| Name: | Bonnie Franklin |
| Online Name: | Bonnie_420 or DiVine HiV |
| Country: | USA |
| State: | Florida |
| Age: | 18 |
| Your Birthday: | March 28, 1981 |
| Special Talents: | enter here |
| Hobbies: | enter here |
| Where do you work? | I don't have an actual "job"--since I've been pregnant, I babysit Monday - Friday these two kids for this lady I've known for several years. |
| Were you working when you became pregnant? If yes, doing what? | Yea, I was a telemarketer at Terminix. |
| Are you in school? | No, I would have graduated in '99, (last school year) but I got my GED instead. |
| If you've graduated, what is your degree? | enter here |
| How old were you when you had your first child? | I'm 18 now, my baby is due 3 days after my birthday, so I may still be 18 by the time it's born, or I'll be 19. |
| Did you keep? abort? give up for adoption?: | I'm going to keep him :) |
| Was it the first time you had sex? | No, thank god. :) |
| Were you and the father a couple? | Yes, and we're married now. We love each other a lot and he's been taking care of me and we both can't wait until the baby is born. |
| Are you still together? | enter here |
| If you're not together, is the father involved? How is he involved? | enter here |
| Were you using protection against pregnancy? If yes, what kind? | I was on birth control pills, but I'm awful at remembering to take them. |
| If not, was it because you were trying to get pregnant? Please explain: | enter here |
| Did you know how you would support the baby? Support yourself? | Not really. When I first found out I was pregnant, I was kinda freaked out, but excited at the same time. I knew it would be hard but it was now my responsibility to take care of this new life I had created. |
| Were you using protection against STDs? | No, the father was a virgin before he met me, and I had been checked out for STD's, so we thought we were being safe enough. |
| How many children do you have? | One, boy on the way. |
| What are their names, ages, birthdays? | We're going to name him Joel Steven Franklin, he is due on April 1, 2000 |
| Was the pregnancy emotionally difficult? | Yes, so far it has been somewhat difficult because in October, I was experiencing some bleeding, and I thought I was going to lose the baby, so I was going through a lot emotional stress. Also I had an abnormal AFP test witch kept me very stressed,...crying everyday...needless to say it was a "false positive", which makes me and the daddy very happy. |
| Was the pregnancy physically difficult? i.e. were there any medical problems? | see above. |
| What was/is the most difficult experience as a young mother? | I guess realizing that you now have to grow up faster than you thought. I'm sure after I have the baby I will think of more :p |
| Was your family helpful/supportive? | Yes. Before I was pregnant, I was living in my own apartment with Steve (baby's dad) and after I found out, my parents let us move in with them so we could get on our feet. We didn't have any money as it was, and living with my parents is really helping a lot. |
| Did you stay at home with your parents? | enter here |
| Did your family help support you? The baby? Emotionally, financially, or both? | When he's born, I plan on living with my parents for a few months, and my mom is going to help me. |
| Do they support you now? Emotionally, financially, or both? | enter here |
| Did/do you need public assistance? How did/does that make you feel? | enter here |
| Was the father's family involved with the pregnancy? Emotionally, financially, or both? | His family lives in California, and we live in Florida, and they haven't been involved at all. |
| Did the father's family help support you? Emotionally, financially, or both? | enter here |
| Does the child have a relationship with the paternal Grandparents? | enter here |
| Do you feel accepted by people your age? | A lot of people I know in my age range have babies, so it's not really that bad. |
| Do you feel like you have it harder than people your own age without children? | I probably will. |
| Are you happy with the decisions you have made? (Be honest. . .it's ok to feel bad, we all do sometimes) | Yes, I'm glad,...now that it's all happening...that I am pregnant, and that I'm going to keep the baby. I love this baby SO much already, I would give my life for him, I can't wait until he arrives :) |
| What are your personal goals? (goals for yourself as an individual not as a mother) | To be happy in life and succeed. |
| Have your goals changed since you became a parent? | enter here |
| Do you feel that reaching your goals will be more difficult now that your a teen parent? | enter here |
| What would you tell a (school age) 12-18 year old girl that wanted to get pregnant? | I would try to explain to them that it's a perminent thing, taking care of another human life, and it will be hard on them, expessially the really young (12-15) and that they should be in a serious relationship, or married before anything like this happens. I would encourage them to at least finish school first if they really had their mind set on it. |
| How do you think being a Young Mother has changed you? | enter here |
| How do you think society looks upon teen pregnancy? | I think they look down upon it. |
| Why do you think there are so many teen parents? | Because teenagers are careless about sex and think they'll never get pregnant. |
| List 5 Pro's to being a teen Mother? | enter here |
| List 5 Con's to being a teen Mother?: | enter here |
| What do you expect to get out of being a member of Young Mothers?: | To hopefully get some advice when I need it, and make some friends and talk to people in the same situation as myself. |
| Today's Date: | November 9, 1999 | I will update and fill out the rest of the questions after I have the baby.