This Important Conversation About Teen Pregnancy….
September 4th, 2008 by Sue Blaney
…needs to happen around your kitchen table.
We don’t need another blogger writing about Sarah Palin’s pregnant 17 year old daughter… that’s being covered….probably way too much. However, this topic presents a golden opportunity for parents of teenage boys and girls to open a dialogue about teenagers, sexual activity and pregnancy.
Right before their eyes, and, unfortunately in the national spotlight, teens can watch the unfoldings of this young teen couple who are about to become parents. I won’t make judgments about Bristol and Levi, and you don’t have to either, but don’t miss this chance to ask your teens to consider whether they would welcome the upcoming adult responsibilities this couple is now in for. Are Bristol and Levi able to support themselves and their baby? Have they completed the education they’ll need? Are they emotionally ready to be parents? Ask your teen what s/he thinks about this, and how s/he’d respond if it happened to her.
Here are some talking points:
34%…that’s more than 3 out of every ten!
There are health classes that require young people to carry around a sack of flour or baby doll for several days to give young people a chance to really consider what it would be like if they got pregnant. Jamie Lynn’s living the life now, Bristol will be living it 6 months before her scheduled high school graduation… help your teenager envision how her life would change if she had a baby to care for.
What goals does your teen have for the future? Goals are difficult enough to achieve…ask him to consider what risks are and are not worth taking that could put his plans in jeopardy.
Kids who wait are in the majority!
Teens can learn from their peers’ experiences.
Here are some facts for you:
Parents have the biggest influence when it comes to your teen’s decisions about sex. However, as your teen grows, your influence diminishes. Start early; start talking about sex and share your values when your teen is young….and keep the dialogue going!
Among teens aged 15 – 19, 30% said parents are the most influential.
Here are some thought provoking articles, and a national study.
“A New Poster Child for Teen Pregnancy”
Poverty, Not Sex Ed, Key Factor in Teen Pregnancy the San Francisco Chronicle
With One Voice 2007; America’s Adults and Teens Sound Off About Teen Pregnancy
This entry was posted on Thursday, September 4th, 2008 at 8:47 pm and is filed under Teens: Sexual Activity, Culture & Media, Risky Behavior. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. You can leave a response, or trackback from your own site.
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