“’I defied my university to bring my baby to lectures – he’s the UK’s youngest student”
This was a statement that was proudly made by Janine Adamson, 34, in reference to having to bring her newborn son with her to class.
When Janine was in the initial process of applying for university, she first found out that she was pregnant. Regardless, she didn’t want her pregnancy and future as a mother to affect her aspirations to study and earn a degree. Before she gave birth, Janine knew that she wanted to be a present mother while also finding success as a student at Solent University in Southampton.
However, things started to get a little complicated when Janine decided to bring her son Tommy Anderson along with her to class. Janine was back on campus just two weeks after giving birth as she was eager to continue her studies. But she didn’t want to leave her newborn son at home. Bringing him along wither her to class seemed like the only logical solution. Although, Janine didn’t realize that not too many people at the school would be too fond of her decision to bring her child along with her.
Against School Policies?
According to Janine, many senior university staff members took offense to her bringing her child to school and dubbed this as inappropriate behavior. She claims that many of the higher-ups on campus were deadest on leaving her baby at home, even though studies have shown that it’s essential for new moms to establish physical bonds with their newborns.
Despite all the misgivings of the people around her, Janine continued to bring Tommy with her to lectures. She would merely cozy him up in a chest sling to allow her to carry on with life as a student while keeping her newborn son close to her. When her classmates were asked whether they had any problems with Janine bringing her baby to class with her, none of them admitted to having any problems at all.
Is the School Right?
Since Janine’s classmates didn’t have a problem with it, many of the school staff members have been forced to back down in their attempts to stop Janine from bringing her son to school. However, Janine still has bitter feelings towards their treatment of her. She claims that she felt like the institution was trying to “kick her out” of school just for wanting to be a present mother figure in her son’s life.
A lecturer emailed Janine to inform her that she would be allowed to bring Tommy to class with her after reconsideration. The lecturer apologized for the incident. Janine is delighted at the news but still harbors some ill feelings towards the school. She said:
“I didn’t want to ask for uni to support me in any other way apart from me just getting on with it. I didn’t want anything from anyone. Just to put my baby in a sling and carry on,”
You can follow Janine on TikTok here.
What do you think? Is the school correct here? Or were they being inconsiderate of Janine’s needs as a mother? Comment your thoughts and feelings down below.
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Here is an example of yet another person whose wishes are imposing on other people – the university is not a daycare – next they’ll be people bringing their toddlers, their dogs, their teenage kids , you had the child it’s your responsibility to find adequate daycare or study online- no one told you to get pregnant before finishing college but you did and that’s fine your body your choice but your choice should not interfere with the rest of the class getting a proper education and not being disrupted – babies cry, babies need diaper changes, babies fuss it may not be the case the first class but eventually at some point your baby will not cooperate with your class schedule!!! Get a babysitter or study online