Lynne Spears has been making the rounds promoting her new sorta tell-all book, “Through the Storm: A Real Story of Fame and Family in a Tabloid World,” and she actually has made a few good points in recent interviews. Lynne’s pointed out some of the hypocrisy in dealing with the media and discussed some of the challenges the Spears family has had to face with them.
For example, Jamie Lynn got a ton of heat for getting pregnant at 16. Yet Lynne claims that Sarah Palin has been “celebrated” for her daughter Bristol’s teenage pregnancy.
Newsweek: You and Jamie Lynn got some negative press when she got pregnant so young. But more recently, 17-year-old Bristol Palin, and her mother, Sarah Palin, the Republican vice presidential candidate, found themselves in a similar situation. And the public reaction has been different.
Lynne Spears: It’s a totally different reaction. It’s as if [Sarah Palin] became celebrated. I mean, the mother, Palin, was celebrated for this. Every woman in the world has applauded her strength and her convictions and poor little old Jamie Lynn—you saw how she was crucified. Everybody did, firsthand … I just feel like it’s been a very hypocritical situation.
[From Newsweek]
One important distinction is that the pregnant teenager in the Palin family is the daughter of someone who’s a public figure; whereas the pregnant teenager in the Spears family IS a public figure. Bristol Palin has a bit more of an expectation of privacy since she’s only famous because of her mom’s choices; Jaime Lynn is famous because of her family but is also an actress and a celebrity. So Palin’s pregnancy isn’t scrutinized in the same way Spears’ was. But I do see Lynne Spears’ point.
I think a big part of it was that Jamie Lynn’s pregnancy came first, so she took the brunt of the media attention. More of the hypothetical questions about what role teenage pregnancy plays in our larger society were leveled at Jamie Lynn and had already been debated to death by the time Bristol Palin became pregnant.
Lynn also complains to Newsweek that women are having babies when they’re too old and should have them in their twenties. I was willing to empathize with the previous complaint, but don’t really care for this one.
Newsweek:What’s it like to hear so many people trying to figure out what role your daughter’s pregnancy plays in society?
Lynne Spears: If you look back in history … We’re [in] a much more technical age, much more educated in some ways. But I think our generation is having babies so old … I think 20s, that’s a good age … [when women get older] their bodies are tearing down. When they start having babies it makes it so much more difficult and then they can’t get pregnant, because all the stuff is kinda set in … I don’t think people are looking at it that way. I think your 20s is a good time to have babies…
[From Newsweek]
That’s funny, because I think thirties is a good time to have babies. Maybe your body is “tearing down” but you probably also know better than to drive with your baby on your lap and a few other notoriously stupid decisions a famous mother in her twenties has made. I’m pretty sure Lynne has heard of her (cough Britney). This comment only bugged me as much as it did because Lynne makes a point of saying that she wouldn’t tell anybody else how to parent. But apparently telling them when to parent is fine.
Lynn Spears is shown on 8/26/08. Credit: PER/Fame Pictures. Sarah Palin is shown on 2/26/08 at a press conference. Credit: Carrie Devorah / WENN
I agree with her about the two-faced reaction. With Jamie Lynn the whole reaction was how horrible it was, how she had a bad mother, and the opposite seems true for Palin.
As for when to have babies – I had all three of mine in my 20s, but I had more patience and more enjoyment with the last baby, born when I was 29, more than I enjoyed the one born at 21. Still, it’s nice to have them early and be able to be active with them, and to reach the blessed “grown child” stage of life when you’re young enough to still be active. It’s all in what you want, and everyone has different ideas. Advantages both ways. I do think it’s hard if you wait until your 40s to start having kids, because kids can flat wear you out, and you’re still dealing with teenagers when you’re starting to feel the effects of aging. I’m not saying it’s wrong to do it then, I’d just think that the mid-20s to mid-30s are the optimal time. But that’s my opinion. And Lynn gave her opinion. She said “I think”.
Agree, syko, but would add that emotional maturity and financial security should also play a huge part in the ‘right time for a baby’ decision. For some, that’s in their 20s, others 30s and others 40s.
Agree w/G and Syko, but would also add a comment or two.
First of all, Lynn Spears is an idiot. Jamie Lynn got so much attention because she’s the second stage of crazy in the family. All the wrong choices at all the wrong times, in front of all the wrong people. Whereas the Palin kid doesn’t have the history of mental instability that the Spears family does. It’s no wonder they got more attention.
Second – I had both of my children in my early 20’s, but I wholeheartedly respect people who wait until their 30’s. The age difference (for activity/playing with your kids) isn’t that big of a deal, you’re still young at 30. Again, Lynn Spears is an idiot.
