I am insulted that some people still have it in their heads that teen parents are unable to care for their children. By stating that we cannot give our children the best life possible, you are condeming thousands of pregnant teens to believe (and act out) that scenario.

I am a teen mother, and I am proud to be who I am. At 16 I got pregnant, and gave birth to my daughter 2 months after my 17th birthday. I am still completing high school, and I am going on to post secondary education.

Although it is difficult to raise children on a low income, it is not impossible. Me and my child go wih out some days, but it does not mean that her quality of life is any less than that of a child born into an upperclass family. She is still well cared for, happy, and full of life. So who are you to tell me what I can and cannot do?

To all the pregnant girls out there, I wish you the very best, and hope that you stay strong in adversity.

To all the negative indiviudals that feel that teen mothers are inadequate: I hope that one day you will see the truth.

My husband and I had just built our new home, My daughter just graduated high school, Life was good. It was now "our time". I got a phone call on my cell phone and it was my daughter crying saying "Mom you have to come to the doctors office" Now I knew she was going to the Ob/Gyn's office and I'm thinking "OH MY GOD, They found a lump or a bump and all I could think of was CANCER. Now I have to tell you that I am a Cancer Patient. I have Multiple Myeloma and have been living/fighting for 10yrs now. I told my daughter I will be right there. Driving like a fool I got there in no time, ran into the building and was led into the exam room. The doctor stood there as my daughter crying hysterical told me..."I'm pregnant" The blood rushed from my head, and all I could say was "Is that ALL?" at that point the doctor left us to talk and I was holding my daughter and telling her that everything was going to be alright. Now she was 17 and she had been taking the pill for over a year, because she knew how I and her father felt about abortion and how we always preached "safe" sex to her and to her older brother. She had just broken up with her boyfriend of almost 2yrs. and was moving on. When I asked her if he was the father I got the shock of my life when she told me no, that it was a guy who coached at the gym she belonged to for Cheer Leading . He was 25! When I look back now there was never any question as to what would happen next. Abortion was NOT an option and Adoption was something that she would never be able to do after carrying the baby for 9mnths. So that evening Mr. Wonderful came over to the house so that they could BOTH tell her father. After the initial shock he told them both what he expected from them. Mr. Wonderful moved into our new house and got a real job. Aiden Michael was born Jan. 11 2007 9lbs 9oz.
He was always a good boy and it was such a pleasure to have a baby in the family again. Things were getting a little difficult because my husband and I were seeing things about Mr. Wonderful that we did not like and of course my daughter saw nothing wrong. They moved out into an apartment of their own. My daughter had a great job and he,... well he continued to "coach". After less then a year out on their own he decided he wanted to be with someone else. My daughter was CRUSHED. She continued to live with him because of the lease on the apartment and then they went their separate ways after she lost her job and the lease was up. As it is now my daughter and precious grandson live with us. I have always been Aiden's only babysitter. We have such a special bond. My daughter works 2 jobs has just earned her State Certificate for Certified Nursing Assistant and continues to stay on good terms with Mr. Wonderful. I can't begin to tell you the amount of stress our lives have been subjected to in the last 21/2 years. I can't begin to tell you how tired I am at the end of the days that I watch Aiden full time and still continue to take my medicine. I can't begin to tell you how much I love this little boy. I can't even begin to think what my life would be like if he was terminated or given up for adoption. Has it been EASY for any of us? NO WAY... Has it ruined my daughters life? NO WAY.. She is a good mommy and I am very proud of her. So I guess I just wanted to tell everyone that there is LIFE after a teen pregnancy. It isn't an easy life, but it is a wonderful, crazy, exhausting, rewarding, crazy... LIFE.

Our 15yo daughter told us a month ago that she had sex with her boyfriend.  Today she asked if we would sign papers and let her marry him cause she is going to continue to have sex.  I am afraid she will get pregnant on purpose to marry him.  What is the best thing for us to do as parents?

I could have written this story myself six  years ago.  My 20 year old daughter announced she was pregnant in 2002; a doctor's appointment on my 25th wedding anniversary confirmed that she was indeed pregnant - five months along - with TWINS!!  Her father & I urged adoption; she interviewed couples looking to adopt.  We submitted to family counseling, which was a joke because she manipulated the counselor at every turn.  When she was hospitalized for the last month of her pregnancy, the babies' father returned to the scene and professed his love and promised to take care of all of them.  Long story short, he did not keep his promise, and our daughter and her twin girls have lived with us off-and-on ever since.  My daughter still hopes for the day when he can be part of their "family."  They lived together briefly, more than once; he is physically abusive. 
We are at odds with our daughter all the time.  She will not listen to our advice/experience, and repeats many of the same mistakes over and over.  I hope Brittney's parents have the strength to take a stand and stick to it; because it NEVER GETS ANY EASIER!!

i just wanted to let you know that i am a teenage mother. I got pregnant at 16 and had m son at 17. I currently have a 6 month old son. The decision to keep him was the hardest thing i ever had to decide. Still to this day i struggle with money, the babies father, and family. In the end it was all worth it. When you look at your baby and see him/her smile for the first time, or rolll over. there is no doubt in you mind that the baby is worth keeping. Im not telling any body that its easy, cause trust me its so not. but i wouldnt give up my son for anything. He is my world, and there is so much you can do to keep your baby. Parents are supposed to be there to voice opinions and give support. If the babies father doesnt want u to keep your baby then fine, let that be his dicision but choose for yourself what u want to do with your baby.

