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We don’t really understand the human condition of the past, even when it is within living memory. A related aspect of life that has been practically eradicated is teenage motherhood. 18-19 years at birth of first child was the most common age for Americans in the middle of the 20th century. 40-year-old grandparents were common. That was just 60 years past, but we view everything differently today.

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I wouldn't call teenage motherhood "practically eradicated", at least here in the US. Two of my sisters had kids before they were 18; one is (like me) a millennial, and the other is (I'd reckon) Gen Z. They ain't exactly outliers, either; teen pregnancy is still pretty commonplace, especially in impoverished areas.

Thankfully, my sisters were part of a big family that was happy to share the burden of raising these kids and hopefully allowing them to live happy and healthy lives (and the numerous nieces and nephews I got out of it have been absolute blessings). Not every teenage mother has that resource, unfortunately.

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