Dealing with Teenage Pregnancy and Abortion (05/07)

Below is the script from the May 15, 2007, online chat about dealing with teenage pregnancy and abortion, hosted by Paul Snamiska, Christian Life Resources Program Director.

PaulS (May 15, 2007 8:09:23 PM)
Hi everyone.

Dr. J. (May 15, 2007 8:09:32 PM)
I wonder how many people had trouble and left.

planedoc (May 15, 2007 8:09:40 PM)
(This user has entered Dealing with Teen Pregnancy and Abortion)

fisherman (May 15, 2007 8:09:52 PM)
I almost gave up.. it took 5 tries or so.

PaulS (May 15, 2007 8:09:53 PM)
Hi planedoc. welcome to the chat

PaulS (May 15, 2007 8:10:05 PM)
Hi fisherman.

planedoc (May 15, 2007 8:10:11 PM)
Hi

fisherman (May 15, 2007 8:10:19 PM)
hi PaulS

Dr. J. (May 15, 2007 8:10:24 PM)
Paul, can you tell us a bit about your work.

PaulS (May 15, 2007 8:10:44 PM)
my role is varied, but part of it deals with counseling teens who are pregnant.

PaulS (May 15, 2007 8:11:11 PM)
my goal is to help teens through the difficult decisions and provide guidance from God's Word where applicable.

Dr. J. (May 15, 2007 8:11:28 PM)
Is this growing in amount of your time or decreasing?

PaulS (May 15, 2007 8:12:04 PM)
It varies quite a bit. I might have a couple of cases at once, and then none for six months.

fisherman (May 15, 2007 8:12:42 PM)
how do teens find you normally?

PaulS (May 15, 2007 8:12:44 PM)
These situations aren't handled in just one setting. I am very willing to stay with a teen or a couple for the entire pregnancy if they wish.

burntOrange (May 15, 2007 8:12:59 PM)
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PaulS (May 15, 2007 8:13:11 PM)
Most teens find us through the internet, but some through the Yellow Pages.

Dr. J. (May 15, 2007 8:13:23 PM)
I guess what I was getting at was are pregnancy incidences among teens growing in your view?

PaulS (May 15, 2007 8:13:27 PM)
H burntOrange.

burntOrange (May 15, 2007 8:13:51 PM)
hey there

PaulS (May 15, 2007 8:14:10 PM)
No teen pregnancies seem to be declining. Greater awareness, stronger commitment to chastity, and other factors seem to have worked to reduce the number of teen pregnancies.

chatmaster (May 15, 2007 8:14:32 PM)
After 17 years of teaching in WELS elementary schools, Paul Snamiska has now spent over ten years with Christian Life Resources (CLR) as its Program Administrator. His role is to develop materials that communicate Biblical principles on a variety of life and family issues.

PaulS (May 15, 2007 8:14:38 PM)
Some people say the increased availability of birth control has made a difference too.

PaulS (May 15, 2007 8:15:11 PM)
As Christians, I would hope we encourage godly living rather than the use of birth control outside of marriage to avoid an unwanted pregnancy.

fisherman (May 15, 2007 8:15:13 PM)
The paper here recently printed a story saying chastity programs don't work.

burntOrange (May 15, 2007 8:15:31 PM)
Mr S, do you think the divorce rate has added to childhood pregnancy?

PaulS (May 15, 2007 8:15:48 PM)
Yes, fisherman, I saw that too. The study was pretty comprehensive. Their conclusion was that abstinence alone is not enough.

PaulS (May 15, 2007 8:16:27 PM)
I believe that contributes, burntOrange. Teens are looking for someone who cares and might end up with a situation they did not plan or want.

Dr. J. (May 15, 2007 8:17:01 PM)
How do things like increased incidences of youth engaging in oral sex factor in?

burntOrange (May 15, 2007 8:17:30 PM)
I was thinking that a girl in many cases isn't finding love at home and isn't really interested in love from a boy, but rather from a baby.

PaulS (May 15, 2007 8:17:33 PM)
Teens today often believe oral sex is not really sex, so it gives the couple some of the sexual satisfaction without the perceived risks.

PaulS (May 15, 2007 8:18:25 PM)
I agree, burntOrange. We have a network of 22 pregnancy counseling centers and many of those centers say they see young girls who are pregnant and want the unconditional love that they feel will come from their baby.

