Name:	Chineze
Online Name:	Mahogany
Country:	USA
State:	Louisiana
Age:	20
Your Birthday:	Sept. 19, 1979
Special Talents:	I don't really have any :-)
Hobbies:	Playing with my daughter, loving my husband, shopping, hanging out with my girls!
Where do you work?	I'm an Receptionist for a small company
Were you working when you became pregnant? If yes, doing what?	No
Are you in school?	I'll be starting Cosmetology School soon.
If you've graduated, what is your degree?	enter here
How old were you when you had your first child?	18
Did you keep? abort? give up for adoption?:	I kept my daughter.
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?	enter here
Were you using protection against pregnancy? If yes, what kind?	No
If not, was it because you were trying to get pregnant? Please explain:	No I wasn't trying to get pregnant but I guess I should've thought of that before!!
Did you know how you would support the baby? Support yourself?	Not at first but I knew I had to figure it out in 9 months.
Were you using protection against STDs?	No we had been together for awhile and we both got tested together.
How many children do you have?	1
What are their names, ages, birthdays?	My daughters name is Arielle Aiyana, she's 2 years old, and her birthday is July 10, 1998
Was the pregnancy emotionally difficult?	No
Was the pregnancy physically difficult? i.e. were there any medical problems?	It was physically difficult because I had morning sickness all day everyday for the first 6 months. I couldn't eat anything without having to run to the bathroom afterwards! :- )
What was/is the most difficult experience as a young mother?	People telling me I'm not raising my daughter right because I'm too young
Was your family helpful/supportive?	Very
Did you stay at home with your parents?	No me and Ricardo had our own apartment.
Did your family help support you? The baby? Emotionally, financially, or both?	They are always there emotionally and they help financially because they love buying her clothes and shoes. I don't think me and Ricardo have had to buy her any clothes since she was born!
Do they support you now? Emotionally, financially, or both?	Yes
Did/do you need public assistance? How did/does that make you feel?	I needed public assistance when I first found out I was pregnant. I was alittle embrassed at first but then I decided it was what I had to do for my baby and I'll do anything for her.
Was the father's family involved with the pregnancy? Emotionally, financially, or both?	Yes, Ricardo was the one with the job and he was always there for me when I needed him.
Did the father's family help support you? Emotionally, financially, or both?	Not at first but their coming around.
Does the child have a relationship with the paternal Grandparents?	Yes
Do you feel accepted by people your age?	Only my close friends who have stayed by me through this.
Do you feel like you have it harder than people your own age without children?	Yes because I have things to do that they aren't even thinking of right now.
Are you happy with the decisions you have made? (Be honest. . .it's ok to feel bad, we all do sometimes)	Yes
What are your personal goals? (goals for yourself as an individual not as a mother)	My goal is to finish cosmotology school and one day open my own salon.
Have your goals changed since you became a parent?	Yeah, I was planning on going to college, but it was always to own my business.
Do you feel that reaching your goals will be more difficult now that your a teen parent?	Yes, because now I have to worry about babysitters for Arielle while I'm at school and work.
What would you tell a (school age) 12-18 year old girl that wanted to get pregnant?	They need to wait until they are financally and emotinally stable becuase there's no granutee that the father will always be there.
How do you think being a Young Mother has changed you?	I think about things more before I act on them.
How do you think society looks upon teen pregnancy?	I think their starting to look upon it better then they have in the past.
Why do you think there are so many teen parents?	Because everyone has started having sex at a early age.
List 5 Pro's to being a teen Mother?	I have a lil girl to watch and help grow up. I won't be too old when she gets 16-18 so I'll understand her more. I really can't think of anymore.
List 5 Con's to being a teen Mother?:	The only Con I can think of is it's hard to go to school and work and then come home and take care of a baby.
What do you expect to get out of being a member of Young Mothers?:	I just want to meet other teen parents and maybe give and take some good advice from someone who's been through the same thing.
Today's Date:	August 16, 2000