Teen Parents

Being a teenage parent generally puts you into a very popular but generally wrong stereotype. People expect certain attitudes and actions from you. They envision a particular type of history and home environment. They also tend to assume or imagine that you view your children as some sort of interactive doll. You know, as if parenting a child required roughly the same attention and thought as it takes to own a puppy.

There are teen parents who fit the stereotype, yes. But most of us do not and you don't have to, either. That's what I want to prove here. If you are a teen parent who breaks the mold and if you want to share your experiences to help others, email me your story or home page and I will list it here.

It's time that people realized that we are not "babies having babies". We are young adults raising children of our own, no better or worse than the next parent. Your age places no limit on the kind of parent you can be or the kind of life you can have. You can do and be whatever you choose! That's the great thing about having choices. Some things may be more difficult and some thing may take more time but that's part of having children.

I urge everyone who is in the position of parenting to become educated. Talk to people. Read parenting books. Observe children and their parents. Learn, grow and become empowered to be the best parent you can be. Do not let anyone look down on you because you are young. You are stronger than you think! Experience is the difference between knowledge and wisdom and that is something you will be gaining by leaps and bounds if you just stay open to yourself and the world around you. And when you get those looks - and trust me, you will - ignore them. Or better yet, help refute them.

Teen Pregnancy Information Center

Teen Parents