Dr. J. (May 15, 2007 8:19:01 PM)
Paul, so these girls are not even tryiong to factor in the father?

burntOrange (May 15, 2007 8:19:09 PM)
Except, taking care of a baby isn't what they expected.

PaulS (May 15, 2007 8:19:25 PM)
I also believe that a factor is the earlier development of teens and the later marriage plans. This leaves a longer time span for a teen to become pregnant before marriage.

PaulS (May 15, 2007 8:19:59 PM)
Caring for a baby is seldom understood by a teen. You are right burntOrange that the frustration or disappointment can be tough on a teen.

Dr. J. (May 15, 2007 8:20:34 PM)
what could congregations do to support these young moms?

PaulS (May 15, 2007 8:20:44 PM)
Dr. J. in some cases, the girls feel that they are fostering a relationship with the guy and it will last longer if a child is involved. In some cultures that is just not proving to be true.

fisherman (May 15, 2007 8:21:01 PM)
Paul, do you think public school programs are better at reaching teens now vs 30 years ago?

PaulS (May 15, 2007 8:21:37 PM)
Sad to say, my experience is that many congregations are more at ease with shunning these girls than supporting them. We need to discuss sin and grace initially and then work to support this teen and her baby.

planedoc (May 15, 2007 8:21:58 PM)
PaulS Teens in the news somewhere recently young girls were asked to take home a computerized doll that cryed and needed to eat every 3 hours.

PaulS (May 15, 2007 8:22:23 PM)
I think all schools, fisherman, are better at handling these things today than 30 years ago. The U.S. has the highest incidence of teen pregnancies of all western nations, so we clearly need to more yet.

Joan (May 15, 2007 8:22:24 PM)
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fisherman (May 15, 2007 8:22:35 PM)
I can see that happening Paul. Some feel that to show love to them is to encourage the behavior.

PaulS (May 15, 2007 8:22:36 PM)
Hi Joan. Welcome.

Joan (May 15, 2007 8:22:43 PM)
thank you for having me

Dr. J. (May 15, 2007 8:22:46 PM)
Paul, do you have any data on the number of WELS schools that may be teaching any kind of sex education, like Concordia's curriculum?

PaulS (May 15, 2007 8:23:16 PM)
It is a tough call. We don't want to condone the sin, but we can't ignore the situation either. There are plenty of agencies or church bodies that will accept these teens. They'll walk of we don't provide caring support.

chatmaster (May 15, 2007 8:23:35 PM)
DISCUSSION STARTER: Number of U.S. live births to teens ages 15 to 19 - 415,000 annually. Each year in the U.S. 10% of all women aged 15-19 become pregnant. 78% of teen pregnancies are unintended. The teen pregnancy and teen abortion rates have declined dramatically since 1990.

PaulS (May 15, 2007 8:23:36 PM)
No Dr. J. I know that some do, but I don't have data.

burntOrange (May 15, 2007 8:23:44 PM)
Do studies show perhaps that many parents are trying to be friends with thier own children, so that they, the parents aren't disliked by their child? Perhaps liberal parenting then becomes "permission granting" for teens, even young twenty year olds to be permiscuous? It is as if morals and religion are beliefs, but no longer a way to live. And parenting has become difficult with society stating most old parenting rules are no longer accepted as correct.

jrolson (May 15, 2007 8:24:02 PM)
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fisherman (May 15, 2007 8:24:31 PM)
hi jrolson

jrolson (May 15, 2007 8:24:38 PM)
hi there

Sarah (May 15, 2007 8:24:50 PM)
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PaulS (May 15, 2007 8:25:03 PM)
Good comment, burntOrange. We can find a number of reasons for the changes in the family structure and the relative effectiveness of those changes. There are also the effects of media, peers, etc. that also lead to different standards.

PaulS (May 15, 2007 8:25:26 PM)
Hi jrolson. Welcom.

jrolson (May 15, 2007 8:25:33 PM)
hello

jrolson (May 15, 2007 8:25:45 PM)
this is my first time at this chat

Sarah (May 15, 2007 8:25:53 PM)
so are there only 3 of us

PaulS (May 15, 2007 8:26:01 PM)
On the positive side, the increased awareness of the issue should make it easier for parents to discuss this topic with their kids.

PaulS (May 15, 2007 8:26:31 PM)
We had problems at the beginning so others might have given up.

Dr. J. (May 15, 2007 8:26:43 PM)
sarah, there are 9 people on the chat

jrolson (May 15, 2007 8:26:57 PM)
did anyone see about rudy guliani in the paper today? It's kinda off the subject but does pertain

fisherman (May 15, 2007 8:27:17 PM)
no, I didn't see that.

