I am writing speaking from experience. I had my first child at 17, second at 18, third at 19, and will be having my fourth at 20. I am not saying by any means that I or any other teenager is a bad parent. But, they could be about 90% better, if they just hold off on sexual relations until they are older. My article is geared more towards teenagers between the ages of 13 and 18.

You could be a good mother as far as nurturing, loving, playing with your baby, or even bathing your baby. But, what about all of the necessities? Like feeding, clothing, medical bills, transportation, housing, and things like that?

If you are under the age of 15 you can't get a job, and that's with a work permit, otherwise, you can't get a job until the age of 16. So, how do you plan to buy a can of formula? Or a package of diapers? Are you going to rely on YOUR mother and father to do those things for you? That is not their responsibility, your baby is your responsibility, no-one else's. Even if you do get a job, you can't work full time if you are still in high school. So still, you can not pay for things on your own to support your child. You would have to rely on your parents and the government. And I, for one, do not want my tax dollars wasted on helping a teenager support their child because they were irresponsible. You can not get on your own medical insurance plan until you are 18 years old. So again, you are expecting your parents to pay for your child. That isn't their job, and it is not fair for them to have to do that for you.

What about transportation? Most states you can not legally drive a car until the age of 16, some, 18. Once again, are you going to rely on your parents to take you to doctors appointments, the store, the hospital, so on and so forth? What if they work full time jobs? Then what are you going to do? Let's not forget about the insurance and gas on that vehicle. They are paying, once again, for your child.

Housing. You can't get a place of your own until you are 18 years old. So, you're going to live with your parents, not pay mortgage or rent equal to the amount of most places, if anything? Again, not their responsibility to provide your child a roof. That is your job.

I learned most of these things when I had my oldest daughter. Yes, I had a job, but it didn't pay me enough to support her on my own. Most of my paycheck was going to a babysitter, and I was even making MORE than minimum wage. I had to rely on my parents help and the states help, and that is not fair to anybody. I made my child, no-one else, so why should people that had no take in making her, pay? I feel guilty almost every day for them paying for something that I did. I moved out when I was 17, and the only reason why, is because my boyfriend was 20. Ever since, I have been on my own, married, and paying for our own children, our own bills, and everything.

Yes, you may think you love the person you are with and you want to have sex with them, but is it worth it? If you don't care about pretty much pawning your child off on somebody else, then yes, I guess it is worth it, because you aren't taking responsibility for your own actions. But if you have a decent heart at all in your chest and a conscience that you listen to, you will really do the research, think, and hopefully decide to wait on sex. Birth control is not 100% effective. Ask 2 of the 4 kids I'm getting ready to have.

You have your entire life ahead of you, full of parties, opportunities, education, etc. If you have a child so young, you may not get to live your life the way you had planned before getting pregnant. Think about it. Just think.

Learn more about this author, Amber Goff.
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