Name:	Erin
Online Name:	ErinE910
Country:	USA
State:	NJ
Age:	19
Your Birthday:	Sept. 10, 1980
Special Talents:	writing poetry
Hobbies:	writing, reading, listening to music, being a good listener and making new friends
Where do you work?	I work at a Hair and Nail Salon
Were you working when you became pregnant? If yes, doing what?	The Salon, being an assistant and learning many things
Are you in school?	yes, I am finishing Beauty School
If you've graduated, what is your degree?	I graduated High School in '98
How old were you when you had your first child?	19
Did you keep? abort? give up for adoption?:	kept
Was it the first time you had sex?	the first and only guy I ever had sex with...
Were you and the father a couple?	yes, almost 2 years
Are you still together?	no, he left me after 4 months of my pregnancy :(
If you're not together, is the father involved? How is he involved?	no, he and his family do not care
Were you using protection against pregnancy? If yes, what kind?	we used condoms, but then we got very comfortable with eachother and got lazy
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?	no, and that scared me the most
Were you using protection against STDs?	we were both virgins and had only slept with eachother
How many children do you have?	just one
What are their names, ages, birthdays?	Brooke, her birthday is 02/08/00- she is only three weeks old
Was the pregnancy emotionally difficult?	yes, very
Was the pregnancy physically difficult? i.e. were there any medical problems?	I had PIH (pregnancy induced hypertension, I was put on bedrest for three weeks and she was almost three weeks early
What was/is the most difficult experience as a young mother?	doing it alone, I must say, and not getting enough sleep can be frustrating
Was your family helpful/supportive?	not at first, but now that she is here they are
Did you stay at home with your parents?	I was living with my father and he kicked me out, so I now live with my mother, step-father, two sisters and also my grandmother
Did your family help support you? The baby? Emotionally, financially, or both?	They are supporting us right now since I am not working and they will help until I can get on my feet
Do they support you now? Emotionally, financially, or both?	yes, as mentioned above
Did/do you need public assistance? How did/does that make you feel?	I thought I would need it, until they (my family) stepped in
Was the father's family involved with the pregnancy? Emotionally, financially, or both?	not at all
Did the father's family help support you? Emotionally, financially, or both?	nope
Does the child have a relationship with the paternal Grandparents?	noway, they aren't nice people
Do you feel accepted by people your age?	sometimes... it can be difficult
Do you feel like you have it harder than people your own age without children?	sometimes- definitly
Are you happy with the decisions you have made? (Be honest. . .it's ok to feel bad, we all do sometimes)	oh yes- all the emotional pain was worth it because I love my daughter and I wouldn't trade her in for anything
What are your personal goals? (goals for yourself as an individual not as a mother)	to finish Beauty School, become successful in my work and to lose all my pregnancy weight =)
Have your goals changed since you became a parent?	yes, I wanted to go to college, after Beauty School, and get a teaching degree...but now I'll never have enough money to do so, plus I was hoping to get married before I had children
Do you feel that reaching your goals will be more difficult now that your a teen parent?	they might be, things may just take a little longer
What would you tell a (school age) 12-18 year old girl that wanted to get pregnant?	to please wait
How do you think being a Young Mother has changed you?	I've grown up a lot and it feels good knowing someone is depending on me
How do you think society looks upon teen pregnancy?	I think they see it as just another statistic
Why do you think there are so many teen parents?	good question, I wish I knew what to say, but I don't know?!
List 5 Pro's to being a teen Mother?	you have a child who needs you... you have someone who will love you and who you can love the rest of your life.... you have a lot of energy when you are younger... you and your child can "grow up" together
List 5 Con's to being a teen Mother?:	society will judge you... guys might reject you... you may not be able to do everything you wanted to do... your friends slowly drift away... you may feel like a disappointment to your family and have a lot of emotional pain
What do you expect to get out of being a member of Young Mothers?:	I want to be there for others and I want them to be there for me
Today's Date:	March 3, 2000