Teen mums and dads

I was reading a news item on the BBC website this morning. A 16-year-old Argentine girl gave birth to her second set of triplets recently. The girl, Pamela, had given birth to triplets first when she was 15 and before that she had given birth to a boy when she was 14. This got me thinking about teen mums and dads; I don’t know what you think but I think there must be something seriously wrong with the world if a girl at 16 already has seven children.

There was a discussion about teen parents on the STREETBRAND forum recently. Being a parent is not an easy task; it’s a 24-7 duty that takes over your life. Don’t get me wrong; having children is a joy but it is a kind of joy that comes with hardwork. If the sleepness nights, wet nappies, cries and wails don’t get you thinking. Perhaps thinking about the loss of youth might do the trick.

By ‘loss of youth’ I mean not being able to hang out with your friends as much because you have resposibilities now, having to drop out of school or put your studies on hold while you care for a child, having to grow up much faster and missing out on all the fun things that come with being a teenager, the possibility that you may end up a single parent if you break up with your boyfriend/girlfriend - having a child is serious business. It is so serious I think that it should be avoided while you’re still growing yourself. Save the babies, parenting and sex for when you’re much older and married; concentrate on being a youth of influence. Love yourself, love God and fulfil all that He has called you to be.