Interview -Final Post

I interviewed my mom, because i know that she knows people that have been pregnant and have had kids young or decided not to have them. Whether she went to school with them, is related to them or is friends with them. I interviewed her in her home on March 28, 2009. I gained some information about what has happened in her life, about what she knows, and what she has seen for real life, which gives me an understanding face to face about what goes on. I think it's interesting to see what people have to say and what they know from experience.

These are the questions from me and the answers from my mom;
A= me, Ashley
S= Sue, mom

A: "What is your opinion on teenage pregnancies?"
S: "Teenagers are just kids themselves and are too young to have kids."
A: "When do you think it is too young or when it is a good time to have kids?"
S: "When a married couple are mature enough and are able to care for a child and have a serious relationship."
(a parent would say that to their kids anyway, but very true) << Ashley's opinion.
A: "Why do you think teens become pregnant?"
S: "For many reasons. Immaturity, lack of education on teen pregnancy, precautions etc.-some get pregnant because of lack of self esteem or they think it will keep a relationship together."
A: "What problems do you think it may cause?"
S: "For one, it's a lifetime commitment and I do not think most teens think about the long term responsibilities. It's a financial strain. Most teens will have to live with a parent(s) because they are too young to get a place of their own, some teens quit school, and some teens have no outside support.
A: "Based on experience, or knowing someone who was a pregnant teen, what happened with their lives, the child, education etc.?"
S: "Missed out on college, felt worthless, made many choices thinking it was the only choice at the time. Felt trapped. There have been some teens who are successful and make great parents, but I think if given a choice again, they would have waited."
A: "Do you think after the pregnancy/abortion/adoption, that this person's choice was a good one?"
S: "That's a question that only they can answer."
A: "What do you know about the topic?"
S: "I know that I have 3 children and even as an adult it is not an easy job. It's very hard work."
A: "If you know someone whose parent was a pregnant teen with the child you know, what can you say about that situation? Was it hard for the child?"
S: "Yes, financially and mentally. She had to struggle by herself because when the father found out he left her."
A: "Being a parent, are you glad you had children when you did? If not what would you have done differently?"
S: "I don't regret having any of my children when I did, but if I could still have the same children, I would have gone to college first. Now as an adult, it is difficult to always balance work, school and children."
A: "What would be your #1 advice to teens about pregnancy?"
S: "Sex education, know options, remember that birth control only "helps" prevent pregnancy, not a sure thing, and it doesn't stop ST D's.
A: "What would your #1 advice to pregnant teens be?"
S: "Wait, there is always time to have children. Enjoy being a kid as long as you can because when you are an adult, you always want to go back. You have enough responsibilities as an adult, don't rush it."
A: "What is your opinion on abortion?"
S: "I don't believe in abortion because there are plenty of ways to prevent it. The only time that I think it is okay is when someone is raped or incest."
A: "If you were a pregnant teen what would you do?"
S: "I would want to know my options and would hope that I would have the support from the father, family and friends."

This all made me realize things a little more realistically. It sort of just made more sense to hear it from someone and more clearly.

Teenage Pregnancy Response

I thought this was the worst site that I have found so far. It had about the same information as most other sites, with a lot less detail, and a lot less information. It was one of the ones that I could find that just gave information and had some simple suggestions, so that is why I chose it. Most of the other sites are just the same with different names. I think that it was a very boring choice, but it had some little things that get you to the point about a few important things you need to know if you are a pregnant teenager. The site also leads you to other links about having a healthy pregnancy and what to expect, which is for all pregnancies, not teen pregnancies alone. Maybe I can try to find what to expect on just teens when they are pregnant, even though a lot of stuff will be the same.

Teenage Pregnancy

This site says that most teenagers don't plan to get pregnant, but many of them still do. Teen pregnancies carry extra health risks to the mother and the baby. Teenagers often don't recieve timely parental care, and they have a higher risk for pregnancy-related high blood pressure and its complications. Risks for the baby inlcude premature birth and a low birthweight. If you are a pregnant teenager, you can help you and your baby by taking your prenatal vitamins for your health and to prevent some birth defects, avoid smoking, alcohol and drugs, and using protection. If you decide to have a baby, the most important thing you can do is to take good care of yourself so that you and your baby will be healthy. Girls who get the proper care and make the right choices have a very good chance of having healthy babies.

Girls Who Parented Response

This article was similar to the last one I posted, but this one is with girls who actually parented and didn't abort. I think that these girls are doing well so far but they are crazy! The last story I was very shocked. I was surprised that someone can even have a baby at the age of 13. Some girls have not even been developed enough to have kids yet at that age. They haven't lived at all until they at least get into high school. It would be hard to not have anyone there for you either and for the baby when there is no dad around. I am shocked that she is still in school but think that it is a really good thing that she is. That will help her and her child's future. I don't think that ANY 13 year old should be a parent. I high school is a little bit better that 7th grade. That can be a very scary thing. I'm surprised that the baby was born and wonder if it is even a very healthy baby. There are also many many more stories with teen mothers who have and are parenting on this website.

Girls Who Parented

These are real girls who have parented as teen mothers...

Myranda:
She found out she was 3 months pregnant when she was 15. At that point she had been with her boyfriend for about 6 months. She thought they were in love, but she was wrong. She said when she told him she was pregnant, he told her to get an abortion and that it wasn't his. He then told her that he hated her and that he wanted a blood test on the baby.
She said that even though he is not there for her son, his family is very supportive and love him very much. The baby is now 3 months old and the father has only seen him once. Her advice is to wait until you know who the right person is, and to make sure that he loves you and the baby and to make sure he will be there for the both of you because it is really hard to raise one on your own. She is very thankful that both families help out in raising her son.

Anastasia:
She got pregnant when she was 13. Some people made the suggestion that she should get an abortion, and that she would never get anywhere in life. She said that it was the best decision that she has ever made to keep her son.
She is now 18 and her son is 4. She graduated from high school and is now in college. She says that because of her son she has the motivation and determination to make something more of her life. She is going to improve to the world, herself, and her son that nothing is impossible. She says that everything she does is for him and she thinks twice about anything that will affect him in a bad way.

Patrice:
This girl had her first kid when she was in the 7th grade. She is now in the 9th grade and is 15 while her son is 22 months.
She says that at first she didn't know what to do, but now she enjoys being a teen mother. She doesn't go places she used to anymore, but she says she is young, smart and beautiful and can spend more time with her son, and says that he is her bundle of joy.

Girls Who Aborted Response

I think that it is sad how many people have made the choice to have an abortion, and some of the reasons that they did. They will always have to live with the consequences of feeling the guilt and sadness. In this case, she was made to have one. If they do not want to make that personal choice, I don't think that they should have to. That is a big decision though. In each of the stories that I read the different people felt sad in their own way but I think that some of the reasoning's were even sadder. Their boyfriends wanted them to, or they didn't have anyone to help them, or they were forced to or just made a poor decision. I think more people need to consider the consequences of it if they do.

Girls Who Aborted

This girl is named Latasha. She found out that she was pregnant when she was fourteen years old. Instead of wanting an abortion, she was forced to have one. She said that she was forced to and she will never forget that day. It was October 13 when she found out. She never heard from her babies father again since he thought that her mother would press charges since he was eighteen years old. She was scared out of her mind when she told her cousin. She then went to get an abortion after her cousin told everyone. She said she will never forgive herself for putting her own flesh and blood in harm's way.

(There are many more stories by many more teens on the site, with different reasoning's to why they did what they did)