| Name: | Tina |
| Online Name: | teeny95 |
| Country: | USA |
| State: | MO |
| Age: | 22 |
| Your Birthday: | 2/24/78 |
| Special Talents: | Being the best mom I can be. |
| Hobbies: | Swimming, softball, volunteering, movies, and hanging out with friends. |
| Where do you work? | St. Louis Community College -Meramec |
| Were you working when you became pregnant? If yes, doing what? | I was working in the restaurant where I met my husband. I was a cashier. (I was miserable) |
| Are you in school? | Yes, I just received my Associates degree and I am going on the the University of Missouri - St. Louis this fall where I will earn my Bachelors degree in Secondary Education. |
| If you've graduated, what is your degree? | enter here |
| How old were you when you had your first child? | Exactly one month after I turned 18. |
| Did you keep? abort? give up for adoption?: | I was married (big mistake) so I kept my son. Now that I look back the marraige may have been a bad idea but keeping my son was not. |
| Was it the first time you had sex? | No |
| Were you and the father a couple? | As much as we possibly could have been. |
| Are you still together? | No, thank God! |
| If you're not together, is the father involved? How is he involved? | No, and I do not want him to be at all. |
| Were you using protection against pregnancy? If yes, what kind? | No. |
| If not, was it because you were trying to get pregnant? Please explain: | I had a miscarraige with my first pregnancy and moved in with him. I thought if I got pregnant again everything would be OK. |
| Did you know how you would support the baby? Support yourself? | I had no idea how to support a child let alone even take care of one. My ex-husband may have many flaws but he did support us, by that I mean there was always food on the table and a roof over our heads. |
| Were you using protection against STDs? | No |
| How many children do you have? | 2 |
| What are their names, ages, birthdays? | Christopher 3/27/96 & Brooke 8/15/97 |
| Was the pregnancy emotionally difficult? | At times, it all just depended on what type of mood my ex-husband was in. There were times things were very emotionally difficult for me. |
| Was the pregnancy physically difficult? i.e. were there any medical problems? | I had toxemia and was borderline diabetic. |
| What was/is the most difficult experience as a young mother? | Not knowing how to do things right. I had a neighbor who was a god send & helped me more than the baby's father. |
| Was your family helpful/supportive? | Not whenI was pregnant, but after my son was born they were wonderful. |
| Did you stay at home with your parents? | I was living with my baby's father. |
| Did your family help support you? The baby? Emotionally, financially, or both? | They were very emotionally supportive. |
| Do they support you now? Emotionally, financially, or both? | I now live with my mother while I am going to school. She has been so wonderful. I don't know what I would do without her. |
| Did/do you need public assistance? How did/does that make you feel? | I receive TANF and food stamps, but I don't feel bad about it. At Meramec (the school where I got my Associates) we have a TANF support group and they have been so supportive. It's nice to be able to talk to others in the same situation. |
| Was the father's family involved with the pregnancy? Emotionally, financially, or both? | They were when I was with my ex, but now that we are divorced they have no contact with either of my children. |
| Did the father's family help support you? Emotionally, financially, or both? | Only when I was married. |
| Does the child have a relationship with the paternal Grandparents? | Not as long as I am alive. |
| Do you feel accepted by people your age? | For the most part, some people make silly comments like "Wow you've been busy!", but normally people don't really care. |
| Do you feel like you have it harder than people your own age without children? | Definately! Yes! |
| Are you happy with the decisions you have made? (Be honest. . .it's ok to feel bad, we all do sometimes) | I don't regret my children, they are the best things in my life. I do regret getting married. |
| What are your personal goals? (goals for yourself as an individual not as a mother) | I would like to get my Bachelors degree by Fall 2002, and then hopefully a job teaching in the district that I live in. The ultimate would be to get a nice house also in teh same district. |
| 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? | No. I honestly feel I can do anything if I put my mind to it. |
| What would you tell a (school age) 12-18 year old girl that wanted to get pregnant? | I would make her come spend the day with me. I think if I had known what things were going to be like I would not have gotten pregnant. |
| How do you think being a Young Mother has changed you? | I think I am more mature and more responsible than I would have been otherwise. I do think that has helped me in school, work, and everything else that life throws at me. |
| How do you think society looks upon teen pregnancy? | I think society still looks at teen mothers as uneducated, poor, little sluts who will live on welfare for the rest of their lives. |
| Why do you think there are so many teen parents? | LACK OF THE PROPER EDUCATION!!!!!! |
| List 5 Pro's to being a teen Mother? | My son, My daughter, having more energy than a 40 year old new mom, My son, and my daughter. |
| List 5 Con's to being a teen Mother?: | 1. Not having enough energy to go out and party like other 22 year olds. 2. The glares from closeminded people. 3. The reaction from some of my peers. 4. Not being able to sleep in on the weekends. 5. ? |
| What do you expect to get out of being a member of Young Mothers?: | Support. That's all I ask for. |
| Today's Date: | July 10, 2000 |