Dr. J. (May 15, 2007 8:27:37 PM)
jrolson, i heard his comments about abortion and he seemed to want to play both sides of the issue

jrolson (May 15, 2007 8:27:42 PM)
he's running as a republican but on the pro choice ticket

PaulS (May 15, 2007 8:27:44 PM)
Rudy has been stumbling to find a position on abortion. He has a history of supporting abortion, but politically that is a difficult position in his party.

jrolson (May 15, 2007 8:27:54 PM)
but says that abortion is morally wrong

PaulS (May 15, 2007 8:28:20 PM)
Sad to say, his position is not that different than many people who say they are Christians in the U.S.

Sarah (May 15, 2007 8:28:26 PM)
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jrolson (May 15, 2007 8:28:40 PM)
well depends on if there liberals or not

fisherman (May 15, 2007 8:28:44 PM)
Are there resources for Teen bible study groups ?

PaulS (May 15, 2007 8:29:33 PM)
We have some resources on our website at www.christianliferesources.com but there are other fine resources through other groups.

planedoc (May 15, 2007 8:29:37 PM)
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chatmaster (May 15, 2007 8:29:44 PM)
DISCUSSION STARTER: Teens say that parents are the most influential people in their lives, but only about 1/3 of adults believe that parents are most influential.

PaulS (May 15, 2007 8:29:50 PM)
WELS Adult Discipleship has many wonderful resources for Bible Studies.

burntOrange (May 15, 2007 8:30:13 PM)
Makes you wonder too if media parading same sex relations to everyone certainly down plays sexual immorality between boy and girl where that is at least "normal". Thus teens feel as if at least their behavior is more acceptable.

PaulS (May 15, 2007 8:30:19 PM)
You are right chatmaster. Most parents don't believe this, but teens say they truly listen to their parents.

Dr. J. (May 15, 2007 8:31:00 PM)
Walk in My World, a WELS resource, has a study and video episode on the topic of teen pregnancy: http://www.wels.net/cgi-bin/site.pl?2617&collectionID=717&contentID=14422&shortcutID=9874

PaulS (May 15, 2007 8:31:04 PM)
The media works hard to promote various life styles. We are not supposed to condemn any of them regardless of the Bible's teachings.

PaulS (May 15, 2007 8:31:41 PM)
Dr. J's suggestion is a great resource. I was privileged to be a part of the first video. Good stuff for teens and youth groups.

Dr. J. (May 15, 2007 8:32:12 PM)
It seems that the people on this chat may be older. Why is it so hard to get teens in on this discussion?

fisherman (May 15, 2007 8:32:13 PM)
The walk in my world resource is very helpful. It helped start a good discussion among the group.

Joan (May 15, 2007 8:32:22 PM)
Is this going to be a topic that will be talked about at the youth rally?

PaulS (May 15, 2007 8:32:45 PM)
I'd like to give a little more on the question of "what churches can do to support pregnant teens.

fisherman (May 15, 2007 8:33:17 PM)
Paul, please do.

PaulS (May 15, 2007 8:33:24 PM)
Think of the struggles that a teen mom will have and work to help her with those issues. Baby sitting, education, job, mothering questions, breast feeding, etc.

burntOrange (May 15, 2007 8:33:24 PM)
Where if anywhere in the Bible does it reference abortion of a baby? Or, are there only references to murder?

Dr. J. (May 15, 2007 8:33:45 PM)
Joan, the rally does not have this topic as one of the discussion topics that are planned.

PaulS (May 15, 2007 8:34:22 PM)
Abortion is mentioned indirectly in Leviticus. Most references deal with murder and life beginning at conception and continuing in the womb.

fisherman (May 15, 2007 8:34:27 PM)
I thought the rally was looking for some topics for open discussion.

Joan (May 15, 2007 8:35:10 PM)
Do you think the youth group is a good place to talk about toics like this

fisherman (May 15, 2007 8:35:17 PM)
Good ideas Paul, we all can use help with parenting questions.

Joan (May 15, 2007 8:35:21 PM)
should the youth leaders be talking to youth about these topics

PaulS (May 15, 2007 8:35:25 PM)
If your church has a pregnant teen, some personal attention is good too. Spend some time with the girl and learn about her situation. You don't need to either condemn her nor condone her actions. Simply show you care and learn how you can help her.

digVball (May 15, 2007 8:35:46 PM)
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PaulS (May 15, 2007 8:36:13 PM)
Joan, I believe youth groups are very good places to discuss this topic. The kids will hear about this stuff from TV, movies, mags, and peers. If the church is silent we relinquish our influence.

