Adoption Not Abortion?...

http://www.letters2president.org/letters/7693-adoption-not-abortion
  I thought it would be nice to write about adoption and abortion since this was the topic we spoke about in class today.  The above website is a letter that someone wrote on their feelings toward adoption & abortion.  I feel people need to think in a more broad context on abortion. A lot of people will stick with one way and completely oppose the other. But, everyone needs to understand that everyone situation is not the same.  I am a broad thinker so I would not think of anyone any less for getting a abortion or adopting their child.  The person wrote in their letter that adoption is a better option because the child will have a family. But, what we would have to ask ourselves is what is the family does not have a stable home or treat the child differently then their other children if they have any.
  Then, also in the article it mentions how a minor should not be able to abort because they are not mature enough and they may regret it later on in life. But, in a lot of states you have to be 18 years or older to abort with other a parent's consent. (But, I do not like that in some states such as Illinois, you do not need consent from an adult and I wish that could be something that is changed.) Therefore, this would mean that the minor (in most states) would have to converse with an adult on this situation. Also, the minor could regret giving the child up for adoption after caring the child for 9 months and having that connection.  If a teenager is pregnant she may feel like she is not capable or financially stable enough to take care of a child and may not have the family support that others may have. I just wanted to write on this topic because I know many people who say abortion is just completely wrong while not knowing why that person got an abortion or understand their situation. I'm am glad that teenagers are able to have an option of abortion or adoption and I feel that whatever choice they make/made is something they really thought about and made the right choice for their child and themselves. If they are mature enough to make a baby, they are mature enough to make a decision on their options.

(Brittney Williams) 

The Business of Being Born

   Last week we were asked to view a film called The Business of Being Born, it centered around various women who chose to have natural births, and allow nature to take it's course. These women chose to have natural births to feel more in touch with the birthing experience. And this was all done without the help of medication, and pain relievers such as epidurals. These women were the ringleaders of their deliveries, and they were in charge. This film was very eye-opening and discussed, among many things, our blind trust in hospitals and in it's doctors. Both of whom, are supposed to make the birthing experience more comfortable for the mother and child. But, after viewing this film it seems like they have a whole other agenda.
   Before this film I never saw hospitals as "businesses" which is what the film referred it as. A business whose only goal is to fill it's beds and then empty them. This may or may not be the case for all hospitals, but it is the case for many. And sadly since this is their goal, spontaneous medical descions are being made for "legal reasons" and not for the benefit of the mother and child. It's very upsetting to think about, that the miracle of birth is in most cases rushed and impersonal. I want my first birth to mean something. And as Ricki Lake so eloquently stated, "Birth wasn't an illness, and wasn't something that needed to be numbed, it needed to be experienced." And when you can give birth you can do anything, and I think that was the main message from the film. A message that I will take with me.

(Jennifer Hall)

Mom wasn't ready for me

https://www.oag.state.tx.us/teens/realteens/mymotherwasntready.pdf

I always wonder what a lot of the teen parents' kids have to say about "teen parent" issue in America.

A few of my friends have teen moms like myself, but environment + circumstances in my home town are much easier for childbearing because of the families' strong emotional and financial support (expenses, school, baby sitting, etc).

I Found this read interesting because it gave us the child's perspective. Of course not all stories are the same, but research does warn us from teen pregnancy, because our opportunity costs of having a child far exceeds the other goals that should be achieved first.

(Nour Salmeen)