essay 3

                                                                   Redefine

            Teen pregnancy changes anybody’s life dramatically.  You can look at it three different ways.  First, you can see how life will change with proven facts.  Second, you can see it by personal experience.  Lastly, common sense can tell you a lot as well.  Pregnancy for a young girl can change their lives emotionally, physically, and socially. 

            During a pregnancy, your body tends to crave abnormal combination of foods.  You will have to learn how to balance school, work, and regular responsibilities outside the baby duties.  Some teen moms are actually embarrassed to go back to school.  Some teens feel as though they will get made fun of or looked down upon.  A great fact about teen pregnancy is the economic issues.  Having a baby brings a lot of expenses as well.  Diapers, formula, clothes, wipes, crib, strollers, and the list go on and on.  Many teens rely on government help or either family members to pay most of the baby’s expenses.  Your mind goes through emotional changes.  One day you are happy and the next day you may be sad.  They are some women that go through postpartum depression, which makes the mother depressed and not be around their own child.  Entering a new relationship will be the hardest thing you will be able to handle.  First of all, bringing different people to your child’s life is not healthy for the baby.  Second, possibility of becoming pregnant again is greater.  Lastly, going on dates or having your alone time with your significant other is slim because you have a child to care for. 

            After having a child at eighteen, my life has changed in many different ways.  All the changes are mostly positive and not many people can say that.  My social life died down after I had my daughter.  I stopped hanging out with a lot of people because their intentions were something I did not appreciate.  I had a close circle of friends from middle school that I only trusted.  Other than my circle of friends, I was only with family.  School is real hard to keep up with.  I raise a child by myself and I work thirty-two hours a week to keep up with her expenses and bills.  Trying to stay focus in school is hard when you have a lot going on.  I go straight to work after school and come home late to my daughter.  Parenting a child on your own is difficult.  Having to take care of a sick child, then having to wake up the next morning to go to school is hard.  My relationship with my family did change after giving birth to my daughter.  My relationship with my mother did become stronger.  I am able to bond with her in so many different levels since we both are mothers. I understand her better and understand all her reasons for all her past decisions.  After having a child, do not think your body will go back to normal.  I did go back to my pre-pregnancy weight but my body reacts differently to certain things now.  I now have super sensitive skin and I break out with eczema from time to time.  I can not use scented lotion because of my sensitivity.  After giving birth, you tend to have a little pouch belly.  It takes time for it to go down but it will not go back to what it was before your pregnancy.

            Everybody knows that teen pregnancy changes your life, which is just common sense.  While all your friends are going out to party, you have to stay home with your child.  You can not do many things all your friends can do.  As a parent, you have a lot more responsibilities than your friends do.  You tend to feel as an adult because you are literally working to support for your child.  You will notice the change in the group of friends you hang with.  Most of your friends probably are parents as well since it is easier to understand one another.  Some people will try to be your friends for one reason, and that is to be nosey.  People like to stick their noses into other people’s business when it comes down to teen pregnancy.  You look at life in a different manner.  You tend to take things more serious than other people in your age group.  After having a child, your whole mind set changes. 

            In conclusion, you will be able to define teen pregnancy based on facts, personal experience, and common sense.