My daughter is 17 and is pregnant. Should she drop out of high school?

Question

this is her last year of school. She wants to go to massage school and doesnt need high school. Should she finish high school? Should she have the baby? She will be 18 in 5 weeks

Answer 1

Your daughter should finish high school.

I can't believe you have to ask us that.

Answer 2

I got pregnant when I was 16 and in my Jr. year. I finished school, there's no reason not to finish even if shes going to take classes the doesn't require a high school degree. It's good for her to have the knowledge from school. I was also thinking about massage school before I found out that it doesn't really pay as well as one might think. I think she should have the baby, she can aways give it up for adoption. All the women I've ever heard from have always regretted having an abortion. I had my baby and I'm doing just fine. He's now 3.

Answer 3

First, you do need high school. If she decides she doesn't live massage school, or drops out of it as well~ she needs a fall back. She should definitley finish high school. I was pregnant my last year of high school, and I ended up graduating early.
She should have the baby if she wants to, if it's going to properly cared for, and if you can help her emotionally and financially.
My state also has a school where pregnant girls and struggling juveniles can go, I never went, but you could look into a resource like that. I'd just call her high school & see what they have to say.. because they should know, and probably want her graduated too because they know the importance of high school.
She should do everything she can to grduate high school because it's the basic building block in life, and in almost any career. (Possibly a massage school might not even take her if she didn't complete high school- so look in to that as well).
Some things I did to graduate when pregnant is: take online classes (my state has an online high school, called Electronic High School.. maybe yours does- ask her school), took night classes, maybe even summer classes could be an option. Please look into all options and get her butt graduated!
Good luck with everything

Answer 4

She needs to finish high school or a GED.

To be brutally frank - she hasn't finished school, doesn't have an apartment, a dead-end job(?) that pays enough to support the two of them, pay the doctor bills, baby diapers, clothes, formula, baby carriers and crib, toys, food, utilities, she'll be so darn tired she can't stand it, the baby will ALWAYS be FIRST for the next 18 years and SHE will ALWAYS be LAST. And where is the boyfriend?

To have an unexpected baby just to have someone to love is not enough. You know this.

She should abort or do "open adoption".

And there are plenty of good counselors around to help with the "mourning" she will need to go through during this time period.

Good luck.

Answer 5

NO! She really needs to stay in high school. If she drops out her chances of getting anywhere in life are not good. If she stays in school (and NOT one of those schools for pregnant girls) she has more options than massage school (few massage therapists actually make decent money).

She should consider trying college. Many universities even have low-cost housing and daycare for students with kids (mine does), and she would be eligible for thousands of $$$ in grants and loans to pay for both school and living expenses. If she wants to make a life for her child she needs to consider this.

At her age she is looking at the next 5 years and her earning potential compared to those who finish high school, in 5 years she would have time in a job and have some raises, while her classmates will be graduating college and looking for their first real job, probably making the same or less than she will. She needs to look at where her classmates who finish school will be in 20 years, and where others who have followed her path will be. That's where you start seeing a difference, they will be making 2-3 times as much as she will.

As for keeping the baby, that's up to her, what she believes she can handle. Finishing school and getting started in a new career with a new baby is very difficult. Giving up a child is difficult. Abortion can be difficult for some people. It's not an easy decision to make. And it's her decision to make, not anyone else's.

Answer 6

KEEP HER IN SCHOOL!!!! or atleast try to my older sister got pregnant at 17 and finished high school and life has been fulfilling for her, schools are generally lieniant for soon to be moms, my LITTLE sister got pregnant in high school as well, but she dropped out...she has no job and no one wants to hire her cuz she didn't finish high school! Even if she doesn't need it for massage school, it really helps with future employers, and if she finishes high school she will be able to get grants and financial assistance from the government because of being a single mom trying to pursue and further her education.

Answer 7

Regardless of whether she has the baby, she should definitely finish school. Although going to a trade school is a good idea, she should keep her options opened by finishing school.

If she has this child, you have to enforce the idea that she is responsible for the child and you may support her by helping out, but sacrifices will be made. She can't go out and have fun like the rest of her friends...this is the rest of her life, she needs to make the decision or she will resent those who "force" her into one.

Talk to her, listen to her and see if you can play devil's advocate. See if she feels ready to give up all of those youthful things that people get to do. Even as an adult the adjustment to being a parent is difficult, let her know the troubles and hardships you had.

See if this helps both of you gain more clarity on your decisions.

Answer 8

She should stay in school & finish. I mean, she'd come this far. I would think having graduated high school will look good on her future resumes. Plus, having a diploma will help to keep her options open for future schooling should she want to go on to college for some reason.
And I'm all for a woman's right to choose, but if I were in her place, I'd probably have the baby. If it wasn't financially feasible to keep the baby, then I'm sure you can find people willing to adopt the baby.

Answer 9

Yeah she should drop out, and then she should start using drugs and prostituting herself too.

Come on. She needs to finish high school, regardless of the bad choices she has made before. What happens if massage school fall through? Then she won't even have a high school education. C'mon, use some common sense.

Answer 10

At some places, if she has enough credits, you can graduate at semester. Which would allow her to graduate still and be able to have her baby and rest when she needs to later on. if her school doesnt allow that then yes she should graduate. Or if she's a good student and smart she could take a GED test. either of the ways she has her high school done and can procede to massage school.--And which there are many scholarships for teen mothers. so obviously yes i think she should have her baby!

Answer 11

I think you should support her in her own decision.


I would personally suggest her to TRY to finsh high school then she can go to M S or whatever so atleast she has her degree getiing a job without a high school degree is extremley hard especially if she decides to keep the baby. Then when the child is a bit older she can maybe decided to go to a community college part time.