Having a baby is a huge life change. It requires the parents to adjust to a completely new way of life. This change is more difficult for some people than it is to others.
Typically, teenage parents have the hardest time with this adjustment, as their own brains are not developed fully.
A teenage mother in Australia has expressed her regret for letting her ten-month-old infant suck on her vape as a joke for a video that went viral.
The teen from New South Wales said in an interview it was only supposed to be a joke.
“It was only meant to be a joke”.
“I put the vape up near him and I never thought he would grab it, I thought he‘d push it away.”
You can see news coverage here:
She added she typically doesn't smoke around her child.
“I don’t even smoke near him, I’m always careful of that stuff. I wish I didn’t do it, but I never meant to hurt him. I would never hurt him.”
Since the video went viral, the young mother claimed to receive hate and even death threats.
"I know I did the wrong thing, but what people are saying to me and writing is full on, I don’t deserve that."
The girl's mother defended her daughter in an interview.
"It’s not easy for her, she’s 16 and she’s on her own, but I’ve been there since his birth and I’m helping her. She’s trying her best and she is a good mum."
The comments on social media expressed their disgust and horror at the video.
The New South Wales police released a statement saying they looked into the wellbeing of the child.
“Officers attached to Mid North Coast Police District attended a home in Kempsey yesterday, following a concern-for-welfare report regarding a 10-month-old boy."
"Police have now spoken with the child’s family and—following advice provided by with medical professionals and other governmental agencies—no further police action will be taken."
The mother is practically a child herself.
Sending death threats to a teenager is not the proper response to this situation. Both the mother and child need better care than what they are recieving.
Hopefully they get it.
@PreetBharara/X
@RepBrendanBoyle/X
@twesq/Bluesky
@christopherharris/Bluesky
@evangelinewarren/X
@FrankC164/X
AMC