Lynne Spears may indeed by an idiot and I hate to have to agree with her on any subject but she’s dead on the money on this one. Bill O’Reilly called Spear’s parents “pinheads” for “not knowing what their child was doing”. But the Palins are untouchable, it’s a family matter, and isn’t it touching how Bristol chose life? It’s crap. Both girls have a hard road ahead of them, let them live it in peace. At least both girls have the financial ability to support their children.
Lynn,lynn,lynn….it takes more than a young body to parent. Maybe when you’re a little older you’re hopefully wiser? Have more financial stability both of which should prevent you from pimping out your kids…wait, I’m having an argument with Lynn Spears about raising children?! gotta go .
Who’s favoring who? Spears gets million dollar payouts for tabloid covers and the Palin family gets rumors of incest.
Hypocrisy goes both ways on this one.
I had my first child at 33 and second at 35 and MAN, I wish I’d started earlier!!! You have so much more energy in your 20s. I’m not saying I was an old, exhausted hag at 33, but I do believe recovery from an exhausting labour and delivery takes longer because your body doesn’t bounce back as quickly, nor are you able to cope with the lack of sleep as well as in your 20s. Having said that, I wasn’t ready to have kids in my 20s, and maybe wouldn’t have appreciated them quite as much. Who knows?
Yep, Spears has one small good point surrounded by her usual crap – the media crucified Jamie-Lynn, and the MSM’s been too terrified to call out the Palin’s on their similar bull$hit.
I was 19, 20, 21, 29, 31 with my kids.
Much more energy when I was 19, more patience at 31.
Our youngest just left for college, alone at last….. life is good 😀
Bravo JayBird!!!
The difference between Palin and JL/Spears is that JL was a child star on a kid’s program where pre-pubescent little girls looked up to her and probably emulated her.
On the other hand, Palin’s daughter was a nobody until Mrs. Palin showed up at the RNC. The daughter is still a nobody and will continue to be a nobody.
She is certainly not a “role model” (cough cough) like JL was supposed to be.
Also, momma Spears got roasted as worst mother of the year because her other daughter, Brit, was going bat shit crazy and in the midst of a total breakdown. Then to top it all off her youngest underage daughter ended up pregnate while starring in a children’s program targeted to little girls who are under 12 for the most part.
It is not a conspiracy.
Personally, I think Bristol’s a slut too. She’s overwhelming proof that teaching abstinence doesn’t work. You can tell kids not to have sex but if they want to, they will.
God, when is this woman going to shut it, already? You messed up, Lynne, now show a little dignity and piss off.
Had my first at 31 and my second at 32. While some are ready in their twenties, for sure, I was far too irresponsible and nowhere near mature enough to deal with parenthood. And despite what Lynne claims, no amount of energy will prepare you for life with a newborn, or a multi-kid household.
Oh, and I’m not sure what “tearing down” means, but at 33, I can still manage to get out of bed on my own, and even walk a few steps without assistance. 🙄
Lynne has raised two f*cked up kids. Of course, there is going to be plenty of negative reaction. She has a track record.
As soon as Palin announced that her daughter was pregnant she got the “pat on the back”, “they were considered an ordinary family with ordinary problems”. But The Spears family was crucified and Lynne was a horrible mother and Jamie Lynn a “slut”. Give me a break this country is soooo hyprocritical.
if it was one of the obama girls (obviously if they were 16 or 17) who turned up preggers bill o’reilly & his dimwitted cohorts would never stop screaming “slutty black welfare queen!” from the top of every building.
Sarah Palin’s daughter was commended by the Religious Right for not having an abortion. The Religious Right thinks the ONLY thing that ALL women should do is have babies. Religious freaks also tend to advocate girls getting married and pregnant as young as possible. It helps to further the goals of a male-dominated world.
I read and heard only complete scorn and contempt for the Palin family. The hue and cry against sexual abstinence, the what-kind-of-parent-are-you, etc. was all over the news, ABD news, anyway. I saw only jeering directed at Sarah Palin. But that was only on ABC, perhaps I missed the hyprocrisy Lynn Spears speaks of.
The hypocrisy is outrageous, particularly considering that Palin is a member of the “abstinence only education” camp. It’s more an embarrassment to her than anything else, though, since she is living with the proof that her theories don’t work…or, it should be, but the religious right has somehow managed to turn the whole thing upside-down in their minds and figure out how to rationalize celebrating her instead of attacking her as they would anyone else in the same situation. Even though it’s the first sign of rational thought I’ve seen out of that group in ages, it’s not really fair to others who are dealing with the same issues.
