Beating Statistics on Teen Pregnancy

What do “statistics” tell us about teen pregnancy

Statistics show that only about 50% of teenage mothers graduate high school. It states that children born to teen mothers are more than likely to fail academically, drop out of school and be incarcerated as a young adult. It’s sad to say but this is true. Statistics have proven that. It’s sad to know that so many teen mothers do not have the support system that is needed to raise a child. Can you imagine the pain, suffering, and frustration these teen moms go through with no support? Can we really blame them for not being able to finish school? To not be able to get a higher education to provide adequate care for their children with zero support?

Personal experience

I cannot speak for other teen mothers or fathers I can only speak for myself and my story on my teen pregnancy. I was 17 years old when I had my oldest son, and was 2 weeks away from finishing junior year when he was born. At that moment I was a single mother to a baby boy with no money living at home with my parents. Although my circumstances were not ideal, my parents supported me. I was one of the lucky ones. Not sure what my life would be now if I did not have their support at that time. During my pregnancy I took a teen parenting class that was part of a teen parent program at the school. By finishing that course they were able to provide childcare while I went back to school my senior year. Once I was done with high school, I went ahead and attended community college.

Another statistic…

It states that 1 in 5 mothers will get pregnant again while still a teen. And yes 2 years later at the age of 19 I had my second son. However this time around I was no longer a single mom and my husband and I were married before our son was born. With my husbands support I was able to finish school.

Light at the end of the tunnel

Let’s flash forward a decade or so. We have a mortgage, good dependable jobs and 3 loving and healthy kids. Which by the way are excelling academically.

I think my reason for writing this post is in hopes that whoever is reading this realizes that it is not the end. Life isn’t over.

I started being a mom at a young age. How do I keep it all together? I self-care and so should you. I talk about the importance of self care as moms here.

-Julie