Acceptance of Teen Pregnancy/Parenting

I was 17 when i had my first child, she is now 36. People looked at me funny back then also. I even had to fight for my right to stay in school so i could graduate. I don't think that teen pregnancy will ever be looked at with a whole lot of acceptance. It is just so hard to give up so much when you are that young, i married my daughters father before she was born, and that was a big mistake because we were to young that marriage only lasted 3 years. I loved my kids and put my life into them. I have 8 all together and love everyone of them. Their are to many teens having kids, that don't put their life into their kids, they leave them for others to raise, When you decide to have children. You need to give them your all, and they need to come first above everything else.

Mama...if that's a picture of your daughter...she is adoreable! I love her red hair. Now, onto your discussion. Honestly, when I was a little girl, the idea of a teenager mother was rather shocking but as you've said, it's becoming more and more common. Yeah, way back in the 1988, I knew which girls of my 7th grade had already done the nasty deed or not. Now, I'd hate to think of what that number is these days. Kids these days have a tendency to look much older (hence probably the reason some get pregnant...the man doesn't realize their real age) so they can get away with that "childish" burden. Either way, be you a teenager or a woman in your 30's...raising children is a blessing and a HUGE job. It's not something that should be taken for granted or overlooked. *Pleiades

Back in the early sixties when I had my baby, you had to give it up for adoption. There was no ifs ands or buts. They pressured you until you gave in or if you had decided that it was right for a nice couple to have a new baby instead of you, you later realized that it really was not your decision but what you have been programmed to make. Not only that, you were told that because you had done the dirty deed, that you were now damaged goods, no decent man would marry you, etc. so either if you were a Catholic, you joined a nunnery or if you were not, you were doomed to be a spinster aunt and if someone did marry you, he did it out of duty and not out of love or you married way later then others. So there was no acceptance of teenage pregnancy unless you did if after married, and those girls were thought of as country girls or girls from countries in Africa and Asia where the life expectancy was so short that they had to marry young. I do find that people are accepting it more now, but the girls still have to raise the baby alone. I guess the stigma of being damaged goods and not good enough for marriage is still alive and well.

I was 19 and unmarried when pregnant with my first, and I got looks and comments, all the time. I was 22 when I was pregnant with #2 and 24 with #3, and although I am 25 now, I get looks and comments about having 3, So I know how ya feel. I wish people would mind their own business and stop judging other people....dont u?

For me age doesn't matter as long as you are ready to be a mom. As long as you are doing the responsibilites of a good mother. Just raise your kid well and enjoy being a mom. Having a child is a blessing. It is a wonderful experience. So don't mind those people who likes to talk about someone elses life. Don't be affected. As long as you are not doing wrong just enjoy the time with your kid.

Don't mind the people around you. I think you are lucky.. not everyone is blessed with a baby.I have a friend who have gone to three fertility specialist and no luck. I have two wonderful boys. At first, I felt its too early to have a baby but when I gave birth to my eldest.. it was different.

Well I was 19 when I got pregnant with my first child & I was told by several people I was just to young for parenthood, so I can imagine what a 17 year old would do to the thinking of others. With that said... I think as long as your a good person/mother that it really doesn't matter if people accept the fact that you have a baby at such a young age. You know that your a good mother & that is all that should matter. I do believe though that more & more people are learning to accept the fact that teen pregnancy happens & instead of turning the cheek & talking negative that maybe we should actually lend some good advice that will help that young mother through this time. :D

The most important thing to remember is to take really good care of your child. No matter how young you are or how it happened if you do a good job with your baby all will work out eventually. When I was a teen I knew a girl who had two children that way. She was repulsed everywhere. As I see it the best answer is to show yourself a responsible parent.

I can't really say for sure. I think anywhere there's going to be talk about pregnancy with younger women, but you are a woman and anybody of any age can take care of a child, a baby, if they know how. I wouldn't worry too much about it though, I think the difference from when our grandparents and parents were younger, and now is that people assume that just because your young your not married... or that you weren't responsible when you did get pregnant.

When I was a teen mother years ago I didn't feel funny or out of place. I dont think I was talked about alot but who knows maybe I was lol. Being a teen mother is no easy task and people should offer help instead of looking down on the mother. You have alot of hard work cut out for you but you also will find lot of joy in being a young mother. Good luck and dont let anyone make you feel uncomfortable or out of place!