BIG D (May 15, 2007 8:36:24 PM)
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PaulS (May 15, 2007 8:36:25 PM)
Hi digVball.

BIG D (May 15, 2007 8:36:30 PM)
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BIG D (May 15, 2007 8:36:30 PM)
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Dr. J. (May 15, 2007 8:36:31 PM)
Fisherman, yes we were, but that topic did not come up. Here is a link to all of the topics we are covering:http://www.wels.net/cgi-bin/site.pl?2617&collectionID=1418&contentID=71410&shortcutID=25063

digVball (May 15, 2007 8:36:43 PM)
hi everybody

BIG D (May 15, 2007 8:36:47 PM)
hi

fisherman (May 15, 2007 8:36:52 PM)
I think it can be a very difficult issue to discuss in youth groups. Especially with groups that have a wide range of ages. Teens can be very self concious.

PaulS (May 15, 2007 8:36:54 PM)
Hi BIG D.

fisherman (May 15, 2007 8:36:58 PM)
hi dig

BIG D (May 15, 2007 8:37:04 PM)
hi

Dr. J. (May 15, 2007 8:37:10 PM)
try this: http://www.wels.net/cgi-bin/site.pl?2617&collectionID=1418&contentID=71410&shortcutID=25063

BIG D (May 15, 2007 8:37:17 PM)
wats that

PaulS (May 15, 2007 8:37:54 PM)
The approach is critical to discussions like this. Those who attend the Youth Rally can get some ideas. CLR produced a neat chastity program called Empowered 2 Act. It is available free at our website: www.christianliferesources.com

chatmaster (May 15, 2007 8:38:15 PM)
CHRISTIAN LIFE RESOURCES: CLR started in 1983 as a pro-life organization called WELS Lutherans for Life. The ministry now includes a broad range of life issues including end-of-life topics, stem cell research/cloning, and much more. CLR tries to be different in that we offer pro-active programs rather than just reactive responses.

BIG D (May 15, 2007 8:38:23 PM)
hi chatmaster

digVball (May 15, 2007 8:38:33 PM)
hi big d

BIG D (May 15, 2007 8:38:55 PM)
hows it goin

digVball (May 15, 2007 8:39:04 PM)
just got here

PaulS (May 15, 2007 8:39:07 PM)
In my experience, the biggest fear that a pregnant teen faces is telling his/her parents.

BIG D (May 15, 2007 8:39:16 PM)
tvery true

PaulS (May 15, 2007 8:39:39 PM)
The fear and embarrassment leads to some poor choices, especially regarding nutrition and proper medical care.

Joan (May 15, 2007 8:39:50 PM)
going to church for that teen I think would be hard also

BIG D (May 15, 2007 8:40:02 PM)
Very true

Dr. J. (May 15, 2007 8:40:09 PM)
I would imagine the costs of the care would also factor in.

PaulS (May 15, 2007 8:40:12 PM)
I encourage teens to trust their parents. Allow them to show their anger or disappointment, and then work toward some solutions.

fisherman (May 15, 2007 8:40:20 PM)
Joan, I agree, some would find it easier to not attend.

digVball (May 15, 2007 8:40:20 PM)
i dont thik they are thinking about church

Kimarael (May 15, 2007 8:40:33 PM)
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Kimarael (May 15, 2007 8:40:56 PM)
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Kimarael (May 15, 2007 8:40:56 PM)
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BIG D (May 15, 2007 8:40:56 PM)
hi camel

PaulS (May 15, 2007 8:40:57 PM)
Church should be a respect for teens, especially when faced with these kinds of challenges.

Joan (May 15, 2007 8:41:10 PM)
I think that it would help them to attend church and see that support is around

burntOrange (May 15, 2007 8:41:19 PM)
Is it true that most teens who become pregnant have low self esteem and low expectations without life goals?

digVball (May 15, 2007 8:41:39 PM)
most people just judge you

PaulS (May 15, 2007 8:41:44 PM)
You are right, Joan, if the church is able to give the teen some meaningful support rather than just the law and gospel.

burntOrange (May 15, 2007 8:42:10 PM)
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BIG D (May 15, 2007 8:42:14 PM)
no mattter where u go u will be judged

Joan (May 15, 2007 8:42:16 PM)
If youth groups talked about this maybe it would be easier for teens who are faced with this issue to go to church

PaulS (May 15, 2007 8:42:18 PM)
Not as much as you might think, burntOrange. Many teens today want to become pregnant or feel a sense of maturity when they are pregnant.

