LauraLocket86
New member
because there’s a natural progression of maturity. 19 year olds are still finding themselves, learning adult skills like cooking and money management and learning about the workplace. Repeatedly dating fuck boys and dressing like you’re in your mid 20s, plus not being able to relax and joke around and constantly being over-serious isn’t indicative of maturity to me - it’s indicative of someone growing up too fast for whatever reason.
lots of people grow up too soon, whether through their own choices (eg having a baby young) or because it’s forced on them. I’d moved out at 19 and got my first boyfriend and had already held down two jobs at that age, but I was still immature in a lot of ways. I wasn’t dressing like a 30 year old, I wasn’t getting cosmetic work done, I didn’t have a list of ex boyfriends from my mid teens. Childhood is so short, it’s a shame to see Gemma dressing in heels and skirts and looking 10 years older in her mid teens. It reminds me of girls in my year at school desperate to be seen as older, dating older men, dressing older, acting older - and completely missing out and enjoying being a teen and probably damaging themselves by throwing themselves into situations they weren’t ready for.
personally, I think just because one woman can manage at 19 with a baby doesn’t make it aspirational or that the expectation should be all 19 year olds are capabale of that. Most arent, and nor should they be. I have a huge wealth of life experience and patience in my 30s that make me feel prepared for a kid that I didn’t have at 19. That attitude is a bit like “well I had to grow up super early so I don’t see anything wrong with it”. It’s a commentary on Gemmas life choices, not yours.
having a kid at 19 is irrelevant to the discussion about Gemma really. And this isn’t mumsnet where we all talk about how it’s ok to be a teenage/SAH mum.
Sorry but the paragraph at the end was a little unnecessary. I too was a Mum at 19 - I'm nearly 36 now and it WAS OK for me to be a teenage Mum
BUT i agree that we can't compare Gemmas maturity to a teenage Mum as she is not in the same situation. The "She's too young" argument annoys me. People keep pointing out she has been in a pandemic since she was 16 and shouldn't have dated simply isn't true. None of us stayed in for an entire two years. I worked, I went out in bubbles if and when we could. I ate out during eat out to help out when it was safe. I followed lockdown rules but also got out when I could and I imagine for her it was the same. Someone I know met their husband to be who they are marrying next week at the end of lockdown..... we can't all keep acting like Gemma doesn't know relationships and men and is naive.
On Love Island Australia they have had a few 19 year olds who seemed more mature than everyone else too. If they are emotionally mature about I think it is fine.
Again, maybe meant to be? 
