Name:	Bettina S
Country:	USA
State:	Florida
Age:	18
Special Talents:	Being a great mother
Hobbies:	I love to go running, swimming, playing basketball, and watching my son grow
Where do you work?	At Wal-Mart
Were you working when you became pregnant? If yes, doing what?	Yes, as a cashier
Are you in school?	No, I graduated High School
If you've graduated, what is your degree?	na
How old were you when you had your first child?	I was 17 when I became pregnant, and 18 when I had my son
Did you keep? abort? give up for adoption?:	Yes I kept my son, Since I took the responsibility to lay down and get pregnant, then I took a bigger responsibility and kept him
Was it the first time you had sex?	no
Were you and the father a couple?	yes
Are you still together?	yes
If you're not together, is the father involved? How is he involved?	na
Were you using protection against pregnancy? If yes, what kind?	Yes in the beginning we were using condoms. I didn't want to take birth control because it made some people get bigger, and stop getting their period, but I should have because when you get pregnant you get bigger, and stop getting your period.
If not, was it because you were trying to get pregnant? Please explain:	No I did not, I had just quit my job because I wanted to focus more on school.
Did you know how you would support the baby? Support yourself?	yes
Were you using protection against STDs?	yes
How many children do you have?	1
What are their names, ages, birthdays?	Maurqel Diwann Dillard, 6 months, July 16, 1999 at 5:16pm,
Was the pregnancy emotionally difficult?	To be honest yes it was because I was trying to do to much, and get ready for this person that I have never seen before, and trying to do what I think was best for him, and myself.
Was the pregnancy physically difficult? i.e. were there any medical problems?	To tell you the truth no
What was/is the most difficult experience as a young mother?	The most difficult experience of being a young mother to me is when you have to wake up every 3 hours to feed your child, not having enough time to yourself.
Was your family helpful/supportive?	Ow yes they were very helpful, and supportive.
Did you stay at home with your parents?	yes
Did your family help support you? The baby? Emotionally, financially, or both?	Yes they did and they still do , they are there for us both Financially, and emotionally.
Do they support you now? Emotionally, financially, or both?	Yes both emotionally, and financially.
Did/do you need public assistance? How did/does that make you feel?	No the only thing that I get from them is Medicaid.
Was the father's family involved with the pregnancy? Emotionally, financially, or both?	Yes they were. They would even go with me to my doctors appointments.
Did the father's family help support you? Emotionally, financially, or both?	Defiantly his mother redecorated my room and brought my son everything he that he has now. She told my mother that she didn't.t have to worry abut buying anything.
Does the child have a relationship with the paternal Grandparents?	Yes he does, but unfortunately his grandmother past away September6, 1999 he was only 1 1/2 months. He may not know her, but he will know of her, and who she was.
Do you feel accepted by people your age?	Most definitely I did not lose any friends, if anything I believe that I gained friends
Do you feel like you have it harder than people your own age without children?	To tell you the truth yes I do because I can't do everything that I want or need to do.
Are you happy with the decisions you have made? (Be honest. . .it's ok to feel bad, we all do sometimes)	Honestly yes I am, I have never regretted my son not for one second, yes times do get hard, but that is for everyone.
What are your personal goals? (goals for yourself as an individual not as a mother)	I would like to go to a Vocational School, and then college to take up Nursing, because I really want to be a Registered Nurse.
Have your goals changed since you became a parent?	No they haven't changed, they just slowed down it is going to take a little longer then I expected.
Do you feel that reaching your goals will be more difficult now that your a teen parent?	Yes because I have to put so many thing on hold.
What would you tell a (school age) 12-18 year old girl that wanted to get pregnant?	You may think that you are ready, but mentally, and emotionally you are not. Because being a parent is forever. It doesn't matter what you want anymore, because everything goes to your child. Trust me if I had someone to help me like YM then I wouldn't have been having sex, because they are both big decisions. And a lot of boys don't want to take on the responsibility of being a parent. It is easy for them because all they do is make them and half of them run away. You can not run away because you have to put up with the decision to have that baby or not to, you have to go through the sickness, and pain of having a child. A man don't, they can get up and walk away from you, and that child any time they want to. It's you that has to wake up every hour with that child not him because at night he goes home and gets a great night of sleep while you, you are home tossing and turning loosing so much sleep. So honey just listen to us because we do know what we are talking about. So be a teenager and go to parties, and Homecomings, go to your senior prom (I missed mine) and just be crazy.
How do you think being a Young Mother has changed you?	I t made me a better person. I now take life much more serious.
How do you think society looks upon teen pregnancy?	I think that society has there own views on teen mothers. I believe that they think all teen mothers are on well-fare and are drop outs. I think that some people look at us like we are nobodies.
Why do you think there are so many teen parents?	I think that there are so many teen parents because there is lack of knowledge. There are a lot of books, and things out there about preventing teen pregnancy, but no one to push it out more, know one to make sure that it is getting throw to these people. Like there is about drugs.
List 5 Pro's to being a teen Mother?	1) Being there 2) Listening to your child 3) Teaching them right from wrong at an early age 4) Being that I am a teen mother my son and I will grow up together. 5) I think that with us growing up together I will understand him more because I am still young
List 5 Con's to being a teen Mother?:	1) Not able to go out as much 2) Not being able to get enough sleep 3) Society 4) Not able to spend money on yourself like you us to. 5) Not being able to have enough time to yourself
What do you expect to get out of being a member of Young Mothers?:	I expect to help other teens and talk with other teens that are in the same situation.
Today's Date:	January 24, 2000