Hopefully the hypocrisy will speak for itself. I hear this same Ms. Palin cut funding for a shelter for single teen mothers. Nice. 🙄
My mother was 40 when I was born. I don’t think I missed out on anything when I was a kid–she was established in her job, got to work part time till I was 7 or 8, and her and my dad were a little more comfortable financially. BUT, now she’s 72 and she guilts me out about never going to know her grandchildren (I haven’t had any yet, haven’t had the opportunity), and she’s just old. I’m faced with my parents’ mortality at too young of an age, in my opinion. And heaven forbid something happen and they need to go into a nursing home or something. I’m not prepared for all of that.
to be fair, i’m not sure Lynne was talking about RAISING children, but HAVING children. totally different really – having being the physical act of pregnancy and giving birth. in which case she’s dead spot on. in our 20s and early 30s, women are far less prone to have children with birth defects, complications, and we are more likely to become pregnant. of course, too young has problems too (ectopic pregnancy, more likely to screw up, incomplete development of the pelvis), so 22-35 really seems like the developmental sweet spot.
Also, to Annicka, I don’t think you should use the term “slut” just because she popped up pregnant at 17. “Slut” is someone who sleeps around with a lot of different people, without being in a relationship. I don’t think we know that that is the case with Bristol.
And don’t take this as being supporting of Palin. AM TOTALLY NOT SUPPORTIVE OF PALIN!! I do feel bad for her daughter. That woman KNEW her daughter’s business would be all over the news all over the world, and it was selfish of her to accept the offer to be the running mate.
My Dad was 44 when I was born, and while he’s 77 now, he’s still as active as most people my age. It’s not like he’s shuffling around waiting to die. Besides, anybody could die at any time, regardless of their age, so there’s no sense in worrying about it.
🙁 Not sure what Lynne is driving at with the whole Palin comparison. They are both horrible mothers who both slept at the wheel. Bristol is not an angel. She loved to drink and her momma wasn’t around to see what the hell was going on in her home and Jamie Lynn was given TOO much liberty too young. Just cause she had money didn’t mean she had the maturity to not sleep with her boyfriend at her age.
Lynne needs to gently told to STFU.
👿
I think you’re right, actingrc, and I’ll bet that comment was a subtle dig at Palin for giving birth to a child with Down’s Syndrome. Or, perhaps that’s just my own perception because I personally think it was a highly self-serving and irresponsible thing to do.
I haven’t really seen people talking about it (perhaps they are afraid), but I think it’s just another illustration of this woman’s un-readiness to lead. Obviously Alaska doesn’t have an overpopulation problem, but we do have an enormous global problem with masses of humans choking our planet to death. Her inability to see beyond the borders of her state speaks to her narrow, insular vision and to the fact that she most certainly doesn’t represent me!
Being pro-life is tough. I mean…it’s easy to talk the talk, but not to walk the walk.
If Palin had aborted Trig, and Bristol had aborted her baby, no one would have ever known. Instead, they practiced what they preach. Isn’t that a good thing? If either of them had an abortion and somehow it was uncovered, wouldn’t everyone now be screaming ‘hypocrite’?
We pro-lifers want babies born alive, not killed in the womb. We want them to have the best life possible, so a stable 2 parent home is optimal. But we understand that doesn’t always happen. Violence to the baby in the womb is NEVER acceptable.
Lynn, OTOH, I think was criticized for letting Britney mess herself up at a young age, and people fear that her other daughter will go the same path. So far, so good, and I know I wish her the best of luck! Even with a father in the picture, I think we all question the stability of the Spears family overall.
Gracie, everyone is already screaming “hypocrite”.
@ manda: a slut is a slang term for prostitute. therefore, a “slut” is not someone who sleeps with lots of different people, it is a person who has sex for money/favors. just to be clear.
I agree 100% with what Kate says:
“if it was one of the obama girls (obviously if they were 16 or 17) who turned up preggers bill o’reilly & his dimwitted cohorts would never stop screaming “slutty black welfare queen!” from the top of every building.”
Thank you, Kate.
😯 i will never understand why the people applaud Palin,,,i mean for what?
she doesn’t believe in a women’s right to choose, she doesn’t believe in telling young people about birth control..she is for teaching absinence but is that working in her house?
i mean My GOD the town she governs charges for rape kits.
she is a women who hates women…. 😯 😯 😕
lanette:
She is not a woman who hates women. She’s a woman who had the audacity NOT to agree with everything you believe…and that my friend, to you, is the greatest insult.
…and she governs the state of Alaska.
She is a woman who doesn’t believe in what an entire generation of women have come to see as basic rights – the right to choose when they are going to have a baby, and to be educated about their choices, the right to (or at least, the goal of) equal pay for equal work, and the right to not be further victimized after having already been treated as sexual chattel by means of violence and intimidation. If she had her way, we would all be reduced to breeding sow status. She definitely comes across as a closet misogynist if you ask me!
Which one is more lizard-like in their picture? I can’t make up my mind 😆