I'm doing parent interviews and I need teen parents and after-teen parents to answer some questions . . .?

Question

I need to do four parent interviews and one of them can't be my own parents.

Below are some questions I need you to answer. PLEASE be specific.


Just copy and paste the questions and type in your answers when you answer this. Thank you :]

1. What is your name? (last name is optional.)
a. Were you a teen parent?
(If not, please say what age you were)

2. How long have you been a parent and how many children do you have? How old are they?

3. What has been most rewarding for you in being a parent?

4. What was the most difficult?

5. What do you think are the most important qualities or skills of a good parent?

6. How prepared did you feel for parenthood?

7. If you did not feel prepared, what could've helped?

8. What advice would you give a young couple who were thinking about having children?

9. Are there any other important thoughts you have about being a parent that you haven't already mentioned and would care to share?


Thank you so much!

Answer 1

1. What is your name?

- Lena K.

a. Were you a teen parent?

- Sure was.

2. How long have you been a parent and how many children do you have? How old are they?

- I have been a parent for the hardest and most rewarding last four years of my life. I have one daughter, Isabella, and she's 4. I have a second child on the way. I'm 21 right now.

3. What has been most rewarding for you in being a parent?

- Every day, I am the first person to see the new things my daughter is learning. Every day is a gift in itself, watching my little baby grow into a little girl, developing her own thoughts, questions, feelings, and opinions on things, watching her gradually become her own person.

4. What was the most difficult?

- Dealing with my peers. Getting fat. The first 6 months after she was born. Getting a job to provide for us. (My parents are not supportive, they wanted me to have an abortion.)

5. What do you think are the most important qualities or skills of a good parent?

- Parents should love their children unconditionally, but provide clear rules & consequences if the children every stray from the right path. Good parents accept their children as individuals, not as a way to embody the parent's own dreams. They encourage their children to be the best that they can be, and to take pride in what they do.

6. How prepared did you feel for parenthood?

- I was NOT prepared AT ALL. It didn't really hit me that I was having a baby, to be honest, until I started going into labor. I was living with my friend, my parents had kicked me out of the house, I didn't have a crib, and I didn't have any money!

7. If you did not feel prepared, what could've helped?

- Maybe the advice of someone who had already had children. I was too embarassed to ask anyone for help. And preparing everything before the baby came definitely would have helped. Money, definitely.

8. What advice would you give a young couple who were thinking about having children?

- You will never be fully prepared for a child, but you can sure try your damndest. It's the hardest thing I ever did, but it's SO worth it. The first time your kid smiles may just be the happiest day of your life.

9. Are there any other important thoughts you have about being a parent that you haven't already mentioned and would care to share?

- It's the most important thing that I will ever do. The children of today become the adults of tomorrow, and it's a parent's responsibility to make sure that they become good adults.

Answer 2

1. What is your name? Sally (last name is optional.)
a. Were you a teen parent?
(If not, please say what age you were)
Yes had my first at 14

2. How long have you been a parent and how many children do you have? How old are they? im 20 now so six years i have 5 children all under 6

3. What has been most rewarding for you in being a parent?
Giving birth

4. What was the most difficult?
Being a single Mum

5. What do you think are the most important qualities or skills of a good parent?
Understanding the child and respect

6. How prepared did you feel for parenthood?
Not very

7. If you did not feel prepared, what could've helped?
being a bit older and steady relationship

8. What advice would you give a young couple who were thinking about having children?
wait until you have a steady job and can afford everything

9. Are there any other important thoughts you have about being a parent that you haven't already mentioned and would care to share?

Answer 3

1. What is your name? (last name is optional.) Jennifer
a. Were you a teen parent? Yes,17
(If not, please say what age you were)

2. How long have you been a parent and how many children do you have? How old are they? I have been a parent for 12 yrs & I have 3 children ages 12,7 & 2

3. What has been most rewarding for you in being a parent?
Watching them grow & loving them for who they are!!
4. What was the most difficult? Struggling to provide stability for them.

5. What do you think are the most important qualities or skills of a good parent? Patience & understanding that I am molding them into individuals & not making duplicate me's.

6. How prepared did you feel for parenthood?
I felt more prepared then I turned out to be!!!!
7. If you did not feel prepared, what could've helped?
What could have helped was a reality check.
8. What advice would you give a young couple who were thinking about having children? To wait to experience parenting! You hurt your children & yourself so much when you can't provide the necessary components for stability & growth for them.

9. Are there any other important thoughts you have about being a parent that you haven't already mentioned and would care to share? Even the most prepared parents will face struggles raising children, limit what both you & your children will go through by first knowing yourself where you came from & where you are going before trying to lead the way for someone else.

