There's alot of discussion of teen parenting, and I think that we should clarify. Being an eighteen year old parent is not the same as being a sixteen year old parent. Perhaps mentally, but you are an adult legally at eighteen and have rights and responsibilities like any other adult.
When I think teen parent, I think legal minor, high school age. I know that "eight" is followed by the word "teen", but you're not a teen parent - you're a grown up. in reference to another person't post, I do think it is misleading to younger girls when mothers eighteen and older identify themselves as teen parents. These women have options younger girls don't, such as working full time, signing a lease, voting, having legal guardianship of thier children, not needing parental consent for certain medical care, GETTING MARRIED, etc...
Does this strike a chord with anyone else?
2006-09-26 11:21:58 · 25 answers · asked by Emily O 3 in Pregnancy & Parenting ➔ Other - Pregnancy & Parenting
I don't believe I alluded anywhere in here that I am against federal programs for women over 18. Quite the contrary - I wish we could expand them! Where'd you get that idea from, Mr?
2006-09-26 11:35:26 · update #1
well me being an 18 year old with an almost 4 month old, i don't feel like a teenager. I agree with you. and anybody who doesn't can go somewhere. They can have their opinions, but they will never know because they haven't gone through the experience. I have so i can make a statement about it. I am a responsible adult. that's all there is to it!
2006-09-26 11:40:10 · answer #1 · answered by shadowstarr888 1 · 1⤊ 0⤋
I agree with you. These people answering these questions have no idea. When you turn 18 your an adult not a teen. Looking over some of these answers just makes me mad. I had a child when I was 19 and I was no teen parent!!! The one person was right that they do need to change the name from teen parent to something else. In Americas eyes the day you turn 18 your an adult not a teen anymore. What you said in your statement was all correct. I know that I could do alot more since I was 19 then I could of if I was under 18. Thats why parents can kick you out when your 18 and child support stops at 18 because your considered an adult. Anything that you do from the day you turn 18 until you die goes with you(record wise) if your under 18 it doesn't. You can get away with more when your under 18 then you can when your 18 and over because your an adult not a teen. Its all common sense and apparently alot of these people don't have it. As the one lady put it about college you can still be in college when your twenty so what the heck does that have to do with anything. Most college students don't live at home so they have an idea what the real world is and it doesn't matter if they goto college or just live at home when you have a baby everything changes. I don't care how old you are. I know alot of people who had babies at 17 to 19 who are better parents then some of the ones who waited til they were older. It depends on the person. Age only has some factor. It's maturity. I know a girl who is 23 and is very immature. I was more mature at 13 then she is at 23. Whether people like it or not once you turn 18 your an adult not a teen.
2006-09-26 21:24:35 · answer #2 · answered by Heather A 2 · 1⤊ 1⤋
True being a eighteen yr old parent is definitly not the same as being a sixteen yr old parent. It is also true that some eighteen yr olds act sixteen (or younger) and vice verse. When I think of a teen parent I think of someone who is, still in HS, still living with their parents, has no job, no car, and/or no means to support their child(ren) other then their parents income. That being said, being a eighteen yr old myself, when you are 18 or 19 and still in high school (and fall into the above mentioned catgory) I would consider you a teen parent. I do know teenagers that are in all means, on their own, I consider them adults (maturity level) although they are not legally adults. I am by no means saying having a child when your young makes you mature because it doesn't (not all the time sometimes it does). If you are 18 and older then you do have several options others younger then you and not in school have. I agree with you, but hopefully having a child will make some of these girls (and guys) grow up.
2006-09-26 18:53:58 · answer #3 · answered by Anonymous · 1⤊ 1⤋
I agree with you. If you are 18 or over, you are not a teen parent. I had my first son when I was 14 (gulp) and I had no choices and hardly got to see my son because I was going to school and working. I think that people look down on teen parents, and I would never say that its a good thing to be a parent at an early age, but its not fair. I did make a mistake and got pregnant young, but I did my best and still people look down on me like I cant be trusted. My son is 8 and in advanced classes and is one of the most well adjusted and wonderful kids in the world. People think that because I was young, I cant be a good mom and thats unfair.
2006-09-26 22:37:18 · answer #4 · answered by holly w 2 · 1⤊ 0⤋
I think a teen parent would be if the person is still relying on someone's help for housing, food, clothing, etc. If the person is in high school or college and still has parents paying their way it means that they are not qualified to parent because they are not taking care of their own needs yet.They are teens-young adults. An adult is a person who is mature enough to have a job, pays their own way totally and knows to work, save,get married and then later have a baby.Until a person can think it out and get it right then they have not matured into an adult yet.Best wishes!
2006-09-26 18:32:00 · answer #5 · answered by Anonymous · 1⤊ 0⤋
I agree that a "teen parent" is more classified as a minor having a child, but you are a "teen" until you hit 20. Some women who become pregnant at 18 and 19 were attending college and still being supported by their parents so they had not necessarily experienced the "real world" yet. They must grow up fast if they plan on keeping their child, just like a minor. I feel that the classification of "teen parent" should be for minors, but you are still technically a teen until you hit 20.
2006-09-26 19:01:44 · answer #6 · answered by a1dermommy 3 · 0⤊ 1⤋
I agree with you fully as to 18 and 19 year olds being adults but they could still be a teen parent if they had their baby before 18. I think that all teen girls should think long and hard before they ever have sex, much less have a baby. They haven't had time to live let alone bring up a child. I personally think that when young girls have children in their teens they begin to regret it later in life and try to get their teen years back which they can not.
2006-09-26 18:30:08 · answer #7 · answered by Anonymous · 1⤊ 0⤋
Once you have the right to vote, you are and ADULT. To me a teen parent is a dumb couple of kids who got caught doing something the weren't old enough to do in the first place. In most states, the legal age of consent is 18. At 18 you are a young adult, not a teen.
2006-09-26 18:35:40 · answer #8 · answered by warandpeace 4 · 1⤊ 0⤋
I think it is misleading when it comes to statistics as well. What about a married 19 year old with a baby? She could have finished school at 17, gotten married at 18, and has a baby at 19. It would be easier if instead of saying teen parent, we had some other term.
2006-09-26 18:26:29 · answer #9 · answered by sandcatsle 5 · 3⤊ 0⤋
Yes, I agree - When I hear "teen parent", I think of a minor also. Eighteen is the age where you become an adult, so to me, after this age the term teen parent no longer applies.
2006-09-26 18:25:07 · answer #10 · answered by Anonymous · 3⤊ 0⤋