| According to recent data from the Centers for | | | | the baby or is totally at a loss what to do, talking |
| Disease Control and Prevention's National Center for | | | | with an adoption agency may help in the decision |
| Health Statistics (NCHS) the number of teen | | | | process. Encourage your teen to start reading. There |
| pregnancies are falling to 40.4 births per 1,000 | | | | are a number of great books, including the "What to |
| women aged 15-19 years. While those statistics are | | | | Expect" series. Also, if you still haven't accepted that |
| good news, they don't really mean much to a family | | | | you're going to be a grandma, now is a good time to |
| who is facing a teen pregnancy. Suffice it to say, a | | | | work on that! While you are the mother to your |
| teen pregnancy likely came as a shock to everyone. | | | | daughter; you will be the grandmother to the baby. |
| Allow yourself and your teen to experience the | | | | That means you need to allow your daughter to be |
| shock - briefly, and then accept the reality of the | | | | the mother. You can encourage and support her, |
| situation. You may be upset, furious, disappointed, | | | | however unless you want to drive a bigger wedge |
| hurt, scared and experiencing a whole gamut of | | | | between the two of you, step back and allow her |
| emotions. That is not going to change the facts. Both | | | | the responsibility to parent the baby! Some |
| of you should take a deep breath and take it one | | | | grandparents-to-be tend to confuse accepting with |
| day at a time. You do not need to figure it all out the | | | | condoning. I'm certain if you had it your way you |
| moment two lines showed up on the pregnancy test. | | | | would wish you didn't have to deal with a teen |
| Whether she agrees to keep the baby or seek | | | | pregnancy. However, the fact is, you can't click your |
| adoption, your immediate concern should be for the | | | | heels and wish it away. It is a fair bet that your teen |
| baby. The health of the mom and baby should be | | | | already knows you don't condone it. It is what it is, |
| paramount; get to a doctor or clinic. Help your | | | | so embrace it and make the best of it. Babies are a |
| daughter ensure she's eating well, getting exercise | | | | beautiful blessing; a gift. The road to teen pregnancy |
| and eliminating any vices (smoking, drinking or drugs). | | | | is not an easy one. Babies (teens) raising babies isn't |
| Remember, being mad isn't going to help anyone. | | | | easy and neither is the selfless act of giving a baby |
| Your teen cannot un-ring the bell. What she needs | | | | up for adoption. Years ago when I was in a parent |
| now is support. You are not on your own. Each | | | | education class, prior to giving birth to my first child, I |
| community has programs and resources available. If | | | | remember the wise words of the educator. She said |
| you don't know where to start, call your doctor or | | | | "Children will bring you the most joy you have ever |
| United Way. They can point you in the right direction | | | | experienced in your life. They will also cause you the |
| to find education classes and counseling resources. | | | | most pain you could ever experience too." Another |
| You may want to make an appointment with an | | | | way to put it is that you can't have a rainbow |
| adoption agency, just to talk. Whether your teen is | | | | without a little rain! Embrace, accept and love - and |
| feeling secure in her decision to keep or not keep | | | | you, your teen and the baby will all be just fine! |