Hi, I was 15 and pregnant too, only thing is that I had gone through an abortion because the father felt that we were too young and that he was afraid of what his parents would say. I am now 18 and pregnant again but the advantage with this pregnancy is that we have a stable roof over our heads and both of our families are supportive. I currently go to college and my parents fell that it is better for me to only worry about getting through school instead of school and a job but my partner needs to get the job to support his child, in this economy it is extremely hard to find one. Brittney does have the option to do as she feels with her child but I feel that her parents should support her no matter what desicion she makes, they shouldn't critize her for her mistake they should appreciate that she had told them and didn't hide her pregnancy all the way til she was ready to deliver.Yes i understand different people different views on life but my best advice for brittney is to do what she feels is right for her and her child.

I saved this weeks shows on TiVo and watched them late last night.  I COULDN'T SLEEP!   I cried and cried....My husband and I have been through years of fertility treatments and would give anything to be expecting a child.  Also, we have an adopted 3 yr old and I think that adoption is one of the hardest more unselfish act that a girl could do....they are totally putting the babies life first.  In March, we though we were going to get to adopt a baby girl and it fell through.....it was the hardest thing in the world but the girl chose to parent and we understood her decision.  I can really relate to that adoptive mother that has gone through the failed adoptions.  WE WOULD LOVE TO ADOPT AGAIN and I think that adoption is a very loving decision....

I saved this weeks shows on TiVo and watched them late last night.  I COULDN'T SLEEP!   I cried and cried....My husband and I have been through years of fertility treatments and would give anything to be expecting a child.  Also, we have an adopted 3 yr old and I think that adoption is one of the hardest more unselfish act that a girl could do....they are totally putting the babies life first.  In March, we though we were going to get to adopt a baby girl and it fell through.....it was the hardest thing in the world but the girl chose to parent and we understood her decision.  I can really relate to that adoptive mother that has gone through the failed adoptions.  WE WOULD LOVE TO ADOPT AGAIN and I think that adoption is a very loving decision....

Dear Britney,  I am an adult who was given up for adoption.  I think you have a hard decision to make and I understand how difficult it must be for you.  I wanted to take a second and provide my perspective from the viewpoint of the baby who was given up.  Please know that your baby will always wonder who they look like their whole life.  Your baby will always think about you.  Especially on his or her birthday.  Your baby will always feel something is missing from their life and they may not feel like a "natural" part of their adopted families life.  Your baby may be embarrassed to be adopted.  It is very different than all the other kids at school.  Your child will want to meet you one day.  Be prepared for him or her to need to know everything about the circumstances regarding why you made this decision.  I have often wondered if I was the product of a rape.  Once I had my own children I felt a strong need to know my health background so I could pass that on to the pediatrician for my own children.  Being adopted has given me a good life.  However once I met my birth mother, a large void I've had in my life was filled.  I look just like her.  We sound alike when we talk.  When you are adopted, these small things are a very big deal. You will spend a lot of time thinking about your baby and wondering about him or her.  Please also know that your mother will be heartbroken when your baby is given away.  My birth mother said she didn't look at me or hold me after I was born.  All she knew is that I was a girl.  Otherwise she wouldn't have been able to give me away.  Adoption children have a lot of issues that many times aren't looked at as adoption related issues.  They may grow up angry.  They may not have a good relationship with their parents.  Please just know that there is no real substitute for you to that baby.  Abortion is never the answer.  Adoption might be.  But the baby is the one who is the victim and will ultimately have to deal with the consequences of the decision you make.  Thank you for hearing me out on this and I pray that you make the best decision for you and your baby.

Dr. Phil, on the part 1 show the father wanted his daughter to terminate the pregnancy and his wife agreed.  On part 2 the wife tearfully said it would be hard to have her daughter give up her baby for adoption.  I feel they really don't have their perspective straight- it's okay to kill the grandbaby but not allow the baby to be placed in a normal home once it is born so it can have a chance at a better life rather than raised by a teen who is still very immature in her thinking.  I am not unsympathetic on the decision to place your child with someone else, it would be a hard decision to make, one that would have to really take the child's interest at heart.  This teen just doesn't seem to be realistic about life as a Mother.  I hope she doesn't change her mind about adoption and devastate the prospective adoptive parents.  I have personal experience in my family of a birth mom changing her mind and it is heart breaking.