Drawing on interviews and focus groups with young mothers and fathers, their parents and other relatives, this book provides a rich exploration of the experience of being a teenage parent now, and for earlier generations, closely examining teenage pregnancy and parenting in families where two or more generations have been teenage mothers.

Introduction.- 1. ‘They’re not this kind of thing that you think they are’: patterns, trends and policy.- 2. ‘It feels like it’s a cultural thing in this area’: the study in context.- 3. ‘I was scared but I was happy’: getting pregnant as a teenager.- 4. I wouldn’t swap it for the world’: being a young parent.- 5. ‘It’s bringing new life in’: the baby and the wider family.- 6. ‘There’s a pattern going on there’: local contexts of teenage parenting.- 7. ‘It’s mad how much you grow up’: the future for young parents and their children.- 8. ‘My mum is a young mum and she’s done fine’: Conclusions. 

“Brown not only presents her own qualitative work in a clear and convincing manner but also links her findings to the existing rich qualitative and quantitative scholarship on teen pregnancy. Her focus on multigenerational families and the support provided by mothers, grandmothers, aunts and siblings provides great insight into the lived experience of teen mothers and fathers. This book should be required reading for politicians in the UK and the US.” (James Trussell, Princeton University, USA) “Clinicians, researchers, and policy-makers are far removed from the practical worlds of teen mothers and fathers. Where middle class professionals see only bad choices, unremitting hardship, and long-term failure, teen parents report that their lives are enriched and their futures are brighter as they work to be good parents and role models for their children. This study helps to explain these contradictory viewpoints. By drawing on qualitative interviews with teen mothers and familymembers, this volume encourages the reader to take their perspectives seriously and to imagine a more inclusive, less stigmatizing view of young families.” (Lee SmithBattle, Saint Louis University, USA)

"Brown not only presents her own qualitative work in a clear and convincing manner but also links her findings to the existing rich qualitative and quantitative scholarship on teen pregnancy. Her focus on multigenerational families and the support provided by mothers, grandmothers, aunts and siblings provides great insight into the lived experience of teen mothers and fathers. This book should be required reading for politicians in the UK and the US." (James Trussell, Princeton University, USA) "Clinicians, researchers, and policy-makers are far removed from the practical worlds of teen mothers and fathers. Where middle class professionals see only bad choices, unremitting hardship, and long-term failure, teen parents report that their lives are enriched and their futures are brighter as they work to be good parents and role models for their children. This study helps to explain these contradictory viewpoints. By drawing on qualitative interviews with teen mothers and family members, this volume encourages the reader to take their perspectives seriously and to imagine a more inclusive, less stigmatizing view of young families." (Lee SmithBattle, Saint Louis University, USA)