight?" Give me a break. I didn't even know who Jamie Lynn Spears was before this story. By pimping her daughters out, Mama Spears is open to whatever criticism gets thrown at her. After all, that's show business, and that's the life that both she and her daughters have chosen.

I'd agree that we should leave them alone if for no other reason than I just want them to go away...

[Absurdist]

For what it's worth, I have never been able to stomach Britney Spears, and I've never even heard of her little sister, so it's a lot easier for me to stand in judgement, having thought little of them to begin with. I thought the press build-up of a very low-talented pop tart was a textbook case of corporate collusion, so to find out that she's no better than the average girl was only confirmation of things I already thought. These Spears people have presented themselves as being somehow more special than quite a few people, and knocking them down isn't so much an exercise in schadenfreude as it is simple social Darwinism.

[marty362]

Hey, she's keeping the kid. That's a good thing. I wish her and her baby happiness.

[ControlledBurn]

Once again, it's our fault.

[lookingAhead]

So what we are suppose to feel sorry for them. NOT You can't say the same for the Olsen twins. Why should these girls get special treatment. If anything I blame the parents and the children. I have no sympathy for their mistakes. We all make them and have to learn to live with them. It is part of growing up. If these kids want to play grown up then they should have had better guardians.

[ThatsNotFunny]

Her sister has not been thrust into the spotlight, she's an actress with a currently running television show.

"The media" did not announce she was pregnant, she made this announcement herself in OK magazine, and I'm sure they were paid handsomely for such an exclusive.

Instead of blaming the media, how about blaming the parents for exploiting their children like cash cows?