Sunday, July 19, 2009

16 and Pregnant

Posted by Mandy at 12:23 PM
Some of you have probably seen this intriguing new show on MTV, 16 and Pregnant. The name tells it all. The show is all about teen couples (or at least the girls) that find themselves young and expecting and the trials they go through in deciding, "what's next?"

Today I finally got to watch an episode I had missed last week. It featured two really stand-up teens that decided adoption was the best choice for their baby girl. Watching them struggle with their decision and decide to go through with giving their newborn to their chosen couple at the end was a huge mixture of heart-wrenching pain and joy. Pain for obvious reasons. The biological mom and dad had immense grief after their daughter was born and they physically handed her to the adoptive parents. I cried with them; I cried for them. My heart broke into a million pieces putting myself into those shoes.

Joy came, as well. Joy for the adoptive parents. They had been trying for their own children for years with no success and now they were being given the most amazing gift they could ever receive. To see them snuggle that baby girl and look at her with such amazement... truly wonderful!

Joy also for another reason. Here were these two "young kids" dealing with a huge adult decision. They were both mature enough to see that they could not offer their daughter the life they so much wanted her to have. With unstable families on both sides, they knew they had little resources to draw from if they were to keep her. Though it so obviously broke them inside to let her go - it made my heart fill up to see them do such a selfless act in order to provide for their child in the best way they knew how.

The last reason I loved this episode is because I pray it brings HOPE. Hope to a young girl that finds herself pregnant and is weighing all of her options. Hope that seeing this couple nurture this baby while she was inside of her mother and then continue nurturing her by giving her to a loving home will help another teen mom choose life and adoption. Hope that the choice of adoption will more often be spoken of and considered by those unready to raise a child.

Teen pregnancy is such a platform issue for me being a teen mother once myself. Now that my own children are getting older and "easier" I am eager to begin volunteering at our new Hope Resource Crisis Pregnancy Center. I pray that God uses me up on this issue! I would love to bring hope to those with no hope, to be an example of how you can really make it work, and how it doesn't have to ruin your life. Just the opposite! I know my story will not be every teen mom's story, or possibility, but so many could do it if given the proper support. Without the help of our family and friends, I can't imagine how much harder it would have been having a baby so young. Just having someone to stop by and say,"Hey, you guys are doing a great job!" meant everything in those days. Having someone believe in us, trust us, and see past our ages to the fact that we loved our daughter more than anything! If God puts me in a position to do that for even ONE teen mom (or dad)... I would be forever grateful.

5 comments:

Lou on Sunday, 19 July, 2009 said...

I hope the pregnancy works out here in this small town. Some young people really need good role models to turn too and over them support instead of talking them down.

Mom of these kids on Sunday, 19 July, 2009 said...

I think it is so great to support pregnant teens...no matter what they choose. Support with adoption, but also support in just raising the kids...would hopefully prevent the children being in the situations that my kids have been in. Not just teens, but young mothers, without a support system. Nowhere to turn when it just gets too hard...b/c being a parent, gets too hard often, and I can't imagine getting to where I am without the support of my family.

I would love to hear more about the hope support thing you are working with. Is that in Monticello?

Nora's Mommy on Sunday, 19 July, 2009 said...

I watched it on Friday night!!! I cried and cried and cried for them. My husband thought I was crazy. He kept telling me that a wonderful family was getting a baby. I felt bad for the kids because they made this big decision without the support of their parents. I loved it.

Mandy on Monday, 20 July, 2009 said...

Maury - it is in Monticello. They can come in and get free and confidential pg testing and then counseling. I am waiting for the next volunteer training session to learn more. I'll keep you updated. :) I'm really excited about it!

Shelley on Monday, 20 July, 2009 said...

I felt like the roles were reversed, the dense "grandparents" were saying "all you need is love" and to me, you'd think the teen parents would say foolishly that.... I was floored at the teenagers strength.

Post a Comment

I love all of your comments! Keep 'em coming!

 

Peace and Craziness Copyright © 2010 Designed by Ipietoon Blogger Template Sponsored by Online Shop Vector by Artshare