BIG D (May 15, 2007 8:42:35 PM)
face the facts

Kimarael (May 15, 2007 8:42:50 PM)
what facts?

PaulS (May 15, 2007 8:42:55 PM)
I think BIG D is right. Judgement is part of our world. That should be something that helps Christians stand out apart from the world.

Dr. J. (May 15, 2007 8:43:19 PM)
Does CLR have any helps for congregations who may want to set up a support group for pregnant teens? Any guidelines?

digVball (May 15, 2007 8:43:20 PM)
face what facts. teens feel they are losers. they might not have a good family and not much a future

BIG D (May 15, 2007 8:43:30 PM)
that no matter what u do there will be someone judging u

PaulS (May 15, 2007 8:43:38 PM)
We tend to focus on the visible sins and make it hard on those people. Rather we should realize our sins make us equally sinful.

Kurlan (May 15, 2007 8:43:42 PM)
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fisherman (May 15, 2007 8:43:46 PM)
Joan, possibly. If the teen forms some friendships in the group and they can encourage each other.

BIG D (May 15, 2007 8:43:53 PM)
hi curtain

jrolson (May 15, 2007 8:44:35 PM)
ok i've been gone what did i miss?

PaulS (May 15, 2007 8:44:35 PM)
Dr. J. CLR works with individuals on these cases. We have not initiated support groups. That would be a wonderful ministry for some congregations to assume.

Joan (May 15, 2007 8:44:43 PM)
I think the youth group should form support teams

Dr. J. (May 15, 2007 8:44:57 PM)
Joan, great idea.

BIG D (May 15, 2007 8:45:06 PM)
fantastic

Joan (May 15, 2007 8:45:19 PM)
or when someone in the group has an issue like this they could write what they experience to share with others

fisherman (May 15, 2007 8:45:22 PM)
I like that idea Joan.

PaulS (May 15, 2007 8:45:24 PM)
Joan, you have a good idea, but some youth are not capable of giving the full support that a teen needs in these situations. The youth group should be part of the solution, but not carry the full load.

Kurlan (May 15, 2007 8:45:37 PM)
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jrolson (May 15, 2007 8:45:39 PM)
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digVball (May 15, 2007 8:46:11 PM)
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Joan (May 15, 2007 8:46:14 PM)
get the pastor in on the support team to offer support

chatmaster (May 15, 2007 8:46:29 PM)
DISCUSSION STARTER: Teens Cope With Unwanted Births Better Than Abortion: New Study (Find more info on the CLR web site) Article: National Study Finds Teens Who Abort Are More Likely to Experience Subsequent Mental Health Problems Compared to Those Who Give Birth to Unplanned Children.

PaulS (May 15, 2007 8:46:36 PM)
I like Joan's suggestion that teens can write about their experiences. That is the basis for the Walk in My World video series that Adult Discipleship produced.

Kimarael (May 15, 2007 8:46:48 PM)
As a former teen mom, I think one on one support is much more effective than "team" support

Joan (May 15, 2007 8:47:09 PM)
teens want to hear from other teens not from adults--- if a teen goes through something they should share it with others

BIG D (May 15, 2007 8:47:21 PM)
as a former teen i think its hard to tell anyone

fisherman (May 15, 2007 8:47:27 PM)
Kimarael, how did you find the one on one support?

BIG D (May 15, 2007 8:47:31 PM)
no matter who

PaulS (May 15, 2007 8:47:34 PM)
Thanks Kimarael. One person can be less intimidating than a whole group. Yet, the whole group can also provide prayer support and other practical support.

Dr. J. (May 15, 2007 8:47:37 PM)
Walk in My World was produced by WELS Youth Discipleship

PaulS (May 15, 2007 8:47:59 PM)
Thanks Dr. J. That's what I meant!

Kimarael (May 15, 2007 8:48:08 PM)
I didn't really have much positive support

Kimarael (May 15, 2007 8:48:43 PM)
But I remember a group session that turned into everyone telling everyone else how to feel and me getting lost in the process

fisherman (May 15, 2007 8:48:49 PM)
As a former teen dad we received our support from our parents.

