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Health & Fitness

A Pregnant Pause

In honor of National Teen Pregnancy Prevention Day, I offer up some things that parents might not know that teens want them to know about teen pregnancy.

I figured for my first blog, I would make it something near and dear to my heart: teen pregnancy prevention. It just so happens that today is National Teen Pregnancy Prevention Day. To some, it might seem ridiculous; however, there are so many parents out there relying on schools to teach their children sex education. It’s not enough. Kids want to hear it from you. In fact, a group of teenagers were surveyed and the top ten things they want to know about teen pregnancy just might surprise you.

They hate “the talk” as much as you do. I promise. I’ve had it with my kids and heard the resistance, “Mom, stop. I’m good. I know about this stuff and don’t want to do this.” Don’t wait until they’re old enough to get pregnant. Start earlier with age specific material and build on it as they grow. The hardest part is getting the conversation started. But talk to them honestly and openly about love, sex, and relationships. Help them to deal with their feelings, because they really do care about what you think regardless of how they act. Moreover, just telling them to not have sex is not enough. Teenagers are still like the three-year-old asking, “Why” all the time. They want to know real opinions and feelings and not just a “Because I said so.” And be open to what you hear. It might include questions about sex, birth control, etc. Remember that they’re curious; just asking doesn’t mean that they’re already having sex – so don’t assume. The reality is that they need to be prepared with all kinds of information so that they can make an educated and informed decision when and if the time comes. They also need things to occupy their time. Believe it or not, just making sure they have something to do helps. Leaving them alone creates opportunity; and sometimes all it takes is to just not have that opportunity available for them. Pay attention to these things and them before they get into trouble. Don’t just give them attention when they get into trouble. Reward them. Praise them. Give them plenty of positive attention, too. Be a proactive parent and not a reactive parent. 

The main one I want to touch on is to show your kids why teen pregnancy is such a bad idea. People always love a working example. An easy way to do this is to sit down with them and watch an episode of Teen Mom, Teen Mom 2, or 16 and Pregnant.  Use it as a catalyst to talk to them.  You can not only show them why teen pregnancy is such a bad idea, but it can also serve to open up the lines of communication in terms of having “the talk,” telling them your feelings on all things related to intimate relationships, giving them more to go on than just don’t have sex, and allowing them to ask the questions that they might not otherwise feel they can ask. You’ll not only be paying attention to them before they get into trouble, but you might be shocked at just how willing they will be to walk away from any opportunity when given to them.  The only one you won’t be able to accomplish is setting an example for them.  Show your kids what a good, responsible relationship looks like.  Strive to be the shining example so they are happy to say, “I’m just like my parent.”

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Fact: 1 out of every 3 girls by 16 has had sex and 2 out of 3 by 18.  Don’t wait until it’s too late.  Take it from someone who was teen parent.  Pause.  Talk to your children.  An ounce of prevention could just mean 7lbs 8oz and 18 years of cure.

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