Bloggy Moms - August Blog Dare - This is a fact........ (for all the teen parents)

     This is a fact, It is so important to my husband and I that we don't become more of a statistic. Yes, I said, " a statistic". Let me explain. I was starting my senior year of high school when I found out I was pregnant-17 and pregnant, and scared out of my mind, like any other girl would be. At that age I think the scariest thing is having to tell you parents, and of the unknown. The unknown of what's going to happen, where are you going to go, how are you going to take care of yourself and a baby...There are so many emotions and thoughts running through your head. At 17 your not grown, I may have thought I was, but in no way was I grown and ready for that life. At 17 your "in love" and you think he/she is the one and you will be together forever. Well that is true for only about 20% of teens who actually do marry the childs father and then you are 2 times likely to divorce then if you married later.

    The shows 16 and Pregnant and Teen Mom show the struggles and hardships of of teenage couples who thought they were ready for love and thought they were ready for the responsibility that comes with having sex. Everything they show shows is the true struggles or teen moms and couples. It's hard trying to grow up, raise a child, and be in a relationship. None of the couples except for Katlyn and Tyler, stayed together, and they gave their baby up for adoption, because it was what was best for Carly. I can relate to all these girls even though I am 5 or 6+ years older them. Being a teen mom, even if you have support, is hard. It's one of the hardest thing I have ever been through. It's a lot of learning about yourself, who you want to be, what you want out of life, what you want for your baby, and most of all what is important for the child(ren that you are bringing into this world because they didn't ask to be here and deserve the best. All of the decisions fall upon a child, And those would even be hard for any of us adults to make. All of us teen mothers automatically become a statistic when we get pregnant, and then with every move we make we add to another statistic on the list.

 

In the United States, there are nearly 750,000 teen pregnancies each year, that's about 2000 a day! This means that about 30% of girls get pregnant at least once. 

That 30% is heavily skewed towards minorities. It's estimated that about HALF of Latina and African American teenagers will be pregnant at least once before they're 20.

Teen girls have a hard time supporting their babies. Raising a baby can cost up to $10,000 in the first year ALONE. 

About 80% of teen fathers don't marry the mom. They also contribute very little to raising the baby. On average, teen dads pay less than $800 a YEAR on child support. 

That 80% number can mean trouble. It's estimated that children who live apart from their dads are 5 times MORE likely to be poor than if they live with both parents. 

Teen pregnancy greatly affects education. Only 51% of teen moms have a high school diploma. The number for those who didn't have a teen birth is closer to 89%.

Parenthood is the leading cause for teen girls dropping out of school.

Teen moms are extremely UNLIKELY to go to college. Only about 2% of young teen moms ever get a higher education degree. 

Having a baby in your teens can also affect the baby: The daughters of teen moms are 3 times more likely to become teen moms themselves. 

Sons are also affected. The sons of teen moms are twice as likely to become incarcerated. 

Read more at http://www.omg-facts.com/Sex/The-10-Most-Shocking-Facts-On-Teen-Pregn/53548#Kh5g70oFLtO6ZGvf.99 

 

     I can say that my husband an I, even at 17, and he was 18, had a struggle and a lot of up and downs, but we made it through all of that for two reasons, it's what we wanted and its what was best for our child. Looking back now on things I see what possibly could have been if I wouldn't have got pregnant with our son. 

      So this is a fact, if your a teen mom or your pregnant and a teenager, remember this your life can still be exactly what you want it to be!! Yes, it's going to be hard raising a baby and trying to go to school, work a Job, or just be a mom but trust me, it will all be worth it. Even though its very cliche to say, " the struggles will make you stronger", but they truly will! Also, don't become just another pregnant teen, raise the standards and show everyone your more then just a pregnant teen. You need to know, that just because you got pregnant young does NOT mean that your life is over(maybe your social life ),you will never accomplish anything, or succeed at anything because you can still have an amazing life, you just have to work a little harder then everyone else. Life is truly what you make out of it.