“Students at risk,” so that’s what they called me. I had my daughter when I was 15 years old, I guess that puts me in that category. As far as strategies to help students at risk like myself, I believe prevention should be at the top of the list. It makes sense right? If we as a community do everything we can to prevent teenage pregnancy, or anything for that matter there would be no need for or a lesser need for any other strategy such as transition programs, alternative schools, intervention & compensation programs & so forth. I believe that we should tackle these issues early on at the elementary level rather than waiting for kids to reach middle school or high school to teach them about sex education. We do that with drug abuse but not so much teen pregnancy.
I’m not saying that we should teach a five year old how to properly put on a condom but we should allow our children to be comfortable about talking about their bodies and any concerns they might have. When children hear the word “sex” they give this funny look or they’re embarrassed to say it. Not in my house! In my house, I teach my children that sex is a beautiful thing but when you’re ready of course. Otherwise, none of us would be here right? I just pray that they’re not ready until they’re at least 70 years old! But anyway, the point is… I want my children to feel comfortable talking to me about anything: sex, drugs, boys, whatever! Our kids are going to have questions eventually, if they can’t feel comfortable talking to us parents, they’ll seek answers elsewhere: friends, strangers, the media, etc.. I don’t know about you, but I want to be the primary influence on my children when it comes to those sorts of things!
Prevention!.. As with everything else, it all starts at home!
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You are an awesome person! Having a child at 15 is not easy. I was scared about being pregnant an early age that's why I got married so late. I was 29 years old.
I admire you for being optimistic despite your situation when you were 15 years old. I agree with you that we have to be careful in teaching children as young as five years old the word "sex". The way you said it to your child is so subtle from the people I've known. You said the way the child will understand without giving a malice meaning to it.
I told my son when he asked me about that word and I said that it defines if you're a boy or a girl. Then I bit my lip..ha..ha..ha.
Great job, Mom! You're one of the best.
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