I want a baby really bad, I am only 17! Should i go ahead and have one since i am out of school?

Question

I am very responcible. I worked in a day care before. Every one else in my family is already pregnant. I love children. I love to solve problems and help other people with there children. I have even baby sitted on my own time 3 kids at once, when i could have been out with my friends parting and drinking and haveing plan teenager fun but instead i choose to the the kids of others who went out. Every-one keeps asking me are you really ready for a baby, and only one responce comes to mind. yes, i am ready. I want a child. But do other think i am ready? Let me know what you think. I am 17 and i dropped out of school in the 11th grade because all my grades wasn't in to my new school since they have been washed away by hurricane katrina. Besides i live on my own and i make 10.50 an hour at my job.

Answer 1

Taking care of someone elses children for a while (and being paid to do so) is not even close to having your own children. Do you have your GED? If not, please, at the very least, get that first. Its great that you love children so much. Perhaps you can get a job as a full time nanny. Are you in a stable relationship? How would you get pregnant, just some random guy? While i know single, unwed, young mothers do it every day, why make it so hard on yourself? Why not wait until you are able to give the child everything you want to? $10.50 an hour isn't much, especially when you have a child to support. What about when you have to be off for maternity leave? Your work won't pay you for that time. Do you have a source of income for then? I think there is a lot to think hard about before making such a decision. Best of luck to you.

P.S. Don't let Katrina be an excuse for not finishing school. You owe it to yourself and your future children. Katrina caused enough devastation to our area, don't let it ruin your education.

Answer 2

Oh dear, you really need to reconsider this decision. First of all you are smart to choose not to go out and party and drink like the rest of your underage friends do. Drinking and partying will definitely get you no where. And a $10.50 an hour job is not going to get you very far with a baby. I'm not sure where you live, but I'm thinking that salary probably barely covers your rent and utilities. And do you have a car and a drivers license? You will need that to take your baby to the doctor. You have to be prepared to buy diapers, formula, clothing, etc. So FORGET about having anything nice for yourself. Also, it does not sound like there is a man involved. I know you sound really independent, but you will need help raising a child. Not only that, your child will need a father in their life.

So, if you are so independent, responsible, and smart, why don't you do something with your life. Maybe you could go back to school, maybe go to college! Keep saving up your wages and you can buy really nice things for yourself. As you get older and mature you will meet a nice man who will take care of you, and WHEN you are actually ready, THEN you should have a baby. You are SOOO YOUNG! You have so much time to have lots of babies, just don't do it right now!

Answer 3

You need to wait having a child isn't easy I had my first when I was 19 and then my second when I was 22. I live with my second child's father but it isn't easy raising two children that are not in school yet . Daycare and preschool is very expensive even if state helps you pay part of it. Trying to raise a baby on your own would be very hard. Of course it's easy and fun taking care of someone else is kids and then giving them back. But you really need to concentrate on your self right now and have as much fun as you can before you do have that baby b/c it will be so hard for you to find time to go out. Remember this your only young once and your only 17 at least wait till your 20 something before you do have your baby.

Answer 4

Think really hard about what you are wanting. Ask yourself these questions:
•How will I provide health care for me and the baby?
•Does the baby have a dad?
•Do you have your own house?
•If so go through your bills, water, electric, phone, car, food, household comodities etc. And ask yourself, on your 10.50 dollar an hour job can you really swing all this and a baby by yourself?
•Will your job let you take paid maternity leave?
•What about baby sitting costs while you are working?

I am 21 and married, I met my husband when I was 17, and even though we lived together for 2 years before we got married, I am glad that we waited to have a baby. There is so much more to it then what you think, before you get pregnant. I am 14 weeks pregnant and not in a bad financial situation, we own our house and have good medical insurance, but I still find my self overwhelmed with the thought of being responsible for a whole other life, I ask myself was I really as ready as I thought I was, and I doubt my own ability. I want this child more than anything, but I don't know how I would do it with out my husband, for emotional, physical and financial support.

So really think about it before you do anything.
Good luck, God bless, and prayers of guidence in the right decision.

