Who would be a young parent?

[CharlotteTJohanssen]

So who do you think would be a parent young? Like the early 20s versus the early thirties. Right out of college or later in life?

For some reason I want to say Mary Anne again. I don't think she would take time to build a career like Kristy or Shannon might. My second vote would go to Logan, he'd be the old fashioned type and want a family early.

[bscfan1997]

I voted for Mary Anne for the same reasons you mentioned, Dawn because I don't see her waiting too long for motherhood plus she'd likely have a baby without thinking twice, and Mallory because, well, I don't know *exactly* why, she just seems like she would...

[booboobrewer]

I think we all see Mary Anne as a young, stay at home mom but I mean, maybe she wouldn't be. She's NYC crazy like Ann...maybe she moved to the city and did focus on her job!

[bscfan1997]

That's a good point, boo boo Brewer. MA is based off Ann. Perhaps she'd move to NYC and become a secretary or a book editor for a company. She's writerly (not sure that's a real word) and bookish as she enjoys English and literature. She also loves her job as a secretary at the BSC. She is SO organized and has NEVER made a mistake.

[bscfan1997]

I accidentally voted for Shannon. I meant Mallory.

[Honeybee]

I voted for Mary Anne. I can see her being a young mom.

[andrew]

I think Mallory would be the youngest, somehow writing seems the most compatible of the characters' interests; Mary Anne would be single the longest, despite liking romance she would like her independence more.

[inge]

Kristy and Mal are from big families, and somehow I imagine that to be a drive to have kids early... Not for everyone of course, but as Kristy and Mal are well documented to love kids and sitting for their siblings, I imagine they might want big families as well and start young. I can also imagine Kristy getting a nice job at a young age and being happy enough to start a family, being able to balance both quite well and moving up in her job as her kids get older. I imagine her as a gym teacher for some reason
Stacey I could picture getting married to a rich fellow ten years or so her senior, and having babies young, being a stay at home mom for a bit until the kids are older.

Dawn, Claudia and Jessi I could picture putting it off, focusing on other things first. I'm torn on Mary Anne, I can totally see why some would pick her but it doesn't feel like a good fit to me. I could imagine her breaking free from her strict environment first and focusing on herself for a while, before settling down.

[Enigma]

I can see Mallory going either way; marrying and having a family early or going the other route and not marrying or having kids at all by choice (wanting to build a private, quiet life for herself after practically raising her younger brothers and sister).

Claudia seems like the type that could get pregnant in late high school or in her late teens after she drops out and she's the type that would probably have the baby and keep it rather than abort.

The other members would probably graduate from college first and then maybe work in their careers for a couple of years before starting their families. Kristy would definitely try to balance career and family and go back to work right when her maternity leave is done so I could see her if the timing is right, she might have her first kid shortly after graduating college. The others, not sure.

[booklover85]

I picture Mary Anne settling down and getting pregnant shortly after finishing college in her early 20s.

Logan will knock up Cokie and several other girls around age 17 and he has to put his dream career on hold, so that he can take care of his families.

After what happened to her when she was growing up, Mallory will hold off having children as long as possible. After being the third parent during the first eleven years of her life, the poor girl deserves a break.

[Kylie90210]

I voted MA, because she is a relationship type of gal and not very career focused (at 13 haha!)

[andrew]

I hope that Claudia, given her frustrations with her parents, would not rush into parenthood, she would on the one hand think that she could do better but on the other I hope she would realize pretty soon that it's not as easy as she earlier thought.

[booklover85]

Dawn is another one who might get pregnant in her teens. Since she easily changes her whole appearance to make boys happy, I wouldn't put it past her to forego the condom if her lover says that it makes him uncomfortable.

[booboobrewer]

I feel like Claudia would make art her priority. Dawn has strong views but is kind of a people pleaser. She's weirdly obsessed with Ducky's approval in CD.

[cnj]

Most likely Logan...he seems the most conservative or at least his dad is conservative.

And if Logan were to get a girl pregnant and the girl's parents were the conservative sort, Logan and the girl would be pressured to have the baby, keep it and to marry.

Mary Anne, Stacey and Dawn would wait until they're at least thirty.

I see quite a few people voted Mary Anne, but I think Mary Anne, much as she loves kids, would establish a career and financial stability.

I don't think Mary Anne would be careless enough to have kids she couldn't support financially.

And even at thirteen, Mary Anne does mention in the books that she wants a career...she wants to be a teacher.