| Name: | Marcia |
| Country: | Canada |
| State: | Province: Ontario |
| Age: | 19 |
| Special Talents: | I'm an awesome mommy |
| Hobbies: | computers, reading, Sonya |
| Where do you work? | starting college in the beginning of Feb. |
| Were you working when you became pregnant? If yes, doing what? | I was working as a dishwasher, it was a lousy job. |
| Are you in school? | starting college in the beginning of Feb. not yet but I will be really soon |
| If you've graduated, what is your degree? | none yet |
| How old were you when you had your first child? | 17 |
| Did you keep? abort? give up for adoption?: | I kept my baby |
| 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? | n/a |
| Were you using protection against pregnancy? If yes, what kind? | condoms |
| If not, was it because you were trying to get pregnant? Please explain: | n/a |
| Did you know how you would support the baby? Support yourself? | no, we were both worried about being able to support a baby |
| Were you using protection against STDs? | yes |
| How many children do you have? | 1 |
| What are their names, ages, birthdays? | Sonya Cailee, born March 12, 1998 |
| Was the pregnancy emotionally difficult? | the end was, I was really scared |
| Was the pregnancy physically difficult? i.e. were there any medical problems? | I had high blood pressure and was hospitalized
for a couple days then on bed rest when I was discharged |
| What was/is the most difficult experience as a young mother? | being judged as a mother before anyone see's how I interact with my daughter. |
| Was your family helpful/supportive? | my family has been VERY supportive |
| Did you stay at home with your parents? | yes |
| Did your family help support you? The baby? Emotionally, financially, or both? | emotionally they have, somewhat financially
but they only buy what they want to, not that we ask them to buy things for Sonya, they'll just go out and buy an outfit or something... you know.. grandparents |
| Do they support you now? Emotionally, financially, or both? | emotionally! |
| Did/do you need public assistance? How did/does that make you feel? | no, Sonya's daddy makes enough so we don't need that. |
| Was the father's family involved with the pregnancy? Emotionally, financially, or both? | yes, they were emotionally and they bought
things they thought we'd want or whatever... they're great too |
| Did the father's family help support you? Emotionally, financially, or both? | emotionally |
| Does the child have a relationship with the paternal Grandparents? | yes |
| Do you feel accepted by people your age? | definitly NOT!!! |
| Do you feel like you have it harder than people your own age without children? | yes, I've lost almost all of my friends,
they don't understand what it's like and we just don't have anything in common anymore |
| Are you happy with the decisions you have made? (Be honest. . .it's ok to feel bad, we all do sometimes) | I'm happy that I kept Sonya, it's hard
but I love her so much, I wouldn't giver her up for anything. |
| What are your personal goals? (goals for yourself as an individual not as a mother) | my goal is to graduate college, move into
our own home and get married within the next 5 years. I feel that it's acheivable too. . |
| Have your goals changed since you became a parent? | I didn't have any goals so yes, definitly |
| Do you feel that reaching your goals will be more difficult now that your a teen parent? | no, I feel that my path in life is carved
and I"m following the best I can. |
| What would you tell a (school age) 12-18 year old girl that wanted to get pregnant? | WAIT!! be young and stupid, live your youth
the best you can, you can't go back to being young. Don't waste that gift. |
| How do you think being a Young Mother has changed you? | it has changed me as a person so much, I am now a hardworking, motivated, person and I have learned what it really means to love. Sonya has taught me to love and it's a love that you don't know until you become a mother. |
| How do you think society looks upon teen pregnancy? | I know society frowns on teen pregnancy,
but the fact is it happens, it always will and it always has.
I am frustrated by society because we are all judged and thought
of as a certain way and we don't get a chance to prove ourselves. I think that being a mother is the BEST thing I've ever done with my life. |
| Why do you think there are so many teen parents? | lack of knowledge, lack of parental supervision, unexperienced sex partners, general "it won't happen to me" attitudes. |
| List 5 Pro's to being a teen Mother? | 1. when she's old enough to move out we
will still be young enough to travel and enjoy it 2. being young I have the energy to do things with her that older parents don't 3. I am knowegable to what youth are like 4. I learned to love 5. we can be old together (when Im 68 she'll be 50) |
| List 5 Con's to being a teen Mother?: | 1. SOCIETY 2. it's harder to acheive certain goals 3. SOCIETY 4. lack of friends 5. SOCIETY |
| What do you expect to get out of being a member of Young Mothers?: | the friendship that I miss so much. |
| Today's Date: | 01-14-2000 |