Teen Pregnancy, Hollywood Style

I was 15 when I had my first son. This was a really difficult time in my life but I had my family. I graduated high school a year early and was #5 in my senior class. I started college at age 17 and graduated at 20 as a Registered Nurse. The sucess that I have is not what most teen moms achieve. Today at 27, I am married and a mother of 2 boys ages 11 and 2. This year I completed my Bachelor of Science degree is nursing. I am proud of what I have achieved in my life. It seems that the trend is to get pregnant and live off of the government. But I will say that it is not just teen moms that can't and don't take care of their children.

I think this article is good because some of those movies Hollywood brings out don't show reality. Child-bearing is a beautiful experience and life changing as well. Many girls don't acknowledge the consequences until they come. But this article helps the communities spread the work & give advice to the teenagers going through all their changes.

Okay so now we are praising teen mothers? Here is what I have to say about it. IF THEY TAKE CARE OF THEIR RESPONSIBILITIES without putting them off on others... YEAH to them. But if they don't have a dime to their name and can't do anything about taking care of and raising a child on their own, who are we to say they didn't have courage enough to put their child up for adption? That takes great courage and even selflessness. When you have to let your pride down because you can't take care of a child, especially an unplanned one. Does it make you love the child less? No. But there are ways to explain to a child when they finally find you what the circumstances were. My husband is adopted, his mother couldn't take care of him, he isn't bitter towards his mom, there are many senarios that he comes up with that make sense for him to have to go to an adoptive home, and he is happy. It doesn't mean that he doesn't struggle, but there is forgiveness in him that allows him to move on a ittle more each day. Good for you if you want to keep your child, and yes there will be times that you may have to fend them off on someone else. When that is all you do, you're not being much of a parent. But if you're in the predicament of having to choose better for your child that you could provide, there are many.... MANY people who would love and raise your child for you because THEY CAN'T HAVE ANY OF THEIR OWN. That isn't a bad choice. It's so much better than killing someone through abortion who had no choice of their own to live or die.

Having a child is the most precious thing in the world when you plan for it; ECONOMICALLY, SPIRITUALLY, AND SENTIMENTALLY. What makes teen pregnanacy so bad is that 99.9% of all teens get pregnant not planning for it at all in any way (UP's), they become a burden to their parents or the government ecomomically, and their still finding their way threw life as a person, HOW ON EARTH DO YOU EXPECT TO GUIDE SOMEONE WHEN YOU STILL NEED SO MUCH GUIDENCE YOURSELF. Whats worst, 99.9% of the time the babys dont have a paternal figure becouse their father is still a child himself mentally and emotionally, if adult people dont get the raising of their kids right with all the advantages of life that they have over teens, what makes a teen think HE or SHE will get it right with all the disadvantages. Whats wrong with teen pregnancy? THAT THEY ARE NOT PREPARED FOR IT IN ANY WAY, and it is not fair to bring a child to this world to suffer becouse of someones inresponsability. The solution is to tell it how it is, my parents told me what to expect of life if I mest up in that manner: I could get an STD that would ruin my life for ever, or I could ruin an inocents life as well. Thats what kept me away from sex until I was 20, and only having 2 sexual partners in my life, the women I lost my virginity to and my fiance, Im STD free, and child free at 25 becouse of my parents that told me what to expect if I decided to go the wrong raute about sex.

I think sex is being blown way out of proportion! If poeple stop giving a great deal of importance, it wouldnt be so tempting for teens, whose urges are already hard to control! I think a solid education, within its limits, is a gd foundation. Parenting, society, as well as media, have major roles when it comes to the issue, equal roles. but to me, teens are mostly to blame.

Not just you mothers, but you fathers out there who have no sense in what you're doing. Now it's easy to point the fingers at the moms, but what about the dads of these poor babies? They stick their penis in whoever they want get 4 or 5 girls pregnant and doesn't take care of any of their kids. They're free to roam and do their thing coz, I told that girl to have an abortion. Coz you don't have to do it doesn't mean that it won't affect them. That is the worse thing in the world, you do something and don't pay for the consequence of your own action. I say if you were "man" enough to do it, be man enough to take care of it. You come up with attorneys fees to put the child up for adoption or you save up the money for diapers and wipes, formula, babysitters, whatever your girlfriend needs... even if she was just your one night stand. If you hd sex with her but question her fork up some money for a paternity test It doesn't matter if the child is yours or not. More than likely it is. Be a real man, and all of you, stop just judging these girls. Just coz you didn't get pregnant or get someone pregnant doesn't mean you couldn't have and you won't. You guys are as selfish as they are. If it was you, would you want someone to call you a whore. You don't have nothing better to say than to demean them!!! There is one word for you------- HYPOCRITE--------- You can have all the sex in the world and when it's your turn, your foot will be in your mouth. Do you know some of these girls get pregnant off of rape and they still decide to have the baby? OOOOHHHH someone ought to punch you in your mouth ditto7654. You can call it until it happens to you--- either in you getting pregnant or getting someone else pregnant!