PaulS (May 15, 2007 8:49:06 PM)
Unfortunately, your experience Kimarael is probably quite typical. We have lots of work to do in this area. The first step is to accept these teens as people who made a mistake, but not worthy of ignoring or condemning.

BIG D (May 15, 2007 8:49:16 PM)
chatmastter wat do u have to say from a political stand point

Piehead (May 15, 2007 8:49:23 PM)
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PaulS (May 15, 2007 8:49:33 PM)
In most cases that I have dealt with, parents end up being very supportive. It takes some time though.

BIG D (May 15, 2007 8:49:36 PM)
hi pothead

Dr. J. (May 15, 2007 8:49:49 PM)
what issues do the parents face in all of this...we seem to just be talking about the teen.

Piehead (May 15, 2007 8:50:33 PM)
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Joan (May 15, 2007 8:50:34 PM)
I would think the parent would wonder what they did wrong

fisherman (May 15, 2007 8:50:37 PM)
I think we were very fortunate. I know it wasn't easy for either set of parents. Esp. since they encouraged each of us in faith.

PaulS (May 15, 2007 8:50:46 PM)
Parents deal with embarrassment, anger, disappointment, and sadness. Most of these feelings diminish with time, but the sadness can remain longer if the teen is not capable of handling the pressures of the situation.

BIG D (May 15, 2007 8:50:50 PM)
r u there chatmaster

BIG D (May 15, 2007 8:51:21 PM)
chattmasteer

Kimarael (May 15, 2007 8:51:44 PM)
The baby makes all the difference in the world. Getting through the pregnancy is the killer.

PaulS (May 15, 2007 8:51:52 PM)
Some parents step in too aggressively and become the "parents" of the baby. They need to step back and assist the parents of the child, but encourage mature decisions from the teens in these cases.

fisherman (May 15, 2007 8:52:07 PM)
thank you for your thoughts. This is an important topic.

PaulS (May 15, 2007 8:52:21 PM)
What do you mean Kimarael that the pregnancy is the killer? You mean physically? emotionally?

PaulS (May 15, 2007 8:52:33 PM)
Thanks for joining us fisherman.

fisherman (May 15, 2007 8:52:39 PM)
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Kimarael (May 15, 2007 8:52:50 PM)
Since I betrayed their trust, my folks restricted me to the nth

Kimarael (May 15, 2007 8:53:04 PM)
I cried myself to sleep most nights and they were angry most days

PaulS (May 15, 2007 8:53:13 PM)
When did they change?

BIG D (May 15, 2007 8:53:14 PM)
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Kimarael (May 15, 2007 8:53:27 PM)
Once the baby was born, so much of the anger dissipated

PaulS (May 15, 2007 8:53:55 PM)
It is better that they accepted the child after birth than continuing in their anger. That must have been difficult for you.

Kimarael (May 15, 2007 8:55:00 PM)
Their restrictions didn't help me cope or become a different teen. But they needed to show me how much I had hurt them

Kimarael (May 15, 2007 8:55:32 PM)
I understand why they thought they needed to do what they did, but I wouldn't go about it the same way at all would I be in their shoes

PaulS (May 15, 2007 8:56:26 PM)
Anger is shown in different ways. We all learn from our own mistakes and the mistakes of others. Most teen moms would be more understanding if their own teens faced a similar situation.

Kimarael (May 15, 2007 8:57:01 PM)
Agreed. Generations make a difference as well. I'm always interested in this topic. If there are other opportuntities to be productive in this arena, I'd like to hear about it. Thanks for your time.

PaulS (May 15, 2007 8:57:21 PM)
I see our time is almost completed. Thank you to everyone for your insight, questions, and interest in this topic. We certainly need greater awareness of this concern and need to be more compassionate in dealing with these teens.

Kimarael (May 15, 2007 8:57:25 PM)
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Joan (May 15, 2007 8:57:33 PM)
Thank you Paul!

Joan (May 15, 2007 8:57:36 PM)
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Santiago (May 15, 2007 8:57:43 PM)
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Dr. J. (May 15, 2007 8:57:49 PM)
Thanks, very mcu Paul for the time and expertise.

chatmaster (May 15, 2007 8:58:00 PM)
Thank you Paul and Dr. J

Dr. J. (May 15, 2007 8:58:10 PM)
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PaulS (May 15, 2007 8:58:12 PM)
Thanks for the opportunity, chatmaster and Dr. J.