Answer 4

1. What is your name? (last name is optional.) Jessi
a. Were you a teen parent?Yes
(If not, please say what age you were)

2. How long have you been a parent and how many children do you have? How old are they?I had #1 when I was 16, #2 when I was 18, #3 when I was 19, and #4 when I was 27.

3. What has been most rewarding for you in being a parent? How great my kids are!

4. What was the most difficult?Money and jobs. Plus I was in an abusive relationship. It was hard on the kids.

5. What do you think are the most important qualities or skills of a good parent? To actually be a parent-to guide your children and teach them and don't forget disciplin. These things don't happen on their own.

6. How prepared did you feel for parenthood? I thought I was pretty prepared. I( always wanted alot of kids. I moved out of my home at 14 so maybe I was a little more mature than most teen mothers.

7. If you did not feel prepared, what could've helped?Anything helps. I didn't have any family so maybe that is something everyone needs. A good support system.

8. What advice would you give a young couple who were thinking about having children? To make sure that they know what 18 years really means. Babies are cute and all but it doesn't last long!

9. Are there any other important thoughts you have about being a parent that you haven't already mentioned and would care to share?If you have kids, take responsibility. Get help if you need it but don't take advantage of it.

Answer 5

1. What is your name? (last name is optional.)
1. Christopher, My son was born when I was 17

2. How long have you been a parent and how many children do you have? How old are they?
2. My son is three years old, He is the only child I have.

3. What has been most rewarding for you in being a parent?
3. Having a best friend that is always happy to see you. Never being lonely.

4. What was the most difficult?
4. Hmm, Where shall I begin? Money? Time? Friends? You give up alot in order to get alot is the best way I could explain it.

5. What do you think are the most important qualities or skills of a good parent?
5. Time management is huge.


6. How prepared did you feel for parenthood?
6. Me and my wife (now) took pre-birth class'. We bought everything we needed for his arrival.

7. If you did not feel prepared, what could've helped.
7. Im not really sure if there was anything I could have done. There is nothing any book or friend can tell you that could trully make you realize what it was going to be like.

8. What advice would you give a young couple who were thinking about having children?
8. I think some great advice would be to start with a dog. And not a little one either. Get a Golden retriever that needs constant attention. See how things go with that before having a baby.

9. Are there any other important thoughts you have about being a parent that you haven't already mentioned and would care to share?
9. I really dislike it when people put teen pregnancy's down. Me and my wife have been together happily for 5 years now. It's also really important that both mother and father still get an education.

Hope this helped out a bit.

Answer 6

1. What is your name? (last name is optional.) foxxy
a. Were you a teen parent? yes, and I'm kinda a young parent now.
(If not, please say what age you were)

2. How long have you been a parent and how many children do you have? How old are they? i have one son and he's 4 months now

3. What has been most rewarding for you in being a parent?
seeing him grow up is SO amazing!
4. What was the most difficult?
getting sleep, hanging out with friends.
5. What do you think are the most important qualities or skills of a good parent? nothing, you should be the best parent you can be.. there are no skills.. just try!!

6. How prepared did you feel for parenthood?
no experience.. but as a single parent i fill like i can handle anything when it comes to baby's
7. If you did not feel prepared, what could've helped?
being around more baby's
8. What advice would you give a young couple who were thinking about having children? congrats!! be there for each other and let the baby bring you 2 closer and not separate

9. Are there any other important thoughts you have about being a parent that you haven't already mentioned and would care to share? none..

Answer 7

1. What is your name? (last name is optional.) Amanda
a. Were you a teen parent? No
(If not, please say what age you were)

2. How long have you been a parent and how many children do you have? How old are they? 10 months, 1 son, 10 months.

3. What has been most rewarding for you in being a parent? Everything. Every last aspect of being a parent. Watching him develop into his own person is at the top of the list.

4. What was the most difficult? Not knowing why he's upset and not knowing how to fix it.

5. What do you think are the most important qualities or skills of a good parent? Patience, selflessness.

6. How prepared did you feel for parenthood? 100%

7. If you did not feel prepared, what could've helped? Prayer, the advice of parents who I respect.

8. What advice would you give a young couple who were thinking about having children? Dont think about it, know it.

9. Are there any other important thoughts you have about being a parent that you haven't already mentioned and would care to share? More than I could fit here.

Answer 8

1. What is your name? (last name is optional.)
a. Were you a teen parent?
(If not, please say what age you were)

jessica rish yes

2. How long have you been a parent and how many children do you have? How old are they?
7 months 1 child 7 months old

3. What has been most rewarding for you in being a parent?
the love i get back from my daughter

4. What was the most difficult?
taking care and watching over her and teaching her the things she needs to learn

5. What do you think are the most important qualities or skills of a good parent?
teaching respect and knowing how to take care of themselves

6. How prepared did you feel for parenthood?
very prepared

7. If you did not feel prepared, what could've helped?
8. What advice would you give a young couple who were thinking about having children?

read all magazines parenting books and listen to advice given

9. Are there any other important thoughts you have about being a parent that you haven't already mentioned and would care to share?
it is very hard and no matter what there are many frustrating times hand your baby off to someone else when ypu feel frustrated

Answer 9

1. What is your name? (last name is optional.) Dani Dane
a. Were you a teen parent?
No
(If not, please say what age you were)
I was 20 years old

2. How long have you been a parent and how many children do you have? How old are they?
I have been a parent for two and a half years - I have a two and a half year old daughter and I am 6 months pregnant with our second baby.

