Name:	Laura3
Online Name:	WorlaBean
Country:	US
State:	Florida
Age:	27
Your Birthday:	Sept. 20th
Special Talents:	Web design, writing, singing
Hobbies:	Web design, reading classical literature
Where do you work?	Jostens College Division
Were you working when you became pregnant? If yes, doing what?	Yes, I was a full-time college student and a nanny
Are you in school?	No
If you've graduated, what is your degree?	BA and MA teaching certification
How old were you when you had your first child?	20
Did you keep? abort? give up for adoption?:	I kept her
Was it the first time you had sex?	No
Were you and the father a couple?	Yes
Are you still together?	No
If you're not together, is the father involved? How is he involved?	He is not involved.
Were you using protection against pregnancy? If yes, what kind?	None
If not, was it because you were trying to get pregnant? Please explain:	I was told I would need fertility drugs to get pregnant; I used no protection
Did you know how you would support the baby? Support yourself?	I would support myself by working
Were you using protection against STDs?	Condoms
How many children do you have?	2
What are their names, ages, birthdays?	Madeleine (6 1/2 yrs., born 9/7/93), Gabrielle (2 yrs., born 2/8/98)
Was the pregnancy emotionally difficult?	Sometimes; I kept pretty upbeat
Was the pregnancy physically difficult? i.e. were there any medical problems?	The delivery/recovery was difficult as my daughter was almost 10 lbs. & delivered vaginally
What was/is the most difficult experience as a young mother?	Trying to work and go to school with no help
Was your family helpful/supportive?	Yes, as soon as they 'got used to the idea' of me being pregnant
Did you stay at home with your parents?	No
Did your family help support you? The baby? Emotionally, financially, or both?	Both, although I worked part-time while finishing college. I supported myself & my daughter fully as soon as I graduated.
Do they support you now? Emotionally, financially, or both?	Emotionally
Did/do you need public assistance? How did/does that make you feel?	I was on Medicaid while pregnant and stopped once my daughter was born. It made me feel worthless.
Was the father's family involved with the pregnancy? Emotionally, financially, or both?	No, they wanted me to have an abortion and 'just go away.'
Did the father's family help support you? Emotionally, financially, or both?	No
Does the child have a relationship with the paternal Grandparents?	No
Do you feel accepted by people your age?	Yes
Do you feel like you have it harder than people your own age without children?	Yes, there are so many bills to pay!
Are you happy with the decisions you have made? (Be honest. . .it's ok to feel bad, we all do sometimes)	Yes...I do not regret a thing and would not have done anything differently.
What are your personal goals? (goals for yourself as an individual not as a mother)	To finish my MA degree and raise healthy, happy, well-educated children.
Have your goals changed since you became a parent?	Absolutely!  No more partying!
Do you feel that reaching your goals will be more difficult now that your a teen parent?	They were, but it just made me work harder to get there.
What would you tell a (school age) 12-18 year old girl that wanted to get pregnant?	PLEASE wait - there is so much fun to be had without having to worry constantly.
How do you think being a Young Mother has changed you?	It made me wake up and realize that I needed to focus on my life and priorities.
How do you think society looks upon teen pregnancy?	Too lax - it is just accepted.  It needs to be prevented.
Why do you think there are so many teen parents?	Girls need to be loved and accepted, and are suffering from low-self esteem. Also, young men are taking advantage of girls younger and younger.
List 5 Pro's to being a teen Mother?	Reality hits you in the face, you learn to cope with challenges, you learn how to handle responsibilities, you aren't going to be a 45-yr-old with a toddler, your kids will 'leave the nest' sooner.
List 5 Con's to being a teen Mother?:	You grow up too fast, you don't get to enjoy 'normal' young people's activities, late nights are spent feeding instead of studying/being with friends, financial troubles, you many not go to college or even finish high school so your quality of life is lowered.
What do you expect to get out of being a member of Young Mothers?:	Being able to help out and mentor young women who are going through what I did
Today's Date:	7/1/00