Family Ties That Bind the Spears

It has to be commented on here. You didn’t think I’d actually ignore this story, did you?

Jamie Lynn Spears, the 16 year old sister of Britney has announced she is pregnant by a 19 year old from Mississippi. This is a girl who is in the public eye not just because of her famous sister, but also as the star of Nickelodeon’s Zoey 101. The baby’s father is 19 and reportedly a pipe-fitter, and there is no word on how it was he came to meet the younger Spears. Reportedly, he’s a very shy young man and was not looking to be in the public eye at all. The word is that Spears is going to keep the baby and bring him/her back to Louisiana, her home state, to raise, and that she and the baby’s father are no longer in a relationship together.

The news has caused Spears’ mother to delay the release of a book she is writing on parenting. Let’s review … Britney Spears married for the first time in Las Vegas to a childhood friend. No one could figure out where this was coming from, and 55 hours later, the marriage was annulled. Her second marriage was to dancer Kevin Federline, and after filming a reality show together of themselves as newlyweds, they quickly had two children together. Before the younger child was even a few months old, his parents were separated.

If the story would have ended there it would have been fine, but it just continued to get more and more weird. Spears was seen hitting the night spots with pal Paris Hilton, caught in embarrassing positions without panties, seen drunk, having her baby in his car seat facing the wrong way, and eventually was found getting a tattoo with a shaved head, before entering herself into drug rehab. It was very clear there was something terribly wrong. Federline fought and won custody of his two sons, while Spears tried to make a comeback, but received terrible reviews after an awkward performance at the MTV Video Music Awards. She then was involved in a hit and run, facing jail time.

So why is it Spears’ mother feels she is expert enough at parenting to write a book? Not that I’m trashing her or anything, as parenting is definitely the most difficult thing I’ve ever done, but then again, I recognize my mistakes and don’t feel I should be writing a parenting book. You have to look at the connection that both of her daughters seek out male attention in an overt way, like there’s something missing. And on top of this, Britney was estranged from her mother for some time, so why is she a parenting expert? Again, I’m not trashing anyone, as it’s not like these things happening to her daughters, or the fact that they’re estranged, means she’s a bad mother or anything. Yet, why do they make her an expert?

And, of course, the other side of the issue here is the fact that Jamie Lynn Spears is a star on a television show for kids. There are probably many questioning whether she should continue in this role when in her personal life she will be an unwed teenaged mother. I think it all depends on the choices she makes, unlike the bad ones her older sister seems to perpetually make. If she does the right thing by the child, taking care of the baby, either herself or by giving the child up, either way, as long as the child is cared for properly, that’s the first way she can still be a good role model. The other would be to speak out to young teenage girls and address some of her mistakes, teaching them about using protection against STDs and unwanted pregnancies. Then, she would still be a good role model. As for the father, what are the rules for statutory rape in Mississippi?

The same goes for her more famous sister. Had Britney left Kevin Federline and addressed her issues at that point, telling girls they don’t have to have a man in their lives to make them happy, and that she would now be taking care of her sons, as that was her primary responsibility, instead of going on a long partying binge, she could have still maintained her role as America’s Sweetheart.

The ball’s in Jamie Lynn’s hands. What’s her next move going to be? A good or bad decision?

Comments on the Spears’ sisters? Email me at LauraBelle@sofachip.com.

Popularity: 10% [?]