Perspective -

[kyburg]

A 12-year-old South Carolina boy got an unexpected stocking stuffer — a pair of handcuffs — after he snuck into his Christmas gifts a few weeks early.

After a mother discovered her son had unwrapped a Nintendo Game Boy Advance that was meant for him as a present from his grandmother, she called the Rock Hill Police and had the young man arrested for petty larceny, according to the police report filed this week.

"He took it without permission. He wanted it. He just took it," the boy's 63-year-old great-grandmother told the Rock Hill Herald.

Check the ages.

Gee, if I'd started early - I'd be working on great-grandmothership within twenty years.

NOT.

Comments

[kshandra]

Okay, so the great grandmother was 51 when her great grandchild was born. That's an average age of 17 between the three generations when they had kids.

My great-grandmother was divorced with two kids by the age of 19.

I should note that this was in 1925.

I'm not saying that people should breed that early that consistently, just that it does happen - and as recently as a generation or two ago, it wouldn't have been thought amiss.

[lolleeroberts.livejournal.com]

Yep. My grandmother was 18 when my Dad was born. He was 18 when my older brother was born. We have a picture of my brother on his great-great-grandmother's lap. Of course, both my grandmother and great grandmother married at 15. It wasn't that unusual in rural Texas in the 1900s and 1920s.

[kyburg.livejournal.com]

And before the beginning of the concept of "planned parenting."

Tell me. You ever run into an 18-year-old (or younger) that you'd recommend raising a child? I haven't - not that the choice isn't made to do just that, but holy merde. I've never met anyone I'd set out to actually DO that, just because.

You end up parenting in your teens by accident - and while it wasn't uncommon, in my heart of hearts, I don't think it's optimal.

Your mileage may vary.