Teenage Pregnancy

[Shadowfax]

No offense but I think thats way too young.  Friends of mine who have had kids young do regret it (not having a child, having a child young).  It kills your opportunities for education, which is therefore detremental to the future of your kid.  You're still a child yourself and you're missing out on your youth by having a child at this age.  With no knowledge of the world, you have nothing to teach your child. 

However, if I was pregnant right now, I would probably keep the child, just because I wouldnt be able to have an abortion.  Im okay with people having abortions, if they can handle it, but I think it might cause problems for me.  The easy solution would be to just not get pregnant.  Thats why its all about the pill, and period regulation. w00t!

[xthepoison__]

A lot of girls who were in the same year as me in school have had kids since leaving school. Some of them I'm not surprised about because they were already sexually active in school and some of them I was surprised about, my best mate is about 3 or 4 months pregnant now and she's gonna be 17 in a week or so.

I don't know why I'm shocked about teenagers in my area getting pregnant at a young age because the teenage pregnancy rate here in South Wales is really high. I'm almost 18 and I definitely not having a baby anytime soon cos I can't afford it. My parents also wouldn't be very happy if I did have a baby at my age, especially if they found out about me having 2 pregnancy scares in the past 6 months lol.

[Mithrandir]

I have nothing against 16, 17, 18, 19 year olds having children (I do agree below 16 is just ludicrous for physical, emotion, political and social reasons), but I personally think it's very foolish.

What would you say is one of the most important aspects of parenting? Physical care (shelter, food, etc.)? Social and emotional care (imparting knowledge, loving, teaching)? Financial care? That is how parenting is often broken down, how can a 16 year old impart their years of knowledge onto a child? How can a 16 year old provide for a child when they have hardly any money?

Of course, they can rely on relatives to provide the money and know-how, but then who is the real parent? Surely one of the considerations of having a baby is to think, "Can I support this child myself?".

[xthepoison__]

I have nothing against 16, 17, 18, 19 year olds having children (I do agree below 16 is just ludicrous for physical, emotion, political and social reasons), but I personally think it's very foolish.

What would you say is one of the most important aspects of parenting? Physical care (shelter, food, etc.)? Social and emotional care (imparting knowledge, loving, teaching)? Financial care? That is how parenting is often broken down, how can a 16 year old impart their years of knowledge onto a child? How can a 16 year old provide for a child when they have hardly any money?

Of course, they can rely on relatives to provide the money and know-how, but then who is the real parent? Surely one of the considerations of having a baby is to think, "Can I support this child myself?".

I totally agree. If you had a child at 16 or younger and you let your parents care for the child, that child is probably going to think that you're not his mum or dad, the child will think that his grandparents are actually his mam and dad.

And as for the most important aspect of parenting? All aspects are important but I think physical and financial care are most important.

[Mithrandir]

And as for the most important aspect of parenting? All aspects are important but I think physical and financial care are most important.

So loving a child, teaching it to read and write, educating it on the ways os society aren't as important?

[Isiong]

Yeah of course they are Mith, however financial aspects matter very greatly, the simple fact is you need money to be able to provide food and shelter (unless you plan on sponging off the state forever), we can't survive on just love. Personally I think all aspects are the of the same importance.

With teenage pregnancy it all depends of the maturity of the parents but I have to say having a child under 16 in my opinion is just crazy! Sometimes I think I'd like a baby now and at 17 feel mature enough to have one but financially I'm not ready and also I want to go to uni but I would like to be a young mum. What I disagree most with are young girls of 12 and 13 having casual sex, getting pregnant and relying on state help..surely they can't be good role-models.

[Shadowfax]

  Im convinced at 18, with a baby, my life would be ruined.  You cant give someone a life until you've lived yours.

[xthepoison__]

And as for the most important aspect of parenting? All aspects are important but I think physical and financial care are most important.

So loving a child, teaching it to read and write, educating it on the ways os society aren't as important?

You trying to put words into my mouth or something? Thankyou Isiong for that, all those aspects are important.
Some people would think that the financial aspect of bringing up a child is most important because you need to
be able to provide a child food and shletering. And of course loving a child is important, else that kid would be
really messed up.

[Theo]

  I can't be troubled to read through 6 pages of posts.. 

  But I did want to comment..  My parents used to be directors and house parents to pregnant teenage girls..  Then as the years progressed and as the need became different, the focus was more on girls at risk (of becoming pregnant or getting into real trouble with the law)..  They viewed it as a ministry, a calling from God to fulfill a need that no one else was willing to fill..  The young women often put their child up for adoption..  Basically the purpose of the ministry was to prevent abortions..  So my parents were great at it and for a long time they loved it, but as the focus shifted so did the type of girl that came to live with us... they went from polite young women who messed up by getting pregnant to girls (literally girls, we had some as young as 11!) who were at risk..  A lot of them had been abused (sexually, verbally, or physically) at some point in their lives and they were very angry and became very hard to handle..  Eventually, the need had shifted so much and the toll it was taking on us and our family became too much..  We weren't making enough of a difference to continue on in that capacity..  Now my dad travels to churches (again) raising support and my mom counsels people..  My parents are great at what they do, but I'm not sure either feel fulfilled anymore..  But, that's totally beside the point..  I digress..

  I just wanted to say that I think that getting pregnant at a young age because you just weren't careful enough is a big mistake..  Or maybe because you were disillusioned into thinking that it would be fun, it's a mistake..  However, it's a completely different story if a teenager gets pregnant because of rape..  It's a mistake to choose abortion, but it's not always the right time to become a parent..  Then there's option of adoption..

  But we really don't want to get on the topic of whether or not it's okay to be sexually active as a teenager..  That's a totally different topic with very different viewpoints..

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