Answer 5

I think that 17 is still young and I feel that you should be married or with someone that you are willing to spend the rest of your life together if at all posible. Raising a child is hard with two people why would you want to do it alone when you may not have to?? I have a great respect for single moms and dads but to do it willingly I just don't understand. Why not wait till you are 20 at least you are not even old enough to vote yet or drink the only thing you can do is drive. You may think you can handle it but do you really want to get up every two hours in the night to feed a baby, change a baby, and then get up and go to work for 8 hours come home and do it all over again?? It is my advice to wait and you asked what we thought so you have gotten what I think.

Answer 6

Definitely not, 17 years old, you are still a child yourself. Sorry but its true. You have a lot to experience before giving your life to a child. You may be responsible enough and like children very much but what about the father, who will it be? will he be ready enough? It is a big step to make. I am currently pregnant again, I want to have a great big familly,but sometimes it's so hard and I used to babysit 4 kids at a time, have fun with them play with them spoil them. Having children is not only about having fun with kids it is about discipline, life sacrifices, hard times........ Set goals instead, start by finding yourself a steady job, not just at McDonalds....... Move into a great appartment,not just anywhere! save your money for hospital bills, doctors visit, emergencies. Or a down payment on a car, house. And most of all find yourself a good guy that you will want to spend your life with because no children wants to spend their childhood without a mom or a dad. Do it right! or at least try to.
Babies are no dolls honey! If you need to talk to someone, please don't hesitate to e-mail me ok because I've been through a similar phase when I was about your age and It's okay to need love or need to love someone but there are so many other ways...... Take care of yourself and keep your mind straight!

Answer 7

I'm sure you are very responsible and I 'm sorry to hear that all your grades have been washed away by Hurricane Katrina. But I think it is very important to have a career, how will you support your child? You wont be able to work during the end of your pregnancy and while the baby is young, so where will the money be coming from? Why don't you try a career in child minding? Working in Nursuries? I think you should look into it before committing to having a child.

Answer 8

Have you thought about what you would like to do the rest of your life? It seems you love kids, so why no prepare yourself to be a great example for your future children and work on your GED ( very simple test)
and going to school to be a kinder garden teacher. It can be very fulfilling and you'll make more than 10.50/hr.

10.50 is not enough to support a child.
As you get older , you see that you need more money for the child school, meds, vaccines, etc. Plus daycare , so you can go to work .

There are many thing you can do with children without having your own for now. Give yourself some time and explore the beauty within yourself.

You shouldn't have children just because "everyone else is doing it"

As you find a different passion in life ( studies, work , working with children, etc.) you will see that there is not need to rush . Your child will appreciate you preparing yourself to make his/her life a healthy one.

Answer 9

I am sure you are a great babysitter. This by all means dose not make you ready to be a parent. 1st why would you want a child at 17? You have no idea what you are getting yourself into. You drop ed out of school and with no education, how do you expect to support yourself and child on 10.50 an hour? Who is going to take care of this child while you are at work? You have plenty of time to have children you are only 17. My advice if you want to take care of a baby get a puppy first. I think you are getting in way over your head.

Answer 10

NOOOOO!!! I got pregnant at 17 and i dont get to go out and party when i was 21 or anything... its not cool to ditch your kid onto someone else... and if you dont have a job to support this little one then how are you going to live? Live off of others? i dont think so!! Get an education... go to college! you are still young get your partying days out of the way and find a guy get married get into awesome careers and then start a family!!! There are so many things you can do with your life... dont get strapped down with a kid! i know i wish i waited!! Im 21 and have 3 little girls... they deserve nothing but the best! Its fun when you can play with a baby for a while but its always awesome when you can give that baby back to the mother!! so watch some kids or something just please spare yourself and a child and go have fun!! youre not even an adult yet!! Go have fun with your friends!! I know that when i got pregnant and began to have kids then all of my friends ran off without me to have fun! now im all jealous for the girls my age that dont have kids... i was in the same boat as you, just dont be selfish and get pregnant because everyone is pregnant and wait til they have their babies and babysit and make $$ =) I hope this was helpful ... i know you dont know me but trust me, i have the experience and i am so ready to go out and have a good time... anyone wanna watch 3 little girls?! lol!!