Teen Pregnancy - your views?

[AWD Chaser]

Originally Posted by FPV8U

I have seen both sides of teen pregnancy with my mother being 16 when she had my older brother and having me just before she was 20

You saw this!?!?!? lol.

Yeah, I do understand that this slogan is more targeted at young teens, but what if an org here started up a campain to stop teens driving? There would be outrage. For me, it was just too generalised....

I think that if a teenager (of any age) makes the decision to keep their baby, they should so to the extent that they would want the baby without the father of financial support...bassicaly, through the good and bad times, and not just having the baby on the current circumstances, but rather, what may be ahead....

[nothin' so gr8]

Sorry for ranting - stereotyping of teenagers is a sore spot with me! My sister was a pregnant teen who went ahead with the birth. She has since found out that it was one of those 1 in 10 million chances of being a mum. She can never have another baby. I have enormous respect for her, particularly since becoming a mother myself.

Humans are predisposed to being sexually aware at a 'young' age. It's all relative. As the life expectancy of the race increases the age at which most of us become aware seems relatively sooner. If we all expected to live until we're 30, as was the case in the middle ages, 12 years old would not be considered young to begin being sexually active.
That said... I know plenty of people who are parents of teenagers. Every single one of them differentiates between what is acceptable for boys and girls, as far as age is concerned.
BOYS are secretly admired for luring the opposite sex early - a sign of virility, perhaps? A Darwinian notion of continuation of the species? Alpha male etc etc. It's all perpetuated in society, in any case.
GIRLS remain untouched pristine blossoms in the eyes of their parents until the age of 16 AT LEAST, and the parents will swallow whatever bull they have to to keep the rose coloured glasses nicely tinted... I quote "No, there's no way 'Tracey' [14yo] is having sex yet. I know that for certain, because she's always raving about how disgusting it is that her friend 'Terri' is doing it". SPARE ME!!!!
It's a fact of life - kids f@#%. Some 12 year olds could mentally/physically pass for 21 yo's.
Generalisation won't address the problem. It's been alluded to: people are individuals, the circumstances surrounding teen pregnancy are individual and vary from a planned demonstration of love between a couple and the product of rape. En masse all can be done is generate awareness of the potential consequences of sex - STD's and pregnancy. Both have life-long effects. The former will always be negative, the latter need not be. Perhaps the focus should rather be how best to support (emotionally, practically and financially) those who do need it, for the benefit of the children created.

[Mrs Coyote]

I think after all these posts reminding me of the age that children and I mean children start having sex that I might just be getting that shot gun and locking my two girls (10 & 7) up. (Just joking)

I just hope that we have instilled decent values and that they will be as honest and as open with sexual matters as they are with their little class crushes at the moment. I will just have to keep them involved in other activites. I was always to busy to think about sex until I was about 17. I hope they too are late starters.

[Des]

Originally Posted by nothin' so gr8

Some 12 year olds could mentally/physically pass for 21 yo's.

That's a sad indication of how a lot of our so called "young adults" are so lacking in life experience and general common sense....

[Bucket]

Wow...so many different perspecives...I had an 18 y.o that I hardly know hitting on me the other Day...She was pregnant..but the scary thing is...emotionally, she was acting like a 12 year old about it...One thing i've noticed is some basic instincts in a lot of Single Pregnant women..especially the younger ones...they Want a man in their life. Whether its for Support, Security or whatever...some of them can become quite despreate (which is quite sad) and to make the situation even more Tragic, a lot of guys the same age who are single and fancy free are frightened by a young pregnant girl .. (well not her herself but the responsibility (finance, time, life etc) of rasing a baby and wont really consider a single mum as a potential partner... this isnt generalising, just a trend i've noticed

[svo347]

Originally Posted by Bucket

Wow...so many different perspecives...I had an 18 y.o that I hardly know hitting on me the other Day...She was pregnant..but the scary thing is...she was acting like a 12 year old about it...One thing i've noticed is some basic instincts in a lot of Single Pregnant women..especially the younger ones...they Want a man in their life. Whether its for Support, Security or whatever...some of them can become quite despreate (which is quite sad) and to make the situation even more Tragic, a lot of guys the same age who are single and fancy free are frightened by a young pregnant girl .. (well not her herself but the responsibility (finance, time, life etc) of rasing a baby and wont really consider a single mum as a potential partner... this isnt generalising, just a trend i've noticed

True........
but in some examples that ive seen, the guy just doesnt wanna know if this g/f is preggers and pretty much just takes off n leaves her on her own.
Alot of guys should step up to the responsibillity, if your old enough to to have sex, your old enough to accept the responsibillity

[new2ford]

Originally Posted by nothin' so gr8

[I] If we all expected to live until we're 30, as was the case in the middle ages,

This is a myth. Human beings have lived for as long as they do now (80s-90s) for thousands (10s of thousands?) of years. The 30 figure refers to an average brought about by high lifetime mortality, particularly infant mortality before modern medicine etc.

