Name:	Salome
Online Name:	IrishCremeGirl
Country:	USA
State:	New York
Age:	18
Your Birthday:	5-18-81
Special Talents:	gymnastics
Hobbies:	my daughter, my boyfriend, writing, reading, and skiing
Where do you work?	won't be working until August 2000
Were you working when you became pregnant? If yes, doing what?	Yes. I worked at a photo shop
Are you in school?	College.
If you've graduated, what is your degree?	Psychology
How old were you when you had your first child?	18
Did you keep? abort? give up for adoption?:	I kept her
Was it the first time you had sex?	nope.
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?	enter here
Were you using protection against pregnancy? If yes, what kind?	no
If not, was it because you were trying to get pregnant? Please explain:	No, we were simply careless
Did you know how you would support the baby? Support yourself?	Not at first, my job, my boyfriends job, and help from our parents
Were you using protection against STDs?	no
How many children do you have?	1
What are their names, ages, birthdays?	Coralyn - 7-20-99
Was the pregnancy emotionally difficult?	Yes, especially in the beginning
Was the pregnancy physically difficult? i.e. were there any medical problems?	No, it was a great pregnancy!
What was/is the most difficult experience as a young mother?	Not being able to be with my daughter as often as I'd like.
Was your family helpful/supportive?	Very.
Did you stay at home with your parents?	My boyfriends parents.
Did your family help support you? The baby? Emotionally, financially, or both?	Both.
Do they support you now? Emotionally, financially, or both?	Yes, but the baby is my responsibility, Justin pays for most of it.
Did/do you need public assistance? How did/does that make you feel?	No. But if I had to I would've and not been ashamed.
Was the father's family involved with the pregnancy? Emotionally, financially, or both?	Extremely.
Did the father's family help support you? Emotionally, financially, or both?	Yes, they still do
Does the child have a relationship with the paternal Grandparents?	Yes. A very good relstionship.
Do you feel accepted by people your age?	Sometimes but sometimes I feel like I don't have anything in common with people my age anymore.
Do you feel like you have it harder than people your own age without children?	Definitely.
Are you happy with the decisions you have made? (Be honest. . .it's ok to feel bad, we all do sometimes)	Yes I am, actually, I can't imagine things not happening the way they did.
What are your personal goals? (goals for yourself as an individual not as a mother)	To finish College and then possibly go into counseling.
Have your goals changed since you became a parent?	Yes.
Do you feel that reaching your goals will be more difficult now that your a teen parent?	They DEFINITELY will.
What would you tell a (school age) 12-18 year old girl that wanted to get pregnant?	That babies are worth waiting for. And if they really want a baby to make a list of things you do in a normal day and the money they make, then try to fit a baby into everything, expenses and all.
How do you think being a Young Mother has changed you?	I grew up.
How do you think society looks upon teen pregnancy?	They think all teens who are parents are from disfunctional homes and are poverty stricken and their parents don't care about them. People always ask me how my family life was before my daughter.
Why do you think there are so many teen parents?	Not enough education, teens aren't given facts early enough about sex and teen pregnancy and parenting.
List 5 Pro's to being a teen Mother?	1. can keep up with my daughter as she grows. 2. I get to be a mom! 3. I get to prove people wrong. 4. teen moms are very supportive of eachother so it's not hard to find parenting support. 5. I'll get to be a young grandma.
List 5 Con's to being a teen Mother?:	1. You have to work 5x as hard at everything you do (or so it seems) 2. There's no guarantee that my boyfriend will be around forever. 3. I don't get to spend as much time as I'd like with my daughter. 4. I have to make alot of sacrifces in my life. 5. I can't be on my own because I don't have enough money.
What do you expect to get out of being a member of Young Mothers?:	Get advice and support from other teen moms.
Today's Date:	11-30-99