( I do have a thread by this very name but decided it was blog worthy)

I noticed a thread on pregnant teens in the "kids section" and wanted to give the perspective from a former pregnant teen. Keep in mind these are just my opinions based on what I have been through.

I became pregnant at the tender age of 16 and gave birth to my son just about two weeks after my 17th birthday. That was several years ago.

Now at my school I was not popular by any stretch of the imagination. Sadly after I became pregnant my popularity went up. This bugged me then and it still bothers me now. I also did not like it when strangers would touch my belly without asking, or worse asked only after they had already touched me.

There are some things I missed out on but not many because I was never the type hang out all night or go to parties. I did go to prom when my son was one year old. (I even wore a *gasp* pink frilly dress )

I still went to college right after high school. It’s a matter of determination. There are colleges out there with accommodations for families. Or you can live off campus. I lived off campus as my home was only six blocks from a local college. In the end look at it this way, if you go to college now then by the time your child in its earlier stages of school you will have a full education and the chance at a better paying job. A better paying job means more food on the table and a nicer roof over your head.

If you live in the US and need assistance then contact WIC (Women, Infants and Children) they help by providing food for the mother and child, as well as good advice. Here is the link to thier site: http://www.fns.usda.gov/wic/

I did not marry my son’s father. For me this was the best thing I could have done for my child. However, for others this would not be the case. But do not feel you now must marry the father as a marriage of connivance might not be a marriage of love. A marriage without love does not end well.
I do not suggest getting pregnant as a teen on purpose! It is not easy on you, your child or your family.

My pregnancy was because we were idiot kids that thought we knew how to use protection. You see we thought we knew how to use protection and did not or it had a hole in it (I think he had kept it in his pocket for a long time.... a big no no). Also, it was a situation that I realy did not want to, but gave in because I knew if I did what he wanted then we would go do something I wanted. It's best to not have "relations" until you can take the risk/chance of having a child.

This is all I have for now… but I’m sure I will come up with other things to say soon enough.