Raising a Child: According to some recently conducted investigations, one in fourteen girls is pregnant by the age of 18. There are many social and economical disadvantages for young mothers and for their children as well, because girls are not able to support themselves, and they are yet less able to provide any kind of support for their future babies. Among other effects on the baby are the following:
• Mental health problems and depression, later in life, especially if a child grows without a father;
• Boys, born from teenage mothers and raised without a father usually miss the opportunity to have a male figure as a role model, and girls may grow up hating men unconsciously, because they hear nothing good about them as a rule;
• Some girls also have early sex as a substitute for the love they missed from a father while growing up. Many of them may end up being teenage mothers themselves, and they may neither understand what kind of relationships should be between a man and a woman, who love each other nor ever have a strong, friendly, caring family of their own.
But not all is so bad, as it is not impossible to become a mother, if you are a teenager yet, if you are provided with help from your family and friends, it can be accomplished. However, if you see no support from any of the sides, it does not end up being just your personal problem, it is a problem of society, which has to do something.
Another issue, except being too young, is that you may have to raise your baby as a single mother. And the problem of single motherhood is very common at present, so, according to the statistics, one of four women, who deliver a baby, is unmarried, so there are 25 % of sing mother, raising their babies alone. The opinion of about 70 % of respondents is that if a single woman decides to have a baby; it is bad for the society, as they consider that it is necessary for every child to have both parents: a mother and a father to grow up happily. If things are really so, as the statistics informs us, then more than a quarter of all children are miserable, and they have no chance to grow up happily at all. Does it seem to be right for you?
The whole problem may be somewhat more complicated, as the word “HAPPY” can possibly have several meanings, and it means different for every person. It is quite possible that children in the both – parents homes may be miserable, and those, who grow up in the single – parent home are well enough. So, it comes out that the number of parents at home is not the only determinant of happiness or it is not the determinant of it at all.
If you are pregnant, and you are a single teenage girl, it is easy to get caught up in the vibe like “single mothers are harmful for the society, and a single teenage mother is unbearable thing”. Of course you with your future baby would have the best, but you do not know exactly, what is the best for your child. And that is the reason why you begin to listen to people, who have such a kind of opinion.
The best for you would be to talk to people, who experienced the role of single mothers, who were raising their kids for years, and who can let you know the big and full picture of this experience of them. Ask them, if they ever wished they had chosen not to have their child. What are their gainings and losses during the period of their children were growing up? Ask if they would make the same choice, if they had a possibility to deliver a baby without him having a father once again?
You should also talk to people, who were raised by a single mother and ask them questions, like what they missed out, what they liked, would they prefer to be adopted by a family of two parents?
Of course, it will be extremely difficult for you to stand against 70% of people, and to decide to be a single and young mother, as there are so many choices, you would be able to make, if it was not up for your baby, but you should believe, that having delivered this baby, you will hardly ever be sorry about it. Your little son or daughter will become older, and they will present you with their smile, which is the best thing on earth for every parent, maybe then you will understand that you have done the right choice, and how would you live without this creature. If there are people, able to provide you some kind of help and on whom you can rely, go ahead, and ahead and have nothing to be afraid of!
