Earlier in the month, the newest pregnancy rates were released, including those for teens. 2007 was the first year that overall pregnancies broke the record of the baby boom in the 1950s.
It was also the second year in a row that the rate of teenage pregnancies increased.
Though the increase is small — only 2 percent in 2006 and 1 percent in 2007, it comes after a 14-year trend of declining numbers.
What this signals — an increase in sexually active teenagers, teenagers
beginning to experiment at a younger age — is unknown. But the message is clear: Teens don’t seem to understand the consequences of sex, especially unprotected sex.
The reason for not wanting teens — especially young teens — to have sex is logical: They lack emotional maturity for the consequences. Emotional attachment, sexually transmitted diseases and pregnancy are some of the reasons that 13- and 14-year olds just aren’t able to handle sex.
These are the things I think teens don’t always think about. For many, there is a mentality of “it would never happen to me.”
And even when it does, the reaction seems short-sighted.
For example, I was walking in Target last week in the pharmacy area. I heard a couple of girls trying to find something, when one of them said, “Let’s just go back and get the pregnancy test.”
These girls couldn’t have been much older than 14 and were rather nonchalant about the whole thing. To say I was surprised would be an understatement.
Babies are cute and cuddly. My sister has four kids, two of whom are under the age of 2. My niece is the youngest, having just turned 1. She almost always has a smile on her face and is such a joy to play with.
This is what most teenage girls think of when they think of kids. They think of giggling and smiling babies that aren’t much work. They don’t think of midnight feedings, fits of hysterical crying or really dirty diapers.
They certainly don’t think about what happens down the road when those babies reach toddler age.
Take, for instance, my nephew, Nick. He is a rambunctious 4-year-old boy. He doesn’t walk anywhere — he bounces. He eats more than I do.
In fact, each time I see him, I am reminded that he is the best form of birth control.
I am married, 23 years old and pursuing a master’s degree. And when I see Nick, I think twice about having kids in the very near future. I love him dearly, and we have many fun times swimming, laughing and running around the yard, but he is quite a handful.
Which is why I think every teenager should spend a weekend with him. Then they would see past the “fun baby phase” to the real-world experience of caring for kids.
Like it does for me, it might prove to be the best form of birth control ever created.
Janne is content to stay an aunt for a while. Let her know your funniest kid stories at janne.gaub@asu.edu.
