Adolescents as Parents
Newspaper article:
Below is a newspaper link that focuses on adolescent pregnancies. The article discusses possible reasons for the rise of teen pregnancies in the United States.
Photograph illustrating the theme of adolescent parenting that is discussed in chapter 3:
In regards to teen pregnancy I liked this photo. Although the photo shows that both the mother and daughter are distressed by the results of the pregnancy test they are still together and hopefully will continue to communicate with each other throughout the pregnancy.
Video Clip explaining the concept of teen pregnancy:
Below is a YouTube video of a woman who has 9 children by four different fathers. Her first children were born while she was still an adolescent. The video clip touches on the difficulties that teens face as parents to include the delaying of their own personal goals and dreams in order to take care of a baby and raise a child.
Two Internet sites:
The link below goes into further detail about the difficulties and less favorable outcomes that occur for children that are raised by teen mothers. In addition, the site explains that the adolescents environment and routines may have a positive effect on both the adolescent and the baby.
Below is another link that relates to adolescent parenting. This link offers information for adolescents, teachers, and parents. The site offers activities, answers to frequently asked questions as well as, a great wealth of further information. The site appeals to many of the people that are personally involved when adolescents are parents.
Song lyrics:
I found the song Papa Don't Preach sung by Madonna to be quite fitting in regards to adolescent parenting. The song lyrics explain the difficulties that arise for teen parents to include the decision whether or not to keep the baby, segregation from friends, and parent-adolescent conflict.
Papa Don't Preach
'Cause I was always your little girl
But you should know by now
I'm not a baby
You always taught me right from wrong
I need your help, daddy please be strong
I may be young at heart
But I know what I'm saying
The one you warned me all about
The one you said I could do without
We're in an awful mess, and I don't mean maybe - please
[Chorus:]
Papa don't preach, I'm in trouble deep
Papa don't preach, I've been losing sleep
But I made up my mind, I'm keeping my baby, oh
I'm gonna keep my baby, mmm...
He says that he's going to marry me
We can raise a little family
Maybe we'll be all right
It's a sacrifice
But my friends keep telling me to give it up
Saying I'm too young, I ought to live it up
What I need right now is some good advice, please
[chorus]
Daddy, daddy if you could only see
Just how good he's been treating me
You'd give us your blessing right now
'Cause we are in love, we are in love, so please
[chorus]
Papa don't preach, I'm in trouble deep
Papa don't preach, I've been losing sleep
[repeat]
Oh, I'm gonna keep my baby, ooh
Don't you stop loving me daddy
I know, I'm keeping my baby
Two paragraphs:
I chose chapter 3 to be included in my blog because I found this chapter to be relevant in my personal life as my husband's mother (my mother-in-law) gave birth to him at the age of fifteen. There are many difficulties that every new parent faces but teen parents face difficulties at a greater degree to include unmet financial needs by the child's father, inadequate nutrition, and the ingestion of unhealthy substances (smoking). However, although the statistics show that adolescent parenting is difficult and often leads to lower SES that does not always have to be the case.
Thankfully, in the case of my husband, his grandmother took a very active role in his upbringing. With the help of his grandmother his mother was able to complete high school as well as, college. With the help of a positive support system many adolescent parents can provide a healthy lifestyle for themselves and their child.
Photo and song lyrics acquired from the following sites:
http://www.fotosearch.com/photos-images/teen-pregnancy.html