It really is sad that we applaud teen sex, and teen pregnancy.  I was a teenager once and I wanted a baby at age 14, so what did I do, I had all the sex that I wanted.  All the whie I felt dirty, ashamed because I had to hide it from my mother, if I would have gotten pregnant, not only did my mother tell me that I would have to deal with the consequenses myself, but  my boyfriend would leave me alone totally.  Now that I am an adult, first trying to explain abstenance with my kids is going to be hard.  I feel like they will say, well you did it and look how you turned out.  So I didn't get pregnant early, so I didn't get a life threatening disease, but I got one nonetheless.  I frown on teen pregnancy, not because I am a hater--  I frown on it because when you're a teen, you should have no pressures in life really.  The basics, but to have  a child and to have to raise it and feed it and clothe it.  Do it all yourself, by yourself.  Find the time to do what some stay at home mothers do everyday.  Teach your child everything they need to know, not,throw them off on grandma and grandpa coz they're there.  Aren't there some things you wouldn't want your kids or even your brothers and sisters who look up to you doing?  Aren't there some things you wouldn't want them to experience?  Are you just being selfish with why you have sex.  Oh it feels good, oh I want a baby, oh it wouldn't matter what happens, if I go, I go out having fun  Do you think AIDS is fun?  Do you think genital herpes is fun, do you think that when your mom or dad want to chill and relax, that it is fair that they have to watch your kid because now you have to have a job, your babysitter cancelled and they are the only ones you can count on.  OOOOHHHHH.  I believe that is the most selfish thing in the world.  Yes, things like that happen all the time, but don't you think that if you laid down to have sex, that you should be responsible enough to take care of your child too. 

OK, first of it dont make a racial issue! Parentsa are to blame, but so are society and media! In case you havent noticed, when u say "Hollywood is..." you're accusing noth society and media. Parents' influence has its limits, and teen "urges" aren't exactly easy to control most of the time... Im not defending unprotected intercourse though... The thing is, whne poeple make too big a deal out of something and talk about it more than they should, they just give it more importance. With all the drama related to "sex", no wonder more teens are subjects to sexual activities! I think a proper educatiojn, within its limits, is the solution's foundation.

Sure- contraceptives and the risk of getting an STD are certainly topics that need to be discussed more. But probably the most vital component to discuss is the third C- consequence. There are THREE options- not just abortion and parenting. Adoption can be a tough choice to make - but often times can turn out the best for the birthparent and the child. So many loving families would love to have a child of thier own but are unable to for an aray of reasons. There are so many teens who are selfish in saying "This is my baby" or "I am going to take responsibility for my actions." How responsible is raising a child in an often times broken home where the parent can not properly love, provide, protect, and guide that child so that it may be happy, well taken care of, and successful. These teens are hindering the child's chance for a decent life when they are choosing to parent so young. In addition, the teen will likely drop out of school and settle for an incomplete education- not good. Teen pregnancy is becoming a "trend" it seems like. The media is certainly an influence in that. I would also like to ad that the movie "Juno" is a very false portrayal of how adoption really is for a teen. I placed my baby girl with a family a little over two years ago- I've been through the heartache, the contemplation, and the whole process. "Juno" really missed the mark emphasising counseling, and how you don't just up and decide to do an adoption and everything is easy- that is not how it really is. Adoption- and teen pregnancy- are not comedic. And they shouldn't be made to be that way.

What is glam about pregnancy? Its a step above laying an egg. Only an egg can be dressed up. Personally, I was happier when I didn't know where babies came from. Now we gather with cams to witness the bloody, slimey spectacle and gloat while friends are forced to view the horror.. Yes, they glalm it up in Hollywood because because even even six months from the cams eye while a pregnancy runs its course is way too risky-because the celebrity shine and hyped mediocre talent might not survive a nine month hiatus. Afterall, the celebrity making machine just keeps cranking.

