| Name: | Sarah T |
| Country: | Scotland |
| State: | n/a |
| Age: | 18 |
| Describe your relationship with your parents (before you became pregnant): | Close. Not exactly best mates, but it was a happy, open relationship |
| Did your parents or school discuss sex or birth control with you before you became sexually active? | Yes, although not in very great depth. I got most of my information from teen magazines |
| If yes, how old were you? | From about the age of 8 onwards |
| Hobbies/Special Talents:(Outside of being a Mother) | Using the net, reading, watching films, listening to good music, going to gigs & clubbing |
| Were you working when you became pregnant? What type of work? (business, retail, etc...) | Yes, I was working in the admin department of an architects |
| Do you work outside of the home now that you are a Mother? | No, but I'd love to! |
| Were you still in school when you became pregnant? If yes, what grade? If no, please explain why. | No, I'd finished school & was having a year out to decide what to do (college/uni) |
| Are you in school now? (Please indicate year Middle, High, College) | I'm part time in college |
| If you've graduated, what is your degree? (High School Diploma, GED, Cert, AA, BA, BS, Masters) | n/a |
| How old were you during your first pregnancy? | 17, just turned 18 when I gave birth |
| Did you keep the child? Abort? Give up for adoption?: | I kept my son |
| Do you raise the child alone? If no, who helps? | Well, alone in parenting terms, but I have help from my parents |
| Was it the first time you had sex? | Nope, but it was with my first partner |
| Were you and the father a couple? | Yes, since we were 14/15 |
| Are you still together? | No, he walked out once five weeks before the birth, & again four weeks after |
| Did you marry the father as a result of the pregnancy? | No, I never wanted to |
| If you're not together, is the father involved? How is he involved? (Visitation, Child Support) | Not involved at all. I don't even get my child support from him, I get it from the Child Support Agency |
| Were you using protection against pregnancy and STDs? If yes, what kind? | I was on the pill. We didn't use condoms as we were apparently each others only partners |
| Were you using the protection PROPERLY? (condoms, bc pill) | Admittedly I wasn't as accurate as I could have been! |
| Did you know there is a WRONG way to put a condom on and that doing so can cause it to break!? | Yes |
| If you were not using protection, please explain why? | n/a |
| Did you think, "It won't happen to me" or "I can't get pregnant"? | Never, I always knew the risks of sex |
| If yes to last question, looking back, why do you think you believed that? | n/a |
| Did you have any more children before your 21st birthday? | Nope, & don't plan/want to! |
| How many children do you have? | Just the one |
| Was your first pregnancy emotionally difficult? | Yes, I had depression & went through a lot of hassles with various people |
| Were there any medical problems during your first pregnancy or delivery? | High blood pressure, I went overdue, & my son had to be given oxygen |
| What was/is the most difficult experience as a young mother? | Discrimination is a problem, but I find the whole lifestyle change the hardest to deal with |
| How did your family react to your pregnancy? | Badly at first, my dad didn't speak to me for months. But then things got better & they were really supportive |
| Where did you live? (On your own, with your parents, with child's Father's parents) | I was living with the 'father', but then I moved back home |
| Did your family help support you? The baby? Emotionally, financially, or both? | Both, although I try not to accept the financial help |
| Did the Father's family help support you? The baby? Emotionally, financially, or both? | Neither. I got no help from them whatsoever |
| Did/do you need Public Assistance? (Financial Aid, Food Stamps, Medical) | I'm on Income Support & Child Benefit while I'm at college |
| How did/does that make you feel? | Fine, as my family & I have paid taxes & so it's not as if I've never contributed |
| How long did you need Public Assistance? | I will need it until at least October. I don't know if I'll need it when I go to uni or not |
| Were you able to keep a social life/relationships with your friends? | Yes, & it's actually better now that I'm not with the 'father' |
| Do you feel accepted by people your age? | Yes, more so than before, although I don't think this has anything to do with being a mum |
| Do you find it difficult to have things in common with people your own age? | Not at all |
| Do you feel accepted by Mothers that are older than you? | Yes, I've never met anyone who's been negative to me in real life, only on the net |
| Do you feel like you have it harder than people your own age without children? | Definately. I never have the chance to just veg in front of the tv after a hard day, as I have to be on full on mum-mode |
| Do you regret having your child so young? If yes, why? | I don't regret my son, but I do regret the time he arrived in my life. I never noticed all the things that would be avaliable to me until it was too late, & if it had happened later in life things would have been more stable |
| What is the hardest thing to deal with being a young mother. | The thought that I will never get to be carefree, & regrets that I have |
| What are your personal goals? (goals for yourself as an individual NOT as a mother) | To get a BA (hons) & a good job, to find a decent man (but not until I'm at least 25!) |
| Have your goals changed since you became a Mother? | I'm aiming for more stability than I would have before |
| Do you feel that reaching your goals will be more difficult now that your a teen parent? Why? | yes, studying is harder with a baby |
| What would you tell a (school age) 10-18 year old girl that wanted to get pregnant at such a young age? | Don't. You have about 30 more years left to have a child. Enjoy yourself, see the world, be selfish & your own person for as long as you can! |
| How do you think being a Young Mother has changed you? | I'm a lot more mature now, & more confident |
| How do you think society looks upon teen pregnancy? | Badly, & I think that's due to the way the media portrays us |
| Why do you think there are so many teen parents? | Different reasons. Either they don't know/care about protection, it just happened by accident or they planned it. All situations are different |
| List 5 Pro's to being a teen Mother? | You have more energy, you are more in touch with your child, you can leave more time in between any more children, more willing to make a fool out of yourself in public to entertain your child, possibly have more time for them |
| List 5 Con's to being a teen Mother?: | Lack of freedom, prejudice, continuing education is harder, regrets, not having a partner |
| What are the most important qualities a good Mother should have? | Patience, time, love |
| Any Other Comments You Wish To Make? | |
| Today's Date: | February 1st, 2003 |