A mother has a frank, heart-to-heart conversation with her teenaged daughter, who wants to become a mother at the age of 14.
So you want to become a mother. I am sure that most kids do, but I think that it is high time that you and I have a serious, heart-to-heart talk about this.
Ashley, do you think that you are equipped to handle the demands of having a child? Do you know that once you DO become a mother, all of your attention must be focused ENTIRELY on your infant? You have to feed your baby, change your baby when he or she becomes wet or poopy, and dress/undress it; and make sure that your baby is as comfortable as possible. Once you have a baby, you also have to take into consideration that your time is severely constrained, and you can't do the things you once did: everything must be severely curtailed, and life as you once knew it will be a thing of the past.
Ashley, being a mother is a 24-hour-a-day, 7-day-a-week, 12-months-a-year, 365-day-a-year job, and you don't get paid for it; and you also don't get weekends off or any paid vacations. Sure, the benefits are many, but you are now responsible for a young human life that you brought into this world, and it is up to YOU to provide the needs for that baby. If it should happen to get sick unexpectedly or injured (GOD FORBID!), then you should be prepared to get it the needed medical care or attention as soon as possible! As you know, medical care is very expensive, and if you don't have the proper insurance or way to pay for it, then you are going to be in trouble; and I may not be able to help you when you need it! I am not going to be around forever, and it is up to YOU to make sure that you have the necessary funds to provide for your baby! So you'd best be prepared and take care of the cost when (and if) that time DOES come.
Unfortunately, besides the medical side of things, you also have to consider buying clothing, shoes, and any "added expenses" for that child, and this does NOT stop once the child stops being a baby: the process is ongoing, neverending, and it only becomes more expensive s the child matures.
Also take into consideration, while I am thinking of this, the possibility of your child being born disabled in some way or another. So many things can go wrong before a child is born, and even afterwards. How are you going to cope with the devastating news that your child may be impaired in some way, that your child may never be able to hear, talk, see, walk, or even do the most basic, rudimentary things for himself/herself because of brain or physical damage? How are you going to cope with the fact that even despite the best care, your child will probably never be "normal", or the fact that he/she may always face rejection or redicule because of how he/she may look or act? How are you going to defend him/her, and how are you going to provide the added care that your disabled child may need throughout their entire lifetime?
You had better best think about what I am saying to you. I am not just talking "out of the side of my mouth" here. I mean each and every word I say, and I know how it is because I happen to BE a mother--YOUR mother--, and Ashley, I hate to see you throw your young life away. You have all the time in the world to get a boyfriend, become serious in your relationship, and then make the commitment to get married and then start a family of your own. You are only 14 years old, Ashley, way too young to even THINK of motherhood, let alone, having a baby of your very own. A baby isn't like the dolls you had during your childhood: a baby is a living, breathing creature, too, just like you are, and you can't just toss it aside like your dolls! You should enjoy your life now as you know it, and you have it so much better than most kids your age: you have parents who love you and care for you and your welfare, you have clothes to wear, food in your belly, and a roof over your head; and you have very few responsibilities. Oh, Ash, if only other teens could have it as good as you do!
Why do you want to have a baby at 14 in the first place, and why do you want to have a guy in your life? Don't we provide the needs for you, and don't you love us? Are you angry at us for some reason or another, and do you want to 'get back at us' by 'acting out' and having a baby to spite us in one way or another? What exactly are your reasonings for wanting to have a boyfriend or a baby at the age of 14? What if he should happen to 'dump you' after you have had a baby? What are you going to do then, and how are you going to provide for not only yourself, but for that baby as well? Why is having a baby so important to you? Why is having sex so important to you? Sex is not a game or something to be taken lightly: sex is serious business, and it should only be instituted or reserved for two people who are MARRIED and TRULY in love with one another! And besides, you are way too young to be even THINKING about sex! Don't you know that unsafe sex carries serious health risks, not only to you, but to your baby before it is born? You could get sexually tranmitted diseases like gonorrhea or herpes, or even AIDS! And if you get any of these diseases, you can very easily pass it on to your unborn baby, and it can be DEADLY for you both!
This is why I don't want you to get into trouble, Ashley. You are only a kid, and you deserve to have a good life! Don't throw it all away by acting stupid! Think about what you are doing, and think about what I am telling you! I don't want to lose you, and I don't want you to get into trouble! I love you too much, and it would hurt me if you got into trouble!
every teenager should be required to read this powerful, well presented piece--BRAVA!!!!!!!! high time someone cared and told these kids what's really involved
My memory of Elias is intimate but brief; I asked him, "what happened, where are you taking me, who are you? Tell me!"
In a calm voice; "Sara hush, you died.
Samantha is a unique artist only using red ink in her drawings. She comes across a red feather pen enchanted never to run out of ink but she soon discovers that the drawings created from the pen come to life.
Jennifer finally ends up in Apalachia after barely escaping an attack. She soon learns about her destiny and how her actions will 'put a friend in grave danger'. With everyone refusing to tell her more Jennifer must find answers for herself.
So you want to become a mother. I am sure that most kids do, but I think that it is high time that you and I have a serious, heart-to-heart talk about this.
