Parents with pre-teens and teenagers, how can we avoid teenage pregnancy?
Problem/Goal: How can we avoid teenage pregnancy? What help can we give as parents aside from being present?
This is coming from a mom who has also been through teenage pregnancy. Heaven knows I fear the day my kids might be the one who gets pregnant at a very young age, like I did. I have a 13 y/o girl, 4 y/o boy, and 6 m/o baby girl. I'm 29 years old, finally ligated.
Context: Today, we learned that the eldest cousin (15F) of my kids on their father's side is pregnant. Inuwi siya from province after graduation. The people looking after her were relatives of her father.
Honestly, ever since talaga ay problematic na yung bata. I cannot blame the kid. The kid's mom is living with her new husband. Father is in prison. Grandparents are really old na rin. Sila ang nagpalaki sa bata.
Gusto ng mom at lola na ipalaglag so that she can continue her studies. Ayaw ng bata, gusto umuwi sa province at tumira kasama ang boyfriend. Hindi pa niya ma-grasp yung responsibility na naghihintay para sa kanya.
Us here in Manila tried our best 'wag lang mapag-aral sa province yung bata two years ago kaso talagang matigas na ang ulo. Laging napapatawag sa guidance dahil mahilig din makipag-away. Isang factor na rin talaga yung walang gumabay sa kanya growing up.
Just tonight, I opened up the conversation with my husband na "What if anak mo yung nasa situation, what will you do?"
Sagot niya in non-verbatim, "Iba na rin kasi talaga ang generation ng mga bata ngayon. Wala ka na magagawa kundi tanggapin na lang."
I felt angry. "Yun na yun, tatanggapin mo na lang?"
I was rebellious as a kid dahil walang pagmamahal from my parents. Lumaki akong may hatred sa mga magulang dahil imbis na sila ang nagpapalaki sa'kin, lola ko ang tumayong magulang ko.
Tinanong ko siya, "Pa'no kung in 2 years time anak mo naman ang buntis? What is the sense of me na magpa ligate kung ako rin pala mag-aalaga ng apo mo?"
Sagot niya, "Bakit ikaw mag-aalaga? Hayaan mo siya ng matuto siya."
He has a point but I said, "Hindi ba dapat prevention? Why do we have to wait if we can make it happen, na i****mbis na sa labas niya hanapin yung pagmamahal, why not start within our family?"
"Ayaw mo ba na lumaki yung mga anak mo ng may guidance? Ayaw mo bang makita sila na magtapos muna ng pag-aaral, ikasal muna bago mag-anak, maging stable muna ang finances?"
Wala na, naging nonchalant na asawa ko bigla. Nagrant na lang ako ng nagrant ng point ko kasi may tenga pa naman siya. 🙉
I am lost and scared to death for my kids. Sinusubukan ko pa lang din to get back on my feet para makapag work na ulit.
If you are a mom, dad, tita, or tito, who has boys or girls with the same age as mine, I need your advice on how to avoid teenage pregnancy.