This is real and down right raw, because it tells you how it is to be a teen parent right down to bone. Some teens think that ?Oh! Taking care of a kid is easy.? But in reality it is hard to be a teen parent. Cathy gives you her views of how she reacts to all the problems that happen at home. Then at parenting class that is the really the only place that she get support for her kids. All teen parents say it is hard to be a mother/father to their child. If every teen were to get pregnant and have a child then they would know how it feels to be taking care of a child.
This piece is refreshing because its narrator is a real person, not a polished public radio producer. The scenes are also not the typical predictable, controlled scenes but reveal unexpected events in the life of a teen mom.
There is obviously a level of intimacy established between Elzas and 16-year old Cathy that allows the teenager to open up in a very real way, swearing and all. You hear her teenage enthusiasm for music ie. OutKast, and how she reacts wildly when her son spills over the baby's formula, or she how admits how she sometimes feels like shaking her son. But you also hear her in more sober moments talking about her love for her sons, how its hard to be a mature adult when she?s only 16, yet how she thinks she?s a better mom being younger. You sense she is a long way away from her dreams of having a career.
It is a very alive and realistic portrait of a teen mom that listeners will enjoy.
This piece is good because it doesn't really hold back. It's pretty raw, and it covers the many different moods of the situation. The tough subject matter wouldn't have been as well-represented if Sarah had taken out the hard-to-listen-to stuff (like the desire to violently shake the children).
Our show used this piece next to an interview about a book that collects one-day diary entries from women across the country. I think they worked well together.
It's very hard to produce a non-narrative sound piece that holds its own, but Sarah has done it quite well. This is a tough topic to cover, but she excels by featuring a young mom who conveys the odd mix of maturity and immaturity that we'd expect from a teen mom who's struggling with her dual roles. The mix is lovely and the interplay of ambient sound and Cathy's reflections is moving.
This is a great piece about a very complicated issue of young motherhood. Cathy doesn't hold anything back from us, and I think we are able to genuinely celebrate her successes with her, and mourn her losses. Great job with this piece, really moving, very complete.
This is hardcore radio. It just lays everything out it the open for the listener to take and digest (even if they may not want to).
Cathy is very open and up front about her situation, she does not hide from the mic. Thanks to Sarahs skillfull production we are able to litterally "hear" the conflict of a young immature teenager trying to be a good mom....and it made me uncomfortable.
The only question that I wanted to hear that wasn't addressed on tape was, "what about birth control?" "Condoms?" "How did she even get pregnant, let alone twice?". I mean if it was an accident isn't that an important part of the story.
Comments for Cathy, 16, Mom
Produced by Sarah Elzas
Other pieces by Sarah Elzas
Rating Summary
6 comments
Felix Poleheptewa
Posted on March 13, 2007 at 12:17 PM | Permalink
Review of Cathy, 16, Mom
This is real and down right raw, because it tells you how it is to be a teen parent right down to bone. Some teens think that ?Oh! Taking care of a kid is easy.? But in reality it is hard to be a teen parent. Cathy gives you her views of how she reacts to all the problems that happen at home. Then at parenting class that is the really the only place that she get support for her kids. All teen parents say it is hard to be a mother/father to their child. If every teen were to get pregnant and have a child then they would know how it feels to be taking care of a child.
Jenny Brundin
Posted on May 05, 2006 at 10:16 AM | Permalink
Review of Cathy, 16, Mom
This piece is refreshing because its narrator is a real person, not a polished public radio producer. The scenes are also not the typical predictable, controlled scenes but reveal unexpected events in the life of a teen mom.
There is obviously a level of intimacy established between Elzas and 16-year old Cathy that allows the teenager to open up in a very real way, swearing and all. You hear her teenage enthusiasm for music ie. OutKast, and how she reacts wildly when her son spills over the baby's formula, or she how admits how she sometimes feels like shaking her son. But you also hear her in more sober moments talking about her love for her sons, how its hard to be a mature adult when she?s only 16, yet how she thinks she?s a better mom being younger. You sense she is a long way away from her dreams of having a career.
It is a very alive and realistic portrait of a teen mom that listeners will enjoy.
andrew walsh
Posted on January 03, 2006 at 12:28 PM | Permalink
Review of Cathy, 16, Mom
This piece is good because it doesn't really hold back. It's pretty raw, and it covers the many different moods of the situation. The tough subject matter wouldn't have been as well-represented if Sarah had taken out the hard-to-listen-to stuff (like the desire to violently shake the children).
Our show used this piece next to an interview about a book that collects one-day diary entries from women across the country. I think they worked well together.
Tanya Ott
Posted on March 11, 2005 at 12:23 PM | Permalink
Review of Cathy, 16, Mom
It's very hard to produce a non-narrative sound piece that holds its own, but Sarah has done it quite well. This is a tough topic to cover, but she excels by featuring a young mom who conveys the odd mix of maturity and immaturity that we'd expect from a teen mom who's struggling with her dual roles. The mix is lovely and the interplay of ambient sound and Cathy's reflections is moving.
Tom Leger
Posted on October 15, 2004 at 11:40 AM | Permalink
Review of Cathy, 16, Mom
This is a great piece about a very complicated issue of young motherhood. Cathy doesn't hold anything back from us, and I think we are able to genuinely celebrate her successes with her, and mourn her losses. Great job with this piece, really moving, very complete.
Adam Allington
Posted on May 23, 2004 at 06:46 AM | Permalink
Review of Cathy, 16, Mom
This is hardcore radio. It just lays everything out it the open for the listener to take and digest (even if they may not want to).
Cathy is very open and up front about her situation, she does not hide from the mic. Thanks to Sarahs skillfull production we are able to litterally "hear" the conflict of a young immature teenager trying to be a good mom....and it made me uncomfortable.
The only question that I wanted to hear that wasn't addressed on tape was, "what about birth control?" "Condoms?" "How did she even get pregnant, let alone twice?". I mean if it was an accident isn't that an important part of the story.