This is to refute what Brooklynsmama, said about her being a teenage mother. I think that you are seriously, missing the point given should and will always be a blessing its not the blessing that is the problem the problem is can you give that child what it needs to gain the necessary advantage to survive in society? You are sixteen with a 11 month old that means that you got pregnant in your late 14 or early 15 depending on your birth month. Tell me what employer out there is given you the opportunity that you need to provide adequately for your child i mean a real income that you dont have to live paycheck to pay considering that you dont possess a trade or skill (which i wil say is safe to assume). you were not thinking of the after math of a life that will depend on you and you needing to be dependably. Instead of building a life that you can give something a precious as a child thats deserving you have become a burden and dont think for a second that you are not because you depend on someone or the system to pick up where you fall short which i think is safe to say in many categories that is significant in the rearing of a child. And who is paying for the system that as to financial back your shortcomings huh? We the people who just wanted something to talk about. if you wouldve felt better about yourself then you would never have became a teenage mother who is still depending on others to sustain muchless selfishly adding another child ( not probably with more to come before you reach 20) Ashame.

i think when the media glamorize teen pregnacy they create this false reality of how being a teen mom really is! i had my first child when i was in my teens. young girls now days dont fully understand how having a kid very young affects there whole future! for example jamie l. spears family have money, so she is blessed to not have to worry about where that next meal for that baby is going to come from or haveing to apply for public assistance,figure out if she can work an go to school smf pay for the child care,transportation, if she can afford to have insurance, etc. its a lot to to being a teen mom then the media shows.

Getting pregnant is not the worst thing that can happen to a teen who has sex. STD's run rampant through todays young people, but condoms and birth control DO NOT protect against all of these! At least one out of four teens have HPV and it CAN BE SPREAD even when you use a condom. Talking to your teens is crucial, but handing out condoms and birth control is not the answer. It's just like telling your teen not to drink and drive, but if you are, just drive slow. THAT IS NOT OK!

Birth control is not magic stuff either. Doctors prescribe it left and right, but the facts are that women who take birth control before having their first child are at a much higher risk for breast cancer. Young women who start taking birth control (like the article suggests) have a hard time concieving children when they are "at the right age" because their ovaries have been shut off for so long they do not remember how to work.

This article aslo points out that one third of the girls had abortions. While this may "take care" of the baby, what happens to the mother? The psychological affects of abortion on women is devistating. They have many support groups to help women heal from these traumatizing events.

How about we start talking to teens about what love really means? And that you can show someone that you love them without having sex with them. Teach your kids that sex has a place in marriage. And that building a family with the right person is important.

The only reason that this article is coming about is because of the Hollywood glamorizing factor. They leave out the fact that most parents of these teens end up raising their grandkids or the fact that welfare is being strained with these teen pregnancies because the young parents don't have the education to have decent jobs. I've been in the medical field for close to 15 yrs and I've seen far too many teenagers coming in for pregnancy related testing. I truly believe that the parents are absent in a lot of these kids' lives....meaning the communication is missing. They may live in the same house, but they are not keeping an open line for the talking to happen. I have a child that just turned 13. When he was 10, he asked me the age-old question of how babies come to be. I sat him down, told him everything. I really do mean everything. I told him about the biology of conception and the dangers of STD's. My mother told me everything when I was ready, which is whatever age the child asks. Her advice to me was "if they're old enough to ask, they're old enough to know." If you get into the frame of mind that it is your job to protect them, then telling them is not as hard as you think. You are giving them tools to survive. That is what parenting is all about. Pregnancy is the least of the concerns when you think of all the diseases out there that have no cure. At the end of my conversation with my son, I told him that if he was too embarrassed to buy the protection, then I would. He's more than likely going to have sex before I think he should, but I want him to be safe. I can't be with him and hold his hand forever, all I can do is give him the information and hope he uses his better judgment. I can feel confident that he knows the facts because I made sure of that as his parent. But when are other parents going to be more involved enough to do the same? These teenagers are still just CHILDREN.

The smart Teens, the ones who believe they have found an Ideal mate who they feel they have a possibility of spending their life with, will practice sex safely because they care deeply about the person they are with. I think there is too much sex without love in teens, but what some adults don't consider is just because we are teens, doesn't mean we can't fall in love. I am 16, and I practice sex safely with my loving girlfriend.

I was in high school when the whole abstinence thing started being taught in sex ed instead of the REAL sex ed. I knew of girls who where still doing other things and caught STDS from it. So, please spare me on the whole ABSTINENCE WORKS crap. Instead of the parents teaching it the kids get their information from tv, friends...ect. I already started having the talk with all three of my kids cause I want them to know that getting someone pregnant not only ruins their lives but it ruins the girls too. They have enough pressure on them now as kids. Thats the last thing I want my kids to have to face. Forget what schools are teaching them, I will teach them what I know first, then whoever else can come in second.