Women have been getting pregnant and having children for a million years or so (right? I have no idea, but a long time...). Women married as early as 6 or 7 years old, depending on their social status and whatnot. Well, at this point, I might be married and have 2 or 3 kids if we were living just 150 years or so ago. So in this day and time, why do parents think it's so bad for their daughter to get pregnant before they're 18? They act like their kids have no sense (In some cases they don't, but that's another story). Girls aren't all stupid, and people who think they're protecting their kids by sheltering them from what's really out there are stupid. The more the kid is sheltered, the harder the real world will hit them one day. I've seen families destroyed because the adults think they're protecting their kids. The parents are the ones who need help, not the kids. Another thing: Why is it that women take all the blame for abortions? If a woman gets pregnant, the father should take responsibility as well. I find that there are some out there who think it's okay just to knock up a girl and then they don't have to have any more part in it. A boyfriend who gets his girlfriend pregnant should be with her either through the pregnancy or through the abortion, unless there is a mutual decision that the guy should have no part in it. My apologies for rambling, but some of this stuff makes me really mad. It's often that men act like women are trophies to be won. Parents treat their kids like a time bomb, trying to disable them until they hit the wrong wire and it blows up in their face. Again, my apologies, but I'm glad I got that off my back.
Times change. 150 years ago, women did not have as many options open to them as they do now. Parents vision their kids going off to college...an 18 year old having a kid is a lot less likely to go to college than an 18 year old who does not. I will agree that we DO infantalize people in this society. 25 is the new 14. Probably because women are the ones who "choose" the abortion. Guys have no legal rights when it comes to abortions. This, imo, gives acceptance to the notion that abortions are a girls responsibility, not a males.
Raising a child or children is very hard, it can be exhausting, and it requires a lot of $$ over the years. That is why a parent is upset if their child becomes pg and has a child at such a young age. Who is going to provide child care while mom/dad finish school and/or work? Where is the money going to come from until parent/parents are self supporting? I guess if you are looking for reality, you could get pg while still in school and unemployed, have your parents kick you out, and have to then support yourself and a baby. Just a thought on parents who are stupid enough to provide sheltering vs. reality. The fact of life is that some guys will disappear the minute a pg happens. No emotional or financial support ever happens. That is reality. It isn't right but it is real. A boyfriend doesn't "get" his girlfriend pg unless it is a nonconsensual act called rape. When a boy and girl have sex, unprotected or thru birth control failure, a pregnancy can occur. How come a girl doesn't choose to get pregnant by her boyfriend? Many do, by lying about their birth control use. Then who should ultimately be responsible? It is full of variables and every situation is different--ultimately it is the sweet baby who pays the price. You weren't rambling but brought up some good topics. Parents are just humans, and make mistakes. Just like their own kids. None of us, the kids included, are perfect.
