A bit of a rant about negativity.

[tasha41]

I HATE how negative people are about teen pregnancy.. I left this site to surf elsewhere for a few minutes and wherever you go there's some kind of video or comment or article about teen pregnancy being some huge problem and even if the article/video speaks of the situation positively.. the majority of people who comment are SO negative or they think it's a joke.

What's wrong with it really? I think it's more responsible than waiting until you're old and wrinkly to have kids, I mean the risks of having a child born with birth defects etc is much higher for older mums AND your own health is an issue the older you get.. I'm going to have a 20 year old son or daughter when I'm 39/40, this child is getting the best years of my life, a huge network of people who love me and my boyfriend that are going to love the baby just as much, and tons of LOVE from mommy and daddy.

Not to mention that we BOTH graduated high school; in 2006 and 2007.. and since my boyfriend has gotten a promising full time job and is hoping to become a plumbing apprentice, and I am a college student studying accounting. All of the grandparents are supportive and still working; 3/4 in the healthcare sector, so I can't see the baby ever having 'inadequate care' or anything.

By the way.. combined we make about $50,000 per year, which is too much to qualify for "welfare", social assistance, etc, I'll only be getting a baby bonus which is $300/month and I may get subsidized childcare while I go to school.. my parents are living pretty comfortably and all this affords a better home than a "crack den" or trailer park.

FINALLY, those who have something negative to say mainly comment on the hurdles facing young parents.. don't you think adding your piece and voicing how unsupportive you are is just adding one more?

Ughh.. I want to smack them all out haha. Or get them fertilized or something

 

[Alexas Mommy]

just ignore it all, as long as you are happy and your baby will be ina good environment, then that is all that matters!!

 

[nikky0907]

Well,people just see the negative side...Cause lets face it there is a negative side.
Not all teenage mothers end up being ok.It can present a rather large problem.

But this is when generalization come into place.Just because some turn out not so good doesn't mean ALL do.I'm a teenage mom (although an older one ) ahnd I'm doing pretty damn great if I may say.
I have a happy,wonderful little girl who is loved to heaven and backwards.
And I'm sure it will be the same with yours. so don't pay attention to clueless people.

I KNOW teenage parents can do such an amazing job with their children.


P.S. Just to mention that there is something in between 'old,wrinkly people' and teenagers.
There's nothing wrong in having children when you belive you're ready,settled and secure,no matter what age.

 

[tasha41]

lol I realize there's something in between being a teenager and being "old" but I just wanted to point out that there are risks associated with pregnancy later in life, but these pregnancies seem to be more accepted than teen pregnancies.

 

[ribboninthesky]

The problem people have with teenage pregnancies are the ones who plan (note I said PLAN, not fall pregnant accidently) to have a child, or those who don't bother with contraception, with no thought to how they are going to bring the baby up, ie those not working and who will have to rely on the government for benefits.

Girls who work or carry on with their studying, I take my hat off to, at least they don't (or won't in the future) rely on every handout going to support their child.

There are girls out there who want a baby solely for the benefits having a baby brings and to get a flat/house, which is totally wrong and irresponsible.

Nikky has got it in one...ready, settled and SECURE.

Some women wait until later in life to gave a child because they cannot afford one any earlier or maybe they want a good career for however many years. That's not irresponsible, that is responsible.

 

[bootyb]

I think you all have relevant points... but jes as they are bad teen mums they are also bad older mums whereever you go... besides this sterotype that teen mums are bad mums is jes ignorance to be honest... there is so much tlk bout bad teen parenting but wot bout good teen parenting? people whu discredit us teens w/o givin us a chance to be as good parents as we can be are then ones whu plant the seed of us bein terrible parents, hence the sterotype. And when peole keep tellin you you are bad at something soon enuf even you start to believe it nd so does everyone else.

 

[polo_princess]

Some women wait until later in life to gave a child because they cannot afford one any earlier or maybe they want a good career for however many years. That's not irresponsible, that is responsible

I couldnt agree more, my thoughts exactley

 

[trying_4_no.3]

I had my first daughter when I was 18, she was very much planned for and very much wanted, I had a full time job and so did her dad, However things do not always go to plan and when I was 7months pregnant with her me and her "biological father" split up and he refused to support her financially, therefore when I was 32weeks pregnant I had to give up my full time job with no intentions of going back to work once the baby was born as id rather "depend on handouts" and give my baby 100% of my time, love and attention than leave her with a stranger at daycare/nursey to go and earn money as just to keep a roof over out heads and pay the bills Id have needed to be working fulll time and TO ME(in my opinion) the benefits of love and time are greater than the "benefits" of leaving a child in daycare and going out to work, and people who think that teenagers get pregnant just to get a flat are very naieve as are the few teenage girls that do it for this reason as I can assure you I did not get no flat when my baby was born, My little girl is now 4 and she is a happy, healthy and bright little girl that could want for nothing and would laugh in the faces of anyone that told her im not a good mum because i was a teenager or a single mum when I had her up until she was 18months old, she tells me everyday that im the best mum in the world! I dont think that age comes into how good a mum that you make and I know just as many 30something year old mums on benefits as I do teenage mums and the fact that they are depending on these benefits does not reflect on what type of parents they are what so ever just as their age doesnt either being a good mum is something that is far from dependent on a womans age or how much money she earns not everything can go to plan and sometimes we all need a little help in one way or another! I am now very lucky and have a very supportive partner who helps out finacially towards costs of rent and bills but not everyone is this fortunate however I diffenatly agree that people are too quick to judge and you do not really know the truth about any situation untill you have experienced it yourself! I raise my hat off to ANY mother or father, parent or gardian that can say they have a healthy happy child/children that knows that they are loved may they be a 16 year old mum or a 40something year old! sorry to rant on a little but this is something that I have strong opinions on and feel very passionate about! I am judged everyday by someone just as each and everyone of you are judged but just as I do you need to raise your head up high and show you are better than the person that is judging you so long as you know you are doing a good job then no-one elses opinion should matter!

 

[dizzy65]

just ignore all the negativity u will make a great mom

 

[leeanne]

Speaking as an older mom who has just had her third at 39, often times we get out all our partying, fun times, dating and finally meet the right one. Often times, some of us never wanted kids but 30 hits and the biological clock starts ticking.

Quite honestly, I never wanted kids. But I now boil that down to not meeting the right person until my OH came around and until I felt secure in that relationship.

About teenage pregnancy, some purposefully do it for the wrong reasons and I put that down to them looking for love that they never got elsewhere. Some get pregnant accidentally, but neglect the child as they themselves are children themselves and have the thought that they can still live like a young person without responsibilities.

But, there are some damn good teenage moms out there too. My best friend got pregnant at 17 and has been a wonderful mom! Yet, I know of another who could care less about her son who is now 13.