Teen MomUsed to Be a Cautionary Tale; Now, I Think Some of Those Cast Members Are Examples of Parenting Done Right

Mar. 15, 2025

The formula was working. My friends and I were also high school students and16 and Pregnantbecamethecautionary tale for my friend group. It opened our eyes to all the teenage things — being a part of a sports team, prom, dating, going to the mall with friends and really just being carefree — that teen parents wouldn’t experience the same way.

We sawMaci BookoutandFarrah Abrahamstruggle to keep up with their cheerleading commitments; we sawLeah Messernot only having to adjust to having twins, but also having to learn how to take care of a child born with a disability; we sawAmber PortwoodandJenelle Evanscoming to terms with their lifestyle changes as new parents; and in one way or another, all the girls had challenges with their children’s fathers.

Maci Bookout with son Bentley.Maci Bookout/ Instagram

Maci Bookout/ Instagram

The most impactful for me was perhapsCatelynn Lowelland her then-boyfriend (now husband)Tyler Baltierrawho made the tough decision to give their first daughter up for adoption. I remember being surprised at the fact that choosing adoption didn’t spare them any of the postpartum challenges. They didn’t just go back to being high school students, but they had a new set of problems to deal with — including having to answer to their family, who weren’t in support of their decision.

My friends and I were equal parts judgmental, forewarned and entertained. While I haven’t watched as religiously since the show becameTeen Mom, certain cast members have stayed in my consciousness, as they have been the source of major discourse online as they battledaddiction issues,run into legal woesand showcased some tumultuous co-parenting relationships. The show remained a prime example of how quickly your life can change if you aren’t cautious.

Catelynn and Tyler Baltierra.Tyler Baltierra/Instagram

I’ve recently found myself having a refreshed love for the show after some clips from the midseason premiere ofTeen Mom: The Next Chaptermade their way to my TikTok for you page. First, I had to get over the fact thatthe little tots I saw being born were now the same age — or almost the same age — as their parents when we were first introduced to them nearly two decades ago.

One of my favorite clips was the back and forth between Leah Messer, Corey Sims and their daughter Aliannah, who was born with muscular dystrophy.

The entire conflict hinged on the fact that Ali, 15, was hell-bent onattending a high school football game without her wheelchairwhile Leah and Corey were steadfast on the fact that she needs to have it, because one misstep can cause problems for the teen in the long-term.

Leah Messer and daughter Ali.Leah Messer/Instagram

Leah Messer/Instagram

While there are some real feelings, of course — Leah even ends upcrying over the issuebecause she doesn’t know how to enforce the wheelchair without making her daughter feel othered — I found the entire storyline so endearing.

Although Ali has a disability, the 15-year-old is every bit a typical teenager: She is headstrong, she’s bright and opinionated and she is afierceadvocate for herself. It’s a telling testament to Leah and Corey’s parenting, I feel, especially when you consider the fact that the two didn’t always have the most harmonious co-parenting relationship and that Leah had to overcome a pill addiction at one point.

To raise a confident kid is no easy feat, and the fact that they were able to instill that type of self-esteem in Ali deserves some praise.

For as long as the show has been on, Maci Bookout has been a fan favorite. A consistent parent, what’s admirable about her relationship with 16-year-old Bentley is also how well they communicate. They have the same faceandthe same demeanor, so conversations between them are calm and effective, even when they disagree.

In one of the most touching moments of the season, Maci, her husband Taylor McKinney, Ryan and his wife Amanda Conner present Bentley with his first car and the elated teen takes all four of them on a little ride around the parking lot. It’s a milestone moment that avid watchers of the show may have never seen coming.

Then there’s Leah, Amber Portwood’s daughter with Gary Shirley. The 16-year-old’s relationship with her mom remains strained, however, Leah has found solace in her stepmom Kristina, who’s been around since she was in kindergarten. In a heartwarming and vulnerable moment on the show, Leah reveals she wants Kristina to adopt her because she is the only mother she’s ever really known.

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Not all of the stories from theTeen Momfranchisehave had happy endings, of course, but I think it’s always good to give credit where it’s due. The kids on the current season seem to be thriving and their parents — whom we met as scared, confused and clueless teenagers — have morphed into responsible, grounded and loving 30-something year olds, who are instilling strong values in their kids and showing that every setback can be an opportunity for growth.

More than just a cautionary tale about all the things that can go wrong, theTeen Momfranchise has also shown how people can overcome challenges and make gold out of not-so-ideal situations.

source: people.com