| Name: | Rachael N |
| Country: | USA |
| State: | Oklahoma |
| Age: | 17 (18 Nov.6) |
| Special Talents: | none that I know of |
| Hobbies: | I don't have time for hobbies |
| Where do you work? | I'm trying to get a job at Sears |
| Were you working when you became pregnant? If yes, doing what? | I wasn't working |
| Are you in school? | I dropped out of school |
| If you've graduated, what is your degree? | I have a GED |
| How old were you when you had your first child? | goodness I think I was 16 |
| Did you keep? abort? give up for adoption?: | I defanitly kept my liitle angel |
| Was it the first time you had sex? | Oh goodness I think I was 13 |
| Were you and the father a couple? | Yep! |
| Are you still together? | Yep and I love him to death. |
| 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? | Was I no but I am now |
| If not, was it because you were trying to get pregnant? Please explain: | No, I wanted to be married befor I had children |
| Did you know how you would support the baby? Support yourself? | My boyfriend joined the Army to support us. |
| Were you using protection against STDs? | No we had both went down and got tested before we had sex for the first time. |
| How many children do you have? | I only have one |
| What are their names, ages, birthdays? | Destiny Nicole Whiteman, 19 months, 3/25/98 |
| Was the pregnancy emotionally difficult? | a little because Joey left for the Army and wasn't there for her first kicks and birth. |
| Was the pregnancy physically difficult? i.e. were there any medical problems? | The only problem was she was born with the umbilical cord wrapped around her neck so tight she was purple. |
| What was/is the most difficult experience as a young mother? | leaving for work or school and all of the dirty looks |
| Was your family helpful/supportive? | enter here |
| Did you stay at home with your parents? | until about a month or 2 ago I moved in with my boyfriend |
| Did your family help support you? The baby? Emotionally, financially, or both? | My mother supported me and my daughter up until we moved out |
| Do they support you now? Emotionally, financially, or both? | Not so much finacially we don't need help but emotionally she helps a lot. |
| Did/do you need public assistance? How did/does that make you feel? | Medical, Daycare, and Food Stamps, just until we get on our feet, I don't want to be on welfare all of my life |
| Was the father's family involved with the pregnancy? Emotionally, financially, or both? | No the only thing they did was hurt me emotionally |
| Did the father's family help support you? Emotionally, financially, or both? | Not at all |
| Does the child have a relationship with the paternal Grandparents? | unfortunally yes |
| Do you feel accepted by people your age? | No they just don't think the same as I do |
| Do you feel like you have it harder than people your own age without children? | absolutly, because we have more responsiblity |
| Are you happy with the decisions you have made? (Be honest. . .it's ok to feel bad, we all do sometimes) | Yes I do. |
| What are your personal goals? (goals for yourself as an individual not as a mother) | I don't really have much of a goal right now. |
| Have your goals changed since you became a parent? | I went from having a goal to not having a goal |
| Do you feel that reaching your goals will be more difficult now that your a teen parent? | the goals I have reached have been really hard to get to and I think they wor have been 10 times easier if I didn't have Destiny |
| What would you tell a (school age) 12-18 year old girl that wanted to get pregnant? | I would tell her the basics it's not easy and far from being fun all the time you want a child I'll send my daughter to you for a few days I know they'll have her back in a few hours |
| How do you think being a Young Mother has changed you? | I had to grow up fast I'm defanitly not the same careless child I used to be, I sound just like my mother, it's so weird. I can't even relate to a teenager anymore |
| How do you think society looks upon teen pregnancy? | society hates teen pregnancy |
| Why do you think there are so many teen parents? | because they don't have anyone to tell them the bad stuff about having children and all they see is the fun stuff |
| List 5 Pro's to being a teen Mother? | Ouch that's hard 1 you grow up fast. 2 your more responsible 3.... I can't think of any more |
| List 5 Con's to being a teen Mother?: | I can go on and on 1 you miss out on being a teenager 2 most drop out of shcool 3 most are unemployed 4 you have to grow up fast. 5 it's not as easy as most people think |
| What do you expect to get out of being a member of Young Mothers?: | comunicating with other young mothers and possibly learning from my expericances with chat to everyone |
| Today's Date: | Oct. 19, 1999 (my boyfriends b-day) |