Are Babies the New Boyfriends?
Young Hollywood thinks so. Why diaper duty might be preferable to dating.
A gorgeous, muscle-bound boyfriend? So last season! The most-wanted arm candy right now is fat, slobbering and breast-obsessed. Yes, babies have replaced boyfriends as the new "It" accessory in Hollywood. Already A-listers including Julia Roberts, Salma Hayek, Milla Jovovich, Keri Russell and Maggie Gyllenhaal have just gotten one; Halle Berry, Jessica Alba, Lily Allen, and Nicole Richie are on the waiting list, and Sheryl Crow and Meg Ryan adopted theirs.
Though the paparazzi breathlessly track every maternal milestone from bump to baby's first photo, one tiny little detail is consistently underplayed: the baby daddy. But, um…whatever! Boyfriends are like, so 15 minutes ago!
Even in big-screen romantic comedies, boyfriends have gone from raison d'etre to third wheel. Two of 2007's biggest hits, Knocked Up and Juno, are about single women who get pregnant and decide to have their babies, even though they're not in a romantic relationship with the fathers of their children (or anyone else).
Still, most experts agree not everyone should be sporting a baby. But like low-rise jeans, lots of people who should be avoiding the trend are jumping on the offspring bandwagon. Exhibit A: Jamie-Lynn Spears. Not only is a baby not a good look for a sixteen-year-old, but her family's mommy track record so far isn't so great. Jamie-Lynn's pregnancy, though, has been a boon to her career.
Pre-procreation, she was barely recognizable except to tweenybopping Nickelodeon fans. Ten or so condom-free minutes later, though, and she's a household name, even managing to momentarily push big sister Britney off the tabloid covers, a feat few have managed in recent history. (And did we mention the $1 million she reportedly pocketed for giving an exclusive on the story to OK!?)
But it's not really that surprising when you think about it. For many stars, babies may be a better bet than most boyfriends (at least in Hollywood, where there's a nanny to change diapers and get up for 3 A.M. feedings). Babies don't dump you, sleep with your friends or get caught making out with strippers in Vegas. They don't sell sex tapes of you. They don't whine because you make more than they do. And babies actually like it when you gain 30 pounds (it means they're getting plenty to eat). Their toys are a lot cheaper, and they don't expect you to bankroll their careers (at least not for a few years).
And nothing can change your image from Train Wreck to Saintly faster than starting a family. Before becoming a mommy, Angelina Jolie was best known for her penchant for porn-star-ish publicity stunts: She made out with her brother…at the Academy Awards! She wore a vial of her (unlikely) second husband Billy Bob Thornton's blood around her neck. She stole Brad Pitt from America's Sweetheart, Jennifer Aniston. Then there were the tattoos and rumors of drug use and lesbian affairs. Jolie seemed destined to be the brunette Anna Nicole Smith…until she adopted an adorable Cambodian baby she named Maddox. Six years and three more kids later, Angelina has been transformed into a latter-day Mother Teresa—with a better wardrobe.
Discussion
young girls are looking at this and thinking to themselves 'if she can have a baby, so can i!' but because they are young, naive, and idealistic they fail to assess the other components of deciding to have a baby. it isn't something that should just be thrust upon someone, and they must then decide if you want to keep it or not, it should be something you and the person you love, after much discussion and planning, have chosen to do.
there are many responsibilities in having the life of a small child in your hands. they can't do anything for themselves, they can't talk to you or tell you what's wrong. having someone (even a little someone) screaming in your face at the top of their lungs takes some getting used to. with an infant, which is unable to be reasoned with or explained to, sometimes they just cry. eventually parents learn the differences in their childrens' cries. the small nuances of responsible loving parenthood are essential to being good parents and eventually role models, and generally a teenager just doesn't have them. generally they don't have the life experience and knowledge to provide that level of constant care. they are inherently selfish and don't think beyond the moment. they tend to be fickle, and change their minds about what they like frequently.
they haven't experienced a full childhood before they are making a decision that will affect the rest of their lives. 18+ years when raising a child. by the time you are done you won't be in your 20's anymore. experience life before you go permanently altering it, that's all i'm saying.
