My momma took me to the hospital. To the place I should’ve been safe from ridicule and should’ve received compassionate care. But as I got wheeled into the maternity wing, the nurse waiting to help me into the bed said ‘Oh, another teen mom?’ with certain disgust in her voice. 'This has got to stop.'
Amidst the terrible pain of contractions (and let me assure you, it hurts like heck), that instant judgment hurt even more. But when I couldn’t stand up for myself, my mom did. ‘You know, lady,’ she said. ‘This teen mom paid for her own hospital stay, holds a steady job AND went to summer school so she could graduate in May. So don’t you look at her or talk to her like that. She deserves your respect.’
Thanks, mom.
Twelve hours later, David Mitchell was born: 8 pounds, 22 inches long and these terribly long fingers. When I saw him, the first thing I said was literally ‘Momma, look. He has a basketball player’s hands.’ (I swear this is true.)
And thus, I made it through being a pregnant teen. Now, I was a teen mom. And this opened up a ton of other harsh realities. Midnight feedings, dirty diapers, non-existent dating life, trying to find money to buy diapers, pay the rent and even fill the car up with gas. The list can go on and on. But enough about me, right? My story is almost happy!
It almost doesn’t even sound like teen pregnancy is that bad. I was to get out on my own, eventually go to college and land a great job. But I am the exception, not the rule. Most girls aren’t as lucky as me. And instead of coming through all this a stronger, better person they end up as a statistic.
And being a statistic doesn’t allow you to become the strong, independent person you were born to be. It doesn’t allow you to meet your potential and it most definitely doesn’t allow you to be the best parent you can be.
-- 4 in 10 girls will experience at least one pregnancy before reaching age 20.
-- Less than 1/3 of teens who become pregnant before age 18 complete high school.
-- Every year around 750,000 teenagers will get pregnant.
-- 80% of the fathers of babies born to teen mothers do not marry their babies' mothers.
-- On average, these absent fathers pay less than $800 annually for child support.
-- The sons of teen mothers are 13% more likely to end up in prison.
-- Teen mother’s daughters are 22 percent more likely to become teen moms.
-- 52% of all mothers on welfare had their first child while in their teen years.
-- Teen moms are less likely to receive well-paying jobs that allow them career growth.
-- 48% of all non-marital births are to teen-aged mothers.
-- Only 30% of teen moms stay married to their baby’s fathers after the child is born.
-- Moms who had a pre-marital, teen-aged birth are significantly less likely to be married by the age of 35 than those who don’t have babies as teens.
-- Each year the federal government spends $40 billion to help families that began with a teenage birth.
-- Only 1.5% of teen moms will earn a college degree by age 30.
-- Nearly 80% of unmarried teen mothers end up on welfare.
So what's the bottom line here? Don't be a stat. Don't be another one of those girls people feel sorry for. Don't make a passionate decision that could have consequences that are anything but romantic. Seriously. This is your life. And when you do bring children into this world, you want to do it right and at a time when you can provide, love and care for them just like every sweet little baby deserves.
More Info? No prob.
-- Tips for Parents
-- More on Teen Pregnancy Prevention Month
-- Relationship Realities
Thanks, mom.
Twelve hours later, David Mitchell was born: 8 pounds, 22 inches long and these terribly long fingers. When I saw him, the first thing I said was literally ‘Momma, look. He has a basketball player’s hands.’ (I swear this is true.)
And thus, I made it through being a pregnant teen. Now, I was a teen mom. And this opened up a ton of other harsh realities. Midnight feedings, dirty diapers, non-existent dating life, trying to find money to buy diapers, pay the rent and even fill the car up with gas. The list can go on and on. But enough about me, right? My story is almost happy!
It almost doesn’t even sound like teen pregnancy is that bad. I was to get out on my own, eventually go to college and land a great job. But I am the exception, not the rule. Most girls aren’t as lucky as me. And instead of coming through all this a stronger, better person they end up as a statistic.
And being a statistic doesn’t allow you to become the strong, independent person you were born to be. It doesn’t allow you to meet your potential and it most definitely doesn’t allow you to be the best parent you can be.
The facts prove it:
-- Less than 1/3 of teens who become pregnant before age 18 complete high school.
-- Every year around 750,000 teenagers will get pregnant.
-- 80% of the fathers of babies born to teen mothers do not marry their babies' mothers.
-- On average, these absent fathers pay less than $800 annually for child support.
-- The sons of teen mothers are 13% more likely to end up in prison.
-- Teen mother’s daughters are 22 percent more likely to become teen moms.
-- 52% of all mothers on welfare had their first child while in their teen years.
-- Teen moms are less likely to receive well-paying jobs that allow them career growth.
-- 48% of all non-marital births are to teen-aged mothers.
-- Only 30% of teen moms stay married to their baby’s fathers after the child is born.
-- Moms who had a pre-marital, teen-aged birth are significantly less likely to be married by the age of 35 than those who don’t have babies as teens.
-- Each year the federal government spends $40 billion to help families that began with a teenage birth.
-- Only 1.5% of teen moms will earn a college degree by age 30.
-- Nearly 80% of unmarried teen mothers end up on welfare.
So what's the bottom line here? Don't be a stat. Don't be another one of those girls people feel sorry for. Don't make a passionate decision that could have consequences that are anything but romantic. Seriously. This is your life. And when you do bring children into this world, you want to do it right and at a time when you can provide, love and care for them just like every sweet little baby deserves.
More Info? No prob.
Tips on How to "Stay Teen"
Wise up and click to get the info:
-- Tips for Teens-- Tips for Parents
-- More on Teen Pregnancy Prevention Month
-- Relationship Realities
