The UK's youngest parents—a 12-year-old girl and 13-year-old boy—made headlines the world over today as they welcomed a baby girl.
According to an article in Metro, the new mom (who cannot be named for legal reasons) was apparently only 11 and attending elementary school when she fell pregnant. The maternal grandmother is only also among Britain's youngest, at age 27.
The couple, with the "lowest combined age of any British parents in history," had been dating for a year prior to the pregnancy. They are said to be very much "in love" and plan to raise the baby together.
"Before people judge they should find out what’s happened," said the girl's father, Greg. "It is heartbreaking, of course it is. For any man to find out their daughter has become pregnant. It is but you can’t turn back time, you can only go forwards."
Both sets of grandparents are supportive. And the young mother is planning to return to school in the fall.
The girl's father defended his daughter, claiming though he could not supervise her 24/7, he did not feel ashamed of her actions.
"She’s brought something beautiful into the world and we’re going to stand by her."
I wasn't even a mom by 27, let alone a grandmother—yet this scenario isn't altogether uncommon. Our biology prepares us for having babies while we are still babies ourselves.
Not all parents are so supportive; this is one lucky girl.
Was this school within its rights to provide girls with contraceptives?
Printer-friendly version