Also for thousands of years people have been having sex and giving birth from onset of puberty. Its only with the evolution of modern moral standards that ages have been raised. The bottom line is really the level of maturity somebody has and anything earlier than 18-20 has to be questionable. Having said that nothin' so gr8, I'm pleased your sister had her baby when she did. You can't draw hard and fast rules for everybody and every situation.

[Bucket]

Originally Posted by svo347

True........
but in some examples that ive seen, the guy just doesnt wanna know if this g/f is preggers and pretty much just takes off n leaves her on her own.
Alot of guys should step up to the responsibillity, if your old enough to to have sex, your old enough to accept the responsibillity

It all comes back to responsibility...Both parties may not be ready for a baby but one is stuck with the consequences whilst the other can do the harry and try to act like it hasnt happened. Sad thing is...there are probably a lot of guys out there who shouldnt be having sex because they cant accept the responsibility...that'll be the day...

[svo347]

Originally Posted by Bucket

It all comes back to responsibility...Both parties may not be ready for a baby but one is stuck with the consequences whilst the other can do the harry and try to act like it hasnt happened. Sad thing is...there are probably a lot of guys out there who shouldnt be having sex because they cant accept the responsibility...that'll be the day...

BINGO

[crusher]

My mum and dad work at the Parkerville Childrens home. They look after kiddies whos parents cant/wont.

Theyve had some real up kids. One kid was a nutcase. His mum was a lawyer too. So its not just "white trash girls" or whatever you like to call em.

One of the young blokes is 14 now. Real good kid. His mum has had 6/more kids with just about as many partners. One of his half brothers was there too and he had problems. And turned into a thief. "Look what i found out in the bush". yeah...sure the bush.

2 girls there now. Something happened to them at home. Parents arent really allowed to share but ive sorta cottened on to what happened. The mum was there one day when I was visiting mum. Absolute trash and nut. Was like she was drugged up. Constant chatter and twitchy and wierd behaviour. to one daughter "come give us a hug...no? (after about 2 seconds) well im not your friend no more!" even mucking around what kind of thing is that to say to a kid.

Now i know that wasnt really all about teen pregnancy but it ties into parents not being able to look after there kids cos theyre too young/immature/drugged/whatever.

Remember its not just young teens who cant look after kids. And also think about the kids. What kind of a life would/will/do they have. Its so very sad.

Im only 18 (19 in october. yay 19 this year and nothin to show. Stupid medical stuff. anyway) and would in no way want a child. Girl I went to school with left end of year 10 i think. Heard about her through a mate as I havent, thankfully, seen her since, shes had like 2, and could be 3, kids. Absolute druggie. Overdoses and all. Im betting the kids are probably hooked too. So sad for the kids. They dont deserve it. And i wouldnt be surprised if mum and dad get them one day.

I see quite a few young mums around and its fairly sad. 16, baby, smoking, hanging around centerlink with no future infront of them and sadly not a great outlook for there kids.

Anyways if you read all that well done. Probly didnt make sense but hey, thats what you get from my brain.

XRchic: I dont know you but if you read this, congratulations on all youve achieved. Keep those kids close and look after them. Sounds like theyre gonna be great kids and will more than likely be my boss one day :P

EDITED: bloody hell. When i wrote that it was only just onto the second page. Thought of another thing. Aparently one of the girls i know has had to abortions since school went out, 2 years ago!

So many good points in this thread. And to threadstarter (sorry mate ive forgotten your name) You sound like your ready for a young fella. Congrats and I hope it all goes well for ya.

[347_XR8]

A friend of mine got preganant at the age of 17 (with a guy that is a real nut case and 26!!!!!!!!). Really sent the message home bout it. I just think it's not on. Not at that age, yes early 20's it's ok. But live your life!

[Van D]

Originally Posted by nothin' so gr8

[I] If we all expected to live until we're 30, as was the case in the middle ages

BOYS are secretly admired for luring the opposite sex early - a sign of virility, perhaps? A Darwinian notion of continuation of the species? Alpha male etc etc. It's all perpetuated in society, in any case.
GIRLS remain untouched pristine blossoms in the eyes of their parents until the age of 16 AT LEAST, and the parents will swallow whatever bull they have to to keep the rose coloured glasses nicely tinted...


It's a fact of life - kids f@#%. Some 12 year olds could mentally/physically pass for 21 yo's.

Actually, many people lived more than 30 in middle ages =)

It's because a boys sexual peak is at 16-18, and a girls is at 30 (maybe 36? can't remember).. Maybe some of the older guys on here can vouch for that ;), lol.

I have NEVER seen a year grade 6/ year 7 girl who could pass for a 21 year old.. Maybe one of those freaky brainy kids who like, skip nearly all school and go to Uni could pass mentally.. But there's no way a 12 year old would physically pass for a 21 year old.. =/