Normally I don't get on my soap box about anything really, but for this to have made news is astonishing to me really.
In case you all have not heard former vice presidential candidate Sarah Palin's teen aged daughter has given birth. Let me say this again,...this made news you guys.
I know of several young ladies who are this child's age who just gave birth as well over the weekend and it DID NOT make headlines. These young women some high school seniors others college students have decided to go ahead with an unplanned pregnancy and families rallied behind them the best they could in these troubled times.
Some of these young ladies have nothing absolutely nothing to bring their new babies home in. Grandparents are strapped and stressed about helping them with clothing, housing, continuing to pay bills and provide for a new mouth to feed as no doubt these young women that I know anyway still live home with mom and dad or one parent at least.
I'm going somewhere with this I really am.
I read an article that was forwarded to my email about how Palin's family had been receiving gifts from all over the globe for the new addition to the family.
I don't understand that either as with the young women I know, they got no gifts, they got no phone calls and well wishing cards and money. What they got were scoffs and teeth suckers and people that have officially written them off because of their decision to carry on with a pregnancy and see it through.
What I wanna know is this.
Why do we care that this child has given birth? What about the other young women and men who are out there having babies everyday who are shamed into believing that somehow their life is over? What about them?
What I wanna know is since this has made headlines today will we see more news and information about teen aged pregnancy and the REAL truth behind it? Will we see more affluent individuals coming out and saying what they will do to help to educate and help prevent teen aged pregnancy or better yet how do we get these young women on their feet after the baby is born? Where are the bugles for that? Where are the outcries for this?
I feel like they have become celebrities of some sort because of who her mom is and not what it REALLY is an unwed, teen aged girl having a baby still seeking support for mom and dad and other family members.
This is ain't a celebrity thang this is a real life thang and should be treated as such.
Lets talk about me and how old I was when I gave birth to Timeka. I was 19 years old and a college sophomore living on campus. I had to move off campus and find a raggedy apartment my little job could afford. I ended up on welfare and food stamps and seemed to take years to get my bearings and by then I had had another. When I came home with her I had NOTHING, not even a decent car seat. Now I'm not mad I am proud of my decision to have such a great daughter. She's grown now and I constantly tell her about what an unplanned pregnancy can do to your life whether a young woman or an adult.
I'm rambling now so let me end with this.
Congratulations to the Palin family for their new addition as each life is precious. But now that he is here what's his name "TRIPP"? anyways.....how bout we become Mavericky supporters of more education of prevention and protection and support for teen aged parents to make it through to get on their feet.
This should NOT be treated like a celebrity affair, this is STILL a baby having baby no matter which way you look at it. So now is the time for Grandma Palin and others to rally behind young people and make a difference. That includes me too.
Til Next Time
Mamma
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