Name:	Heather E
Online Name:	Krysalisss
Country:	USA
State:	Washington
Age:	18
Your Birthday:	February 24, 1981
Special Talents:	Embriodery, Beadwork, Macrame
Hobbies:	Reading, Hiking, Camping, Anything Mystical
Where do you work?	at home for the moment (I'd call taking care of a toddler full time work!)
Were you working when you became pregnant? If yes, doing what?	No
Are you in school?	No
If you've graduated, what is your degree?	enter here
How old were you when you had your first child?	17
Did you keep? abort? give up for adoption?:	Keep
Was it the first time you had sex?	No
Were you and the father a couple?	Yes
Are you still together?	NO! Thank the Gods!
If you're not together, is the father involved? How is he involved?	He wants to be, but he's a drug addict and a criminal and I don't allow him around my daughter. I won't until he proves that he's clean and responsible.
Were you using protection against pregnancy? If yes, what kind?	Sometimes, Condoms
If not, was it because you were trying to get pregnant? Please explain:	Was not trying to get pregnant, we lived together and sometimes just spaced (lame excuse)
Did you know how you would support the baby? Support yourself?	Yup!
Were you using protection against STDs?	Before Derek I did always, but with Derek, Sometimes I had protection, not always.
How many children do you have?	1 and another on the way
What are their names, ages, birthdays?	Gennavive Alexa Ely-Clark, 15 months, September 24th, 1998; Alexandria Michelle Rose Ely, due January 31rst 2000
Was the pregnancy emotionally difficult?	Nope
Was the pregnancy physically difficult? i.e. were there any medical problems?	Nope
What was/is the most difficult experience as a young mother?	Not having my career and school set up first, I want to be able to give my kids huge birthdays, take them to the zoo all the time, stuff like that, but I can't afford it.
Was your family helpful/supportive?	Definatly, at first though, my mom wanted me to give my first daughter up for adoption, until she was born actually
Did you stay at home with your parents?	For a few weeks, then I moved out, I just had to move back in because my finances got screwed up after my ex lost his job.
Did your family help support you? The baby? Emotionally, financially, or both?	Both, mostly just emotionally though
Do they support you now? Emotionally, financially, or both?	At the moment financially, not much longer though,but both
Did/do you need public assistance? How did/does that make you feel?	I did after I kicked my ex out of the house, at first I felt really bad. " I don't need anybody's help to support my family!!" But then I figured everybody has rough spots and at least I'm not trying to live off the system, I'm using it as a jumping off point.
Was the father's family involved with the pregnancy? Emotionally, financially, or both?	Gennavive's Dad was supportive emotionally, but he is to stressful for words sometimes so it kinda cancelled out. Alexandria's Dad was both, for most of the pregnancy but at the moment we are having a hard time dealing with each other. His parents are dying and he has become a MEAN person to everyone!
Did the father's family help support you? Emotionally, financially, or both?	Both for Both
Does the child have a relationship with the paternal Grandparents?	On Genna's side, no, but she does see the paternal Grandparents of Alexandria and they are all very close.
Do you feel accepted by people your age?	Yes
Do you feel like you have it harder than people your own age without children?	Of COURSE! But, they don't have as much joy or love as I do either!
Are you happy with the decisions you have made? (Be honest. . .it's ok to feel bad, we all do sometimes)	I am very happy, I might not have gotten pregnant if I had the option to do it over again. But my children mean everything to me, my life will be a little harder, but it's worth it when I wake up to my daughter giving me hugs and kisses! Besides I do better with a little bit of a challenge ;)
What are your personal goals? (goals for yourself as an individual not as a mother)	I plan on going to college next year to get my GED (I would have my diploma, but my school district has erased my records for the past two years, don't ask how or why) and then go on to get a degree in either business or become a post-partum or prenatal nurse. After that I want to buy a piece of property with a little house, and start up a little ranch :)
Have your goals changed since you became a parent?	Mostly just stepped down my college plans a notch, before I would have been traveling a lot, now I'll be pretty much where I am :)
Do you feel that reaching your goals will be more difficult now that your a teen parent?	Yes, now I have to figure out daycare, and I have to worry about more than just myself.
What would you tell a (school age) 12-18 year old girl that wanted to get pregnant?	If you want to have a child, and you want to give that child all your love and support and everything else that you didn't have growing up. Wait until your life is set up first, then you can give your child something to brag about, and you'll feel better about yourself too. :)
How do you think being a Young Mother has changed you?	I have mellowed out alot, I used to have a BIG attitude!
How do you think society looks upon teen pregnancy?	Teen mom's are just a bunch of crack head, welfare bums living off my tax dollars!! Of course they haven't got an education or a job or any kind of ambition. Plus they have dirty kids running around their dirty trailor!!
Why do you think there are so many teen parents?	Teenage sex is more common, and adoption isn't an automatic for a teen mom anymore. No more homes for unwed mothers where the baby's wisked away by a bunch of grim Social workers. Teen parents have more options and resources then they used too, they can now take care of their family if they choose.
List 5 Pro's to being a teen Mother?	I get all the hard stuff done at the same time, so I can enjoy the rest of my life easier!!! I wouldn't have Genna if I wasn't. My daughter will be there for all my important moments, instead of just hearing about them or seeing pictures. There's more of a chance I'll get to be there for all my daughter's important moments, and I'll be better able to play with my grandkids!!!
List 5 Con's to being a teen Mother?:	Less money, Less free time, Going to school is harder, working is harder, and your family's opinion of you drops.
What do you expect to get out of being a member of Young Mothers?:	I'll be able to share my experiences and help others who are pregnanct, a parent already, or just interested in the subject.
Today's Date:	December 31, 1999