By Emily Rivard
Most young couples in loving relationships dream about getting married and having children. They envision having a perfect house in the suburbs, a perfect spouse, and, of course, the perfect child who remains completely adorable and never cries or fusses.
Few ever realize that this idea is pure fantasy.
But now, five teenage couples will know exactly what it’s like to raise children while balancing work and personal time thanks to NBC and its newest reality show “The Baby Borrowers.”
“The Baby Borrowers” follows these teenagers as they participate in a three-week social experiment, which entails caring for children at different age groups while working various jobs. The couples must parent babies, toddlers, preteens, teenagers and elderly by the end of their experiment. The five couples will test their relationship and discover exactly what it would be like if they were to build a family together.
Austin and Kelly, both 18, have known each other since middle school and are using the show to reveal how long they should wait to get married. Although they have been dating for over one year, Kelly admits in the pilot that she is ready to be a parent.
Morgan and Daton, both also 18, are using the show to test their three-year relationship. Kelsey, 18, is ready for children and hoping to prove that fact on the show to her boyfriend Sean, 18. He does not think the couple is ready and hopes the show will prove Kelsey wrong.
Sasha and Jordan, both 18, are using the show to prove that not all teenagers are irresponsible. Alicea, 18, and Cory, 20, have been dating for three years and are going on the show to see what their future will be like if they have children at a young age.
While there was no specific criterion for couples to participate in the show, executive producers wanted couples that were relatable to teens.
“We wanted different teen couples from around the country, a cross section,” said Richard McKerrow, creator of “The Baby Borrowers.” “But, we wanted them to be in real relationships.”
More importantly, producers wanted teens that would learn things not only about themselves, but about each other. “The key thing about the series is to take these teen couples on an educational journey,” said McKerrow, “They want adult life. ‘I can do this. I can do that.’ So in a way, the whole idea is about saying ‘OK, but with adult life comes responsibility.'”
The pilot of “The Baby Borrowers” begins when all five couples move into typical suburban homes and enjoy their first night of freedom. Soon, however, the girls begin wearing pregnancy bellies and attending a child-care class, complete with simulated childbirth on a plastic model. The next day, the babies arrive. The couples must balance caring for the baby and working at the same time deciding who will stay home and who will go to work.
Although the teens were the sole providers to the babies, parents of the children watched through cameras at a nearby house. Furthermore, professional nannies stayed in the house with each couple, interfering only in the case of an emergency.
The babies were all provided by volunteer parents, who believed in the educational value of the show. Natalie Nichols, whose baby went to Sean and Kelsey, was very supportive of the show.
“I was a teenage mother myself, so I thought it was a great way to show teens who are thinking about becoming teen parents that it’s not all it’s cracked up to be,” said Nichols during a conference call for NBC. “It’s great when you’re further down the road and more mature, have life experiences under your belt and you’re prepared for it.”
From the pilot alone, many of the couples realized that parenthood is much harder than it seems. Kelsey, who at the beginning of the show was ready to have a baby, learned more than just the difficulties of parenthood.
“We learned so much about ourselves, too, in that we have to be with the right person and it has to be the right time [to have a baby],” Kelsey said. “I have to say that one thing I’ve learned from the show is definitely my independence.”
The British version of “The Baby Borrowers,” created by McKerrow, is already a hit in England, where it is even used in some schools as a teaching aid. American producers decided to air the show not only as compelling television, but as a lesson to both teens and parents everywhere.
“What drew me to [the show] was not only a chance to tell really good stories about teenagers that weren’t superficial, but also to tell entertaining stories about a really important issue,” said Tom Shelly, executive producer. “That’s just something that you don’t see on network television. I think network audiences are going to be very intrigued by this, and they are going to get into these teenagers’ lives.”
In a market where most reality television shows portray hopeful models, people stranded on desert islands, or even risqué lie-detector tests, “The Baby Borrowers” hopes to stand out not only as being original, but also as a learning experience.
“The Baby Borrowers” will air on NBC at a later date.
Teenage couple Alicea and Corey get accustomed to their new life with a baby. It is not as easy as they once thought. (NBC.com)