If you live in Howard County, MD. you are aware that a football player at River Hill High School was killed over the weekend in a drunk driving accident. I don't think the details of his death are significant. Bottom line is he got in a vehicle with someone who should not have been driving and now he is gone. His family is suffering, the driver's family is suffering and an entire school is suffering today.
Now what? We put banged up cars in front of our schools as a warning to our kids that drinking and driving hurts. The school system begins discussing substance use and abuse in second grade when kids are introduced to the dangers of smoking. This is clearly not enough.
You, parents, have to talk to your own children. Make a pact. Let them know that you don't want the fear of punishment to cause them to get in a car that they can't drive or that someone else can't drive. Let them know that no matter the hour or the circumstances, they should call you for a ride home and you will come get them so that they will stay safe.
I'm sure that there are many families who would much rather have sacrificed an hour or so of sleep than their child.
My heart goes out to the Erdman and the Dankos families and to the staff and students at River Hill High School. You are in the thoughts and prayers of the entire community.
Monday, November 30, 2009
Thursday, May 28, 2009
Bullying
While waiting in the Allergists office after my 7 year old had his shots yesterday, I picked up my guilty pleasure, People Magazine. I flipped through the photos of celebs, celebs and their kids, celebs shopping etc. I eventually got to an article that was perhaps one of the most tragic things I've read. It was about two 11 year old boys, one in Georgia and another in Massachusetts. Both boys were victims of bullying. They were regularly teased and taunted and called gay. It was clearly more than both boys could take. Each hung himself in his bedroom after school. Now their families are forced to go on without them.
My oldest son's name is Gabriel and he, too, is often called gay. Or kids drag out the first syllable of his name. He has come home from school more than once feeling quite angry over these mindless taunts. He stood up for himself once on the bus and got slapped in the face. This incident caused me to contact the school. The other child was made to apologize and according to my son, his taunter hasn't been on the bus since.
We spoke to both our sons about this incident and reminded them that words can't hurt and that unless someone threatens to harm you, it's simply best to ignore. Of course, secretly we are vigilant for signs that these careless remarks are getting to our son. We watch for signs of depression all the time because we have a huge family history of depression and this is just the kind of thing that would set it off.
Sadly, both moms regularly contacted the school to complain about the issues their children were confronting. It wasn't enough. Maybe being called gay was too great an insult. Maybe the bullies were really determined to make these kids lives hell. Maybe the victims were great at hiding their feelings. I don't know.
Here are some signs of depression in adolescents that we should all be watching for:
http://www.helpguide.org/mental/depression_teen.htm
http://www.cnn.com/2009/US/04/23/bullying.suicide/
My oldest son's name is Gabriel and he, too, is often called gay. Or kids drag out the first syllable of his name. He has come home from school more than once feeling quite angry over these mindless taunts. He stood up for himself once on the bus and got slapped in the face. This incident caused me to contact the school. The other child was made to apologize and according to my son, his taunter hasn't been on the bus since.
We spoke to both our sons about this incident and reminded them that words can't hurt and that unless someone threatens to harm you, it's simply best to ignore. Of course, secretly we are vigilant for signs that these careless remarks are getting to our son. We watch for signs of depression all the time because we have a huge family history of depression and this is just the kind of thing that would set it off.
Sadly, both moms regularly contacted the school to complain about the issues their children were confronting. It wasn't enough. Maybe being called gay was too great an insult. Maybe the bullies were really determined to make these kids lives hell. Maybe the victims were great at hiding their feelings. I don't know.
Here are some signs of depression in adolescents that we should all be watching for:
- Sadness or hopelessness
- Irritability, anger, or hostility
- Tearfulness or frequent crying
- Withdrawal from friends and family
- Loss of interest in activities
- Changes in eating and sleeping habits
- Restlessness and agitation
- Feelings of worthlessness and guilt
- Lack of enthusiasm and motivation
- Fatigue or lack of energy
- Difficulty concentrating
- Thoughts of death or suicide
Here is a list of how adolescent depression differs from adult depression:
Irritable or angry mood – As noted above, irritability, rather than sadness, is often the predominant mood in depressed teens. A depressed teenager may be grumpy, hostile, easily frustrated, or prone to angry outbursts.
Unexplained aches and pains - Depressed teens frequently complain about physical ailments such as headaches or stomachaches. If a thorough physical exam does not reveal a medical cause, these aches and pains may indicate depression.
