 What's
Wrong With Having A Kid When You're Young?
Here are ten reasons given by girls and guys
who are teen parents why you don’t want to become a mom or dad
right now …
1. You’ll Have Choices About Your Future
Do you want to be a doctor, mechanic, lawyer or
hairdresser? It will be easier to pursue these careers if you
wait to become a parent.
You will have time to travel, go to college or technical
school, and decide where you want to live and what you want to
do with your life if you wait to have sex.
2. You can finish school
If you have a baby now you may have to drop out of school.
Your child is likely to finish high school before you do.
Less than half the girls who have a baby before they turn
18 will finish high school by the age of 30.
Only 39% of teen fathers finish high school
3. You and Your Baby will be Healthier
Mothers who wait until they are older are more likely to
have a healthy baby.
Even if your body is ready to make a baby, you may not be
emotionally ready to be a parent.
4. Your Parents
How will your parents feel when they find
out you are pregnant?
How will you tell your parents that you
are about to be a parent?
Will your parents help you raise the baby?
Would you want them to? Would they want to?
5. You’ll have more money
Girls who have their first child in their
teen years earn half as much money in their lifetime as those
who do not.
Only 42% of all guys ages 20 - 25 earn
enough money to take care of themselves, their wife/girlfriend
and baby.
Teen moms and dads and their children have
a very good chance of living in poverty.
More than 80% of single mothers under age
18 end up on public welfare.
Guys who father a child in their teen
years will pay child support until that child is 18 even if they
do not marry the child’s mother
6. You can buy that Car, Stereo or CD
If you have a child, his or her needs will
have to come first.
If you wait to have a child you will be
able to buy the things you want (car, CDs, electronic equipment)
instead of formula and diapers.
7. You don’t want to have a child with Mr. or Mrs. Wrong
You may have found the person you want to
spend the rest of your life with, but what if you haven’t - do
you want to be bonded to this person through a child for the
rest of your life?
Mr or Mrs Right may be just around the
corner - how will they feel raising someone else’s child.
At least 60% of all teen marriages end in
divorce within the first five years.
8.
Babies Require A Lot of Time and Energy
Babies need constant attention - feed,
diapered, rocked, cuddled
Are you ready for the terrible twos?
Are you ready to stay up all night with a
sick child, miss school and work?
You will make the best parent when
you’re ready to give 100% to your child.
9. You’ll Have a Life of Your Own
You can turn the stereo up without waking a
sleeping baby.
You can go out with your friends without
finding and paying for a babysitter.
You can make decisions about what you want
and where you want to go.
10. You’ll Have Time to Be a Teen
Teen Parents are forced to grow up very
quickly and take on adult responsibilities.
You will only get to live your teen years
once - live them as a teen free from the responsibilities and
commitments of parenthood.
Having a child of your own is a great
experience - at the right time - take time now to enjoy the teen
years and to become the adult that can best raise the children you
hope to have one day.
|
