Calm down world, One Direction’s Louis Tomlinson is old enough to be a father
ONE Direction’s Louis Tomlinson announces he’s going to be a dad and the world loses its mind. Is he even old enough? Has he ruined his life? Lisa Almond says no.
Parenting
Don't miss out on the headlines from Parenting. Followed categories will be added to My News.
WE woke today to the news that One Direction member Louis Tomlinson is allegedly expecting a child with a ‘close friend’ and LA stylist Briana Jungwirth.
Cue more teenage girls going mental than, well, those at a One Direction concert.
The Twittersphere has gone into meltdown over the fact Louis, 23, is a ‘baby’ now apparently expecting a baby of his own.
Sorry to break it to you world, but at 23 Louis is hardly a baby, and he’s definitely old enough to be fathering one of his own.
Take it from someone who’s been there and done that. In fact, by 23 I’d had not one but two babies.
Even in 2015 there is still a resounding double standard when it comes to the announcement of pregnancies.
Every time someone over 40 announces a pregnancy the world cheers them on.
“Power to you, parenthood at any age is beautiful.”
“You will make such a good parent, you have so much life experience and knowledge now.”
“What a great time to have a baby, you have you’re finances in order and can settle into parenthood and spend time with the child.”
But as soon as anyone under 25 announces a pregnancy, the world collective loses its mind.
“But you haven’t lived.”
“You have RUINED your life.”
“How will you juggle your career AND a baby, that is an impossible task.”
Well I call bulls**t.
Obviously for Louis, finances won’t be an issue but regardless of this he is still well equipped — and old enough — to be a father.
Despite what may or may not be socially acceptable, 23 is a great age to have a baby, and for anyone doubting the fact, yes you can have a life and a baby simultaneously. And that includes those that aren’t celebrities.
If anything, falling pregnant young allowed me to chase my dreams with more dedication and drive than I ever thought possible. I wasn’t just doing it for myself, I was doing it for my children as well.
What I don’t understand is why is it is completely acceptable to berate young parents while the same people cheer on older parents and congratulate them on their decision to wait.
Becoming a parent at a young age definitely hasn’t hindered the careers of Reese Witherspoon, Sofia Vergara or Kate Hudson, or male celebrities like LeBron James and David Beckham, who both welcomed their first children into the world in their early 20s.
Not that long ago, your early 20s was a stock-standard time to start a family, but now a stigma around becoming a parent at this age has grown.
The age is now known as a time to ‘find yourself’ whether it is climbing the corporate ladder or ‘building life experience’ with endless overseas backpacking adventures.
Whether pregnancies are planned or not, the fact is, young parents are just as capable at giving their children as much love and support as older parents, and having a child young sure as hell isn’t a reason to stop striving to achieve your goals, personal and professional.
As a young parent myself, I was pleased to read that Louis is reportedly “happy and excited” that his life is headed in a New Direction.
Congratulations to them both.
Originally published as Calm down world, One Direction’s Louis Tomlinson is old enough to be a father
‘I had a good cry’: Mum stuck in sickness cycle learns shocking truth
This Yorke Peninsula mum thought she was caught in a cycle of daycare sickness bugs. When she couldn’t get better she went to the doctor and the results were unbelievable.
Record number of Aussie kids doing this
A major trend of the pandemic era and the cost of boarding schools has pushed these Australian numbers into record territory.