Extreme sensitivity to criticism - Depressed teens are plagued by feelings of worthlessness, making them extremely vulnerable to criticism, rejection, and failure. This is a particular problem for “over-achievers.”
Withdrawing from some, but not all people - While adults tend to isolate themselves when depressed, teenagers usually keep up at least some friendships. However, teens with depression may socialize less than before, pull away from their parents, or start hanging out with a different crowd.
I've included two links. One is a website that will help you understand depression, and the other is an article about Jaheem Herrera, one of the boys I mentioned earlier. Please read them both and let your school system know if your child is being victimized. But also make sure that you are taking care of the situation yourself by getting your child help to overcome the effects bullying can have.
http://www.helpguide.org/mental/depression_teen.htm
http://www.cnn.com/2009/US/04/23/bullying.suicide/
Sunday, May 24, 2009
No is No
My son's 6th grade class recently attended a two night field trip at a local YMCA Camp. The field trip, called Outdoor Ed, is an opportunity to bond with classmates and apply some of their academics in a setting away from school.
As you can imagine, this adventure can be filled with drama. One of my friends attended this year as a volunteer nurse. It was her job to administer allergy medicine, tend to scrapes, falls, headaches etc. She was also one of the cabin chaperones. Wow! My friend is a saint, in case you were wondering.
Yesterday, as we gathered at the pool for the opening day of the season, my friend told us some of the tales of Outdoor Ed dating. There is a dance one night, and many of the kids had dates. This applied more in theory than practice. Many of the kids with dates didn't even speak to their dates, let alone dance with them. The question arose about what to do if someone you didn't like asked you to dance. My friend told the girls they could say no, but they needed to be polite about it.
My son had some issues with a girl earlier this year. He did not return her feelings and she enlisted friends to bombard him with questions about why for several weeks. His father and I told him to respond to the girls in the same way my friend told the girls to respond to the boys. Say no, but be nice.
Sadly, this didn't work for my son. The situation escalated to the point that one of the friends told him they would not leave him alone until he apologized. Evidently his politely worded rejection caused the girl who liked him to cry.
To make a long story short, guidance counselor contacted, girls spoken to about degrees of bullying, apologies issued, situation resolved.
No is no, regardless of the gender of the issuer. A boy should be able to say no to a girl without fear of reprisal as should a girl. We must teach our children to respect this word now, while they are in middle school or even younger. As they age and their relationships become more complex, "no" becomes something that, if not respected, has much more grave consequences.
Enjoy your day.
As you can imagine, this adventure can be filled with drama. One of my friends attended this year as a volunteer nurse. It was her job to administer allergy medicine, tend to scrapes, falls, headaches etc. She was also one of the cabin chaperones. Wow! My friend is a saint, in case you were wondering.
Yesterday, as we gathered at the pool for the opening day of the season, my friend told us some of the tales of Outdoor Ed dating. There is a dance one night, and many of the kids had dates. This applied more in theory than practice. Many of the kids with dates didn't even speak to their dates, let alone dance with them. The question arose about what to do if someone you didn't like asked you to dance. My friend told the girls they could say no, but they needed to be polite about it.
My son had some issues with a girl earlier this year. He did not return her feelings and she enlisted friends to bombard him with questions about why for several weeks. His father and I told him to respond to the girls in the same way my friend told the girls to respond to the boys. Say no, but be nice.
Sadly, this didn't work for my son. The situation escalated to the point that one of the friends told him they would not leave him alone until he apologized. Evidently his politely worded rejection caused the girl who liked him to cry.
To make a long story short, guidance counselor contacted, girls spoken to about degrees of bullying, apologies issued, situation resolved.
No is no, regardless of the gender of the issuer. A boy should be able to say no to a girl without fear of reprisal as should a girl. We must teach our children to respect this word now, while they are in middle school or even younger. As they age and their relationships become more complex, "no" becomes something that, if not respected, has much more grave consequences.
Enjoy your day.
Thursday, May 21, 2009
Smoking is a Terrible Habit
Do you remember that little PSA that used to air in the 70's? "Smoking is a terrible habit...For a chipmunk, or a squirrel or a rabbit!" I wonder if my children would be influenced by fluffy little woodland animals warning them of the dangers of smoking? Our school system doesn't think so, I guess.
