NBC.com

Episode 101 | Episode 102 | Episode 103 | Episode 104 | Episode 105 | Episode 106

Download Discussion Guide Episode 104 Here.

SUMMARY

The teen couples are taking care of pre-teens and pets this time - which proves to be challenging in a whole new way. Some of the tweens fight to the point of violence, some are destructive, some are picky eaters, and others become friends with their teen caregivers instantly. There's a sleepover party for all the kids at one house and the teens receive visitors from home. The couples struggle with their own relationships, and even the real life parents learn something from watching.

DISCUSSION QUESTIONS FOR TEENS

• When the friends from home came to visit things got tense for Kelly and Austin and Daton and Morgan. How do you think they could have better handled the situation? Was Kelly wrong for wanting to spend time alone with her friend? Did Austin overreact? How would you have felt if you had made a nice dinner like Morgan did? Why was there no similar drama at Sasha and Jordan's house when his friend came to visit? If you were a teen parent, how would your friends fit into the picture? What kinds of arrangements would you have to make in order to hang out with them?
• How did you feel watching Hannah get violent with her sister and then have a meltdown when punished? How would you have handled the situation when Hannah locked Cory out of the house? Are you surprised at how much patience is required to care for children? Imagine you were there to give Cory some advice. What would you tell him to do differently?
• Kelly says she is questioning her relationship with Austin now and isn't sure he's "the one." How do you think The Baby Borrowers experiment has affected their relationship? What do you think Austin is feeling? Have you ever been in love with someone, or thought you might be with "the one?" How do you know when you're in love?
• Morgan and Daton had a great time with 10-year-old Seth, but throughout his visit he never brushed his teeth or took a bath and they didn't even realize it until his mom came to pick him up. How do you balance the responsibilities of parenting with the desire to have a good time with kids? What kinds of rules would you have set up for Seth if you had been the one taking care of him? How would you enforce those rules?
• At the beginning of the show as the pre-teens are being dropped off at the teen couples' homes, one of the real moms says that it's important for teens to know how hard parenting really is. Does The Baby Borrowers accurately show the realities of parenthood? After watching this episode, what is one thing you learned about parenting that you didn't know before? What are some other ways teens can learn and understand what it takes to be a parent?

DISCUSSION QUESTIONS FOR PARENTS

• The vegetarian pre-teens gave Kelsey a hard time about not eating fruits and vegetables. And when their mother came to pick them up, she chastised Kelsey's eating habits as well. What are some other situations you've seen in the show in which the teens, acting as caregivers, have had to put the children's desires ahead of their own? How has this come up in your own family? What do you think would be the hardest thing for your son or daughter to give up if they became a parent as a teen?
• Morgan was happy to treat young Seth as a friend, rather than as a child for whom she was responsible, and Daton got frustrated with her for it. Ask your teen: can a parent be both a friend and a good parent? How does this change as a child grows into a teenager? Do you know any parents of your teens' friends who try to hard to be their friends and lose ground on discipline? How does it affect their teens?
• Sasha said she felt "like a mom" when she took Sara to the lake to play. What makes you feel like a parent?
• Sara's father complimented Jordan on the way he did math problems with her and said he learned something by watching the teens with his daughter. What kind of things have you learned from watching others with your family members?

KEY FACTS

• Parents are the #1 influence on teens when it comes to decisions about sex.
• Teens want to know what their parents think about sex, love and relationships, even if they don't act like it.
• There's no such thing as "The Talk." It's an 18-year conversation and it has to start early, be age-appropriate, and progress as your child matures.
• If your teen has a question about sex, don't assume he or she is already "doing it."
• Know who your teen's friends are, and who their friends' parents are. Monitoring your kids doesn't make you a nag - it makes you a parent.
• Discourage early, frequent and steady dating. Teens shouldn't go on one-on-one dates until age 16 or older.

HELPFUL RESOURCES

For free tips, guides and resources for parents, visit TheNationalCampaign.org and look for our Parent Portal.

Amy Kramer
Senior Manager, Media Program
Tel: 202.478.8517
Email: akramer@thenc.org

Marisa Nightingale
Senior Director, Media Programs and Youth Initiatives
Tel: 202.478.8521
Email: mnightingale@thenc.org

Visit Us Online at:

www.TheNationalCampaign.org
and
www.StayTeen.org