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Cathy, 16, Mom

From Sarah Elzas | 00:06:06
Producers: Sarah Elzas

Credit:
Enter Cathy's world of toddlers, diapers and high school parenting classes...

"If I could still have the same kids, I would have waited. But- I love my kids.I wouldn't give 'em up for the world. No matter how hard it is."

Cathy is 16. She loves listening to Outkast. She wanted to be a lawyer, but now she thinks she wants to be an accountant. Cathy is also still a freshman in high school because she is the mother of two little boys, the oldest, James, is two years old. She attends a high school for teen mothers which is where she gets the most support from anyone all day.

This is a non-narrated, first-person glimpse into the chaotic life of a very young mother. It is not a story of regret and moralizing about early sexuality. Instead, Cathy reflects on her need to be grown-up, as a mother to her two boys, while also wanting to be just a teenager.

This piece was produced at the Salt Institute for Documentary Studies. Hide full description

"If I could still have the same kids, I would have waited. But- I love my kids.I wouldn't give 'em up for the world. No matter how hard it is." Cathy is 16. She loves listening to Outkast. She wanted to be a lawyer, but now she thinks she wants to be an accountant. Cathy is also still a freshman in high school because she is the mother of two little boys, the oldest, James, is two years old. She attends a high school for teen mothers which is where she gets the most support from anyone all day. This is a non-narrated, first-person glimpse into the chaotic life of a very young mother. It is not a story of regret and moralizing...
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6 Comments Atom Feed

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Felix Poleheptewa

Posted on March 13, 2007 at 12:17 PM | Permalink

Review of Cathy, 16, Mom

This is real and down right raw, because it tells you how it is to be a teen parent right down to bone. Some teens think that ?Oh! Taking care of a kid is easy.? But in reality it is hard to be a teen parent. Cathy gives you her views of how she reacts to all the problems that happen at home. Then at parenting class that is the really the only place that she get support for her kids. All teen parents say it is hard to be a mother/father to their child. If every teen were to get pregnant and have a child then they would know how it feels to be taking care of a child.
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Jenny Brundin

Posted on May 05, 2006 at 10:16 AM | Permalink

Review of Cathy, 16, Mom

This piece is refreshing because its narrator is a real person, not a polished public radio producer. The scenes are also not the typical predictable, controlled scenes but reveal unexpected events in the life of a teen mom.
There is obviously a level of intimacy established between Elzas and 16-year old Cathy that allows the teenager to open up in a very real way, swearing and all. You hear her teenage enthusiasm for music ie. OutKast, and how she reacts wildly when her son spills over the baby's formula, or she how admits how she sometimes feels like shaking her son. But you also hear her in more sober moments talking about her love for her sons, how its hard to be a mature adult when she?s only 16, yet how she thinks she?s a better mom being younger. You sense she is a long way away from her dreams of having a career.
It is a very alive and realistic portrait of a teen mom that listeners will enjoy.

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andrew walsh

Posted on January 03, 2006 at 12:28 PM | Permalink

Review of Cathy, 16, Mom

This piece is good because it doesn't really hold back. It's pretty raw, and it covers the many different moods of the situation. The tough subject matter wouldn't have been as well-represented if Sarah had taken out the hard-to-listen-to stuff (like the desire to violently shake the children).

Our show used this piece next to an interview about a book that collects one-day diary entries from women across the country. I think they worked well together.

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Broadcast History

11/19/04 on KPFA (California)
1/3/06 on New Hampshire public radio
5/10/06 on KUER (Utah)

Transcript

SUGGESTED INTRO:
Each year, about 450,000 American teenagers become mothers. Teen moms don't have it easy. They have to raise children while they are still kids themselves. As they try to balance diapers and homework, it's not surprising that fewer than half of teen parents graduate from high school with their peers. Producer Sarah Elzas has this profile of a teen mom living in Waterville, Maine.

OUTRO: This piece was produced by independent producer Sarah Elzas at the Salt Institute for Documentary Studies.

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(sounds of Cathy with the kids)

Like, I weren't so upset when I got pregnant with James. I figured I could do it. It's like, 'I don't know what everyone was talking about, taking care of kids is easy.' But it's not. I love it now. It's frustrating but?

(sounds of Cathy with the kids)

I'm Cathy....
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Content Advisory

Four bad words that can be bleeped:
- Cathy says "that shit's not cheap, James" at 1:10
- Cathy sings with Outkast "I know you like to think your shit don't stink!" at 2:04
- Outkast sings "I know you like to think your shit don't stink" at 2:16
- Cathy says "all the reading, and I'm like 'fuck that'" at 4:33

Musical Works

"Roses" by Outkast

Bought By (7)

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