My son informed me yesterday that yesterday his middle school held an assembly about smoking. The featured speaker told the tale of how smoking had affected his family, with much of the emphasis of the story on his younger brother who took up smoking at the age of 8. The story unwove as the man went on to tell of his brother's fight with alcohol and drug addiction, his multiple, unsuccessful visits to rehab and his current 20 year sentence to prison for robbery; a crime most likely committed to help fund his addiction.
This sad tale was hugely impactful to my child. He left that assembly yesterday fully convinced that if he picks up one cigarette, he will end up in jail. As tempting as it was to leave him with this impression, I did have to explain a few things to him about addiction. At the dinner table, we talked about many different types of addiction from food to shopping, gambling to drugs. We talked about how that some people's brains are wired differently and how very difficult it is to overcome any type of addiction.
The last point I made was how terribly devastating addiction is. Recently, many young adults in Northern Virginia have been run through the court system, facing charges relating to their various roles in a heroin ring. Between the players in the ring and the victims who died from using the drugs, there were maybe 20 people who were severely affected by the group. I made the analogy to my son's reading class and told him that the size of the heroin group was the same size of his reading class. That meant that most of his reading class would be in jail and the rest would be dead. I asked him to think of all the friends, family members, teammates, etc that 20 people could have. We determined it was a pretty big group! I pointed out to him that was how many people were impacted by this drug ring, and that all those people suffered a devastating loss.
I am so lucky that my son is so open with me about what happens at school. I could easily have missed the opportunity to have a follow-up conversation with him at home since I don't recall any communication from the school that this assembly was occurring. I plan on contacting the school and urging them to be sure to give parents the chance to have these conversations by keeping us informed. I hope you will do the same.
Enjoy your day.
My son informed me yesterday that yesterday his middle school held an assembly about smoking. The featured speaker told the tale of how smoking had affected his family, with much of the emphasis of the story on his younger brother who took up smoking at the age of 8. The story unwove as the man went on to tell of his brother's fight with alcohol and drug addiction, his multiple, unsuccessful visits to rehab and his current 20 year sentence to prison for robbery; a crime most likely committed to help fund his addiction.
This sad tale was hugely impactful to my child. He left that assembly yesterday fully convinced that if he picks up one cigarette, he will end up in jail. As tempting as it was to leave him with this impression, I did have to explain a few things to him about addiction. At the dinner table, we talked about many different types of addiction from food to shopping, gambling to drugs. We talked about how that some people's brains are wired differently and how very difficult it is to overcome any type of addiction.
The last point I made was how terribly devastating addiction is. Recently, many young adults in Northern Virginia have been run through the court system, facing charges relating to their various roles in a heroin ring. Between the players in the ring and the victims who died from using the drugs, there were maybe 20 people who were severely affected by the group. I made the analogy to my son's reading class and told him that the size of the heroin group was the same size of his reading class. That meant that most of his reading class would be in jail and the rest would be dead. I asked him to think of all the friends, family members, teammates, etc that 20 people could have. We determined it was a pretty big group! I pointed out to him that was how many people were impacted by this drug ring, and that all those people suffered a devastating loss.
I am so lucky that my son is so open with me about what happens at school. I could easily have missed the opportunity to have a follow-up conversation with him at home since I don't recall any communication from the school that this assembly was occurring. I plan on contacting the school and urging them to be sure to give parents the chance to have these conversations by keeping us informed. I hope you will do the same.
Enjoy your day.
Sunday, May 17, 2009
Free Speech Gone Awry
I have read two news items in recent days about a website that is the internet equivalent of a bathroom wall. It's called peoplesdirt and it's a forum board where teens, mainly in Montgomery County, MD, have been posting horribly disparaging remarks about each other.
This is where free speech becomes an issue in the hands of teens. Is posting scandalous comments about classmates' sexual antics, sexual preferences, drug, use, etc an acceptable use of the rights given to us by the founding fathers? Evidently it is. Efforts to permanently block peoplesdirt have failed. Schools have prevented students from accessing the site on school computers, but the efforts of parents to have the site shut down have failed.
Peopledirt administrator and co-founder Alfredo Castillo feels his site fills an important need for teens to anonymously express their feelings. In an interview in the Washington Post he states, "We understand that a lot of it might be false. . . . We have to allow people who know these individuals to judge what is right [and] what is not." Not according to one boy who was the target of some postings on the site. He said that many people who read the remarks assumed they were true and he was made an outcast.
