I'm a teeenage mother. I don't think marrying some one because you had a baby is right. I love my boyfriend and we are getting amrried in May. My little boy is 1 1/2 years old and we decided to get married when we were financially stable. I do agree that the teen birth rate out of wed lock is incredible but i dont think attacking girls who do it is the right thing to do. I do believe in adopting out because i did that with my second child. I think that maybe that should be more promoting of adoption as a choice. Juno is a great example. I have not seen the movie but it does promote adoption as a healthy choice for your little baby. I would hope that this colum is not ragging on teenage mothers even if it wasnt the smartest thing we've done. I do not believe in abortion so i think even if you are saying that teen pregnancy is not right at least they are choosing to give the baby life instead of being thrown in the trash.

The point being, hun, that you both are too young to be having sex and having children to raise when you are barely adult yourselves. You have made it extremely difficult for 3 (or is it 4? second child???) people to reach their full potential by creating this situation.

Retired101 is right. 2 children?!?!? So, you've done this before? Your speaking privileges have now been revoked.

I always find it amusing that the ones who are against abortion (a "conservative" trait) are the ones squeezing out these illegitimate children (not a "conservative" trait.)

Having a baby is a decision, not a consequence. If you're in love, great. But don't have a baby until you can support that child. Out-of-wedlock is a problem because marriage creates a commitment and a support system that is not often found outside of marriage. The bottom line is, don't have a baby unless you are prepared to support your baby in every way that will ensure this child's success in life. Marriage is statistically better for your child. Think about what you're doing when you make a child, that's what this discussion is about.

Getting married isn't everything. My husbands mother was married to the father of her children. He took off to buy a pack of cigarettes one day and never came back. She remarried years later after working 3 jobs to support her 5 children, that she had IN wedlock. Unfortunately the guy she married was a sadistic SOB who beat the boys, particularly my husband as oldest boy, and raped the younger daughter. Love is what makes a family.

Retired, you are judgmental and rude. And, I am personally very happy to hear that you are retired. Because the thought of you working as the principal at my child's school is extremely scary. A person that passes judgment without facts should not be working around children. But go ahead and attack my age and education level again. The fact that I am only twenty-five and working on my M.A. holds no bearing on my opinion. Personally, I am shocked that someone, who must have spent so much time in college, did not learn that you should never make assumptions or judgments without all the facts. That was one of the first things we learned in my upper level classes.

Danilynn24, I don't know who you are, but I was addressing Chantell, who stated she was a teenage mother TWICE. And having seen many, many children of teenaged mothers as they grew, I can attest to the difficulties they encountered. I don't know what you think I said that was judgmental, but others have agreed with me, about these actions having a limiting effect on the children. Just my position based on 35 years at school. What is your experience other than grad school?

PS Danilynn24, what are you talking about when you refer to "go ahead and attack my age and education level again"? This is the first time that I've encountered you online. Maybe you have what someone else wrote, citing me, in mind?