3. What has been most rewarding for you in being a parent?
Seeing my daughter learn - hearing her talk and watching her get all excited about simple things like Christmas lights and kitty cats for example. Hearing her say "I love you", all of the hugs and kisses she gives me. Hearing her beautiful little laugh and seeing her beautiful smile. Every day with her is a gift!

4. What was the most difficult?
The most difficult part was the realization that I was now responsible for a human life. I was in college and I was all of a sudden soley responsible for this helpless little infant, financially as well as physically, emotionally and for her nourishment. Lots of sleepless nights, lots of nights spent worrying - always checking to make sure that she was still breathing. Seeing her when she was sick and knowing that there's nothing I could do to help her feel better - finally knowing what utter helplessness feels like.

5. What do you think are the most important qualities or skills of a good parent?
Patience, love and caring about your child and who they are now and who they will grow up to be and doing all you can to give them the best that you can. A loving home and family and a safe environment. Trust is also a very important quality - children need to be able to trust their parents. Also being a positive role model.
6. How prepared did you feel for parenthood?
I didn't really feel that I was prepared so to speak, but I felt that I could and needed to handle it.

7. If you did not feel prepared, what could've helped?
No I did not feel prepared. I didn't realize the full picture of having children - and the real shock of it was overwhelming. Thankfully, my husband had had past experience with raising kids (he's 6 years older than me and we had been married for two years when our daughter was born). What could have helped me was the realization that having a child is really like... that it is a 24/7 responsibility - you are responsible for this helpless infant evey waking and sleeping moment. I guess when people who don't have children think of parenthood, they think of a cute baby, dressing them and feeding them occasionally, changing a few diapers and playing with them. It is sooooooooo much more than that!

8. What advice would you give a young couple who were thinking about having children?
I would say that it's good to have your children at a young age because you'll still be young enough to enjoy your life together as a married couple when the kids are out of the house ( I'll be 39 by the time both of our kids are graduated from high school). I would also say, however, that you do need to take some time before you have children to just be married - to get to know eachother. After you have children, there's no YOU time anymore. No more saying "hey, let's go for a walk, or out to eat, or to the store, or to a movie". It's a whole 'nother ball game so to speak. If I could change anything, it would be that my husband and I had waited a little longer so that it could have been "just us two" for a few more years (we've been married for four years now!) I would also say to wait until you are financially able to care for a baby because they are expensive - doctor bills (in the THOUSANDS of dollars), diapers (about $150 a month), formula ( about $200 a month), and all of the little here and there expenses - it really adds up!

9. Are there any other important thoughts you have about being a parent that you haven't already mentioned and would care to share?
Parenthood isn't something to be taken lightly. It's more than just "having a cute little bundle of joy", it's being responsible for the life of a child, for raising that child and for providing for that child. It's a major responsibility that you will have literally for the rest of your life. You will always have to put their needs before your own. People should really consider those things before they make the decision of becoming a parent.

Answer 10

1. What is your name? (last name is optional.) Mandy
a. Were you a teen parent? yes
(If not, please say what age you were)

2. How long have you been a parent and how many children do you have? How old are they? I have been a parent for 9 years now, I have one daughter

3. What has been most rewarding for you in being a parent? to know that i am succeeding at raising my daughter to be the best possible she could be and to see that wonderful smile on her face each and every single day

4. What was the most difficult? rasing her as a single mother at the beginning through age 5

5. What do you think are the most important qualities or skills of a good parent? VERY responsible, dependable, honest, VERY mature, must be employed, lots of patience

6. How prepared did you feel for parenthood? being that i was 18 when i got pregnant for her, I dont think i was prepared at all. Having a child makes one grow up really quickly. if i had to pick something id say the way my parents raised me to be a mature individual and to take responisibility for my actions.

7. If you did not feel prepared, what could've helped?

8. What advice would you give a young couple who were thinking about having children? they should wait and make sure this is something they really want and something they can definitly handle. make sure you are finished your career and are able to support your child(ren) that you make. dont make it someone else responsibilty.

9. Are there any other important thoughts you have about being a parent that you haven't already mentioned and would care to share? if its something you truly want and you feel you are mature enough to handle just be ready for a not so easy ride. raising children is not easy and takes lots of patience and maturity.