Name:	Joleen
Online Name:	HugznKisses
Country:	Guam, USA
Age:	21
Your Birthday:	12/16/78
Special Talents:	hmm...not sure exactly
Hobbies:	reading, working on my website, shopping, lots more
Where do you work?	im a SAHM
Were you working when you became pregnant? If yes, doing what?	nope, but after a while I got a job at the bank as a teller.
Are you in school?	going to be in my third year of college
If you've graduated, what is your degree?	none yet
How old were you when you had your first child?	14
Did you keep? abort? give up for adoption?:	I kept him!! I'm against abortion and I don't have the heart to give him up!!
Was it the first time you had sex?	yes
Were you and the father a couple?	yes
Are you still together?	nope...I am with the father of my second baby
If you're not together, is the father involved? How is he involved?	the first baby, not at all! The second, of course!
Were you using protection against pregnancy? If yes, what kind?	no
If not, was it because you were trying to get pregnant? Please explain:	nope, I mean who really wants a baby at such a young age?
Did you know how you would support the baby? Support yourself?	no, but thanks to my parents support, it wasn't at all hard for me
Were you using protection against STDs?	no
How many children do you have?	2
What are their names, ages, birthdays?	Dylan (6 - 07-22-93) and Ashlee (10 months - 03-08-99)
Was the pregnancy emotionally difficult?	in the beginning of my first pregnancy it was!
Was the pregnancy physically difficult? i.e. were there any medical problems?	with Dylan no, with Ashlee yes
What was/is the most difficult experience as a young mother?	All my thoughts and actions need to benefit the welfare of my kids as well
Was your family helpful/supportive?	yes...100%
Did you stay at home with your parents?	yes
Did your family help support you? The baby? Emotionally, financially, or both?	My family supported me all the way and helped me make decisions for the baby's well being...now that I am older and have 2, I make my own decisions and my parents no longer need to support me.
Do they support you now? Emotionally, financially, or both?	Read the last answer
Did/do you need public assistance? How did/does that make you feel?	nope. When I was 14, I did not know there were any of these things...now that I am 21, my fiance makes enough money so that we don't need it.
Was the father's family involved with the pregnancy? Emotionally, financially, or both?	Dylan (no) and Ashlee (yes)
Did the father's family help support you? Emotionally, financially, or both?	Dylan (no) Ashlee (yes)
Does the child have a relationship with the paternal Grandparents?	Dylan (no) Ashlee (yes)
Do you feel accepted by people your age?	now I do and even if they didn't accept me I don't really care cause I have my own family now and no matter what they do or say to me, I'll still be happy!!
Do you feel like you have it harder than people your own age without children?	Yes, because while they are out partying and being stylish, I am at home with my family, but it's not at all a problem for me cause I would much rather be home. I'm not so into "going out"
Are you happy with the decisions you have made? (Be honest. . .it's ok to feel bad, we all do sometimes)	Yes I am...people think that me having 2 kids at 21 is hard...it's candy compared to some people younger than me. I feel blessed rather than regretful.
What are your personal goals? (goals for yourself as an individual not as a mother)	To finish my college and become a Computer Specialist. I am always up to learning new things.
Have your goals changed since you became a parent?	yes, but in all the good ways. It made me really think about school and being able to provide for my family. I know now that I am living in reality and that I no longer depend on my parents for guidance (only in certain situations).
Do you feel that reaching your goals will be more difficult now that your a teen parent?	Sometimes I do because now-a-days you can't trust just anyone to leave with your baby. Dylan is in school so it makes it easier, but I have to be a SAHM for a while until Ashlee is old enough to let me know if something bad is being done to her. But then again, sometimes kids won't tell you cause they are afraid.
What would you tell a (school age) 12-18 year old girl that wanted to get pregnant?	Well between the ages of 12 and 17, I would tell them to please think twice and responsibly for that matter before they take on such a big responsibility. As for a teen that is 18, here in Guam that is the lagal age and they should know right from wrong and be able to think responsibly so it's up to them.
How do you think being a Young Mother has changed you?	It has made me become more aware of the issues that our world has, I have become more mature and I try to set good examples, but hey, no one is perfect no matter how they try to be
How do you think society looks upon teen pregnancy?	They think it's the parents lack of teaching, but c'mon, when these kids are old enough to have sex, they are old enough to think right from wrong. It really upsets me when they say it's the lack of parental attention, although that too could be the factor, but in most cases, it isn't.
Why do you think there are so many teen parents?	Mainly because teens have become so blinded with love and not notice what some men only want. We end up with broken families and babies who have not biological fathers. Some of it is peer pressure and some just want to know what "sex" feels like and when they do know, they don't think responsibly enough and keep on doing it *L*
List 5 Pro's to being a teen Mother?	Some mature faster, umm...I can't really think of any right now
List 5 Con's to being a teen Mother?:	No social life, held back cause you can't find a babysitter and if you do, your allowance goes to them instead of your partying
What do you expect to get out of being a member of Young Mothers?:	To relate to the other teen moms out there, expecting or not, I like to tell them my experiences and give them advice
Today's Date:	01-14-2000