Castillo ardently defends his site, especially since it was a posting on peoplesdirt that led to the arrest of a teen in Tennessee who threatened to kill students at Walt Whitman HS in Montgomery County. He states that his site prevented the shooting. Castillo said he cooperated with investigators, providing the IP address of the poster. Interestingly, the post hasn't been removed. Why? According to Castillo, no one has asked him to take it down. Also interesting is that there is no evidence in the interview with Castillo or in any of the stories about the threat to indicate that peoplesdirt notified the police of the threat. It seems that families of Whitman students did.
Even if peoplesdirt gets shut down, something else will replace it. Similar sites exist for college students and adults. As parents, we do need to be aware that sites like this are intriguing to our kids and discuss them. Our children need to know that words can hurt and that they should not engage in this type of gossip. They should also be encouraged to let an adult know if they are made aware of any type of communication that is threatening to others.
Recently, a man was arrested in Massachusetts for using Craigslist exotic services to find women, one of whom he allegedly killed. In response to pleas from law enforcement, Craiglist has changed its erotic services section to an adult's section which is monitored for inappropriate content. If sites like peoplesdirt want to exist as a forum for immature minds to spread gossip and innuendo, then perhaps they should be required by law to monitor postings more closely. The Whitman threat speaks volumes about the integrity of 23 year old Castillo. He didn't notify law enforcement and the posting is still on the site.
Talk to your kids about peoplesdirt and other internet forums where harmful information can be circulated. Let them know that this type of public gossip is harmful and inappropriate. Perhaps a lack of interest in these sites will shut them down.
This is where free speech becomes an issue in the hands of teens. Is posting scandalous comments about classmates' sexual antics, sexual preferences, drug, use, etc an acceptable use of the rights given to us by the founding fathers? Evidently it is. Efforts to permanently block peoplesdirt have failed. Schools have prevented students from accessing the site on school computers, but the efforts of parents to have the site shut down have failed.
Peopledirt administrator and co-founder Alfredo Castillo feels his site fills an important need for teens to anonymously express their feelings. In an interview in the Washington Post he states, "We understand that a lot of it might be false. . . . We have to allow people who know these individuals to judge what is right [and] what is not." Not according to one boy who was the target of some postings on the site. He said that many people who read the remarks assumed they were true and he was made an outcast.
Castillo ardently defends his site, especially since it was a posting on peoplesdirt that led to the arrest of a teen in Tennessee who threatened to kill students at Walt Whitman HS in Montgomery County. He states that his site prevented the shooting. Castillo said he cooperated with investigators, providing the IP address of the poster. Interestingly, the post hasn't been removed. Why? According to Castillo, no one has asked him to take it down. Also interesting is that there is no evidence in the interview with Castillo or in any of the stories about the threat to indicate that peoplesdirt notified the police of the threat. It seems that families of Whitman students did.
Even if peoplesdirt gets shut down, something else will replace it. Similar sites exist for college students and adults. As parents, we do need to be aware that sites like this are intriguing to our kids and discuss them. Our children need to know that words can hurt and that they should not engage in this type of gossip. They should also be encouraged to let an adult know if they are made aware of any type of communication that is threatening to others.
Recently, a man was arrested in Massachusetts for using Craigslist exotic services to find women, one of whom he allegedly killed. In response to pleas from law enforcement, Craiglist has changed its erotic services section to an adult's section which is monitored for inappropriate content. If sites like peoplesdirt want to exist as a forum for immature minds to spread gossip and innuendo, then perhaps they should be required by law to monitor postings more closely. The Whitman threat speaks volumes about the integrity of 23 year old Castillo. He didn't notify law enforcement and the posting is still on the site.
Talk to your kids about peoplesdirt and other internet forums where harmful information can be circulated. Let them know that this type of public gossip is harmful and inappropriate. Perhaps a lack of interest in these sites will shut them down.
Wednesday, May 13, 2009
If it Happened to Her...
It can happen to your kids, too!
In case you have missed the hubbub this week, Miss California has come under fire for two reasons in recent weeks. First, when asked her thoughts on gay marriage, she said she feels marriage is for a man and a woman. I will not blast her view. I think it was bold of her to stand her ground. It is her belief and she stood by it. Carrie Prejean, I applaud you for this.
Round two sees semi-nude photos of a young Carrie surfacing on (drum roll please) the internet. According to an interview with a since dethroned former Miss Nevada 2007, Katie Rees, all Miss USA contestants have to sign a contract in which they are required to state whether there are any nude or semi-nude photos of them floating in cyberspace. She and Prejean both said their weren't. Both were either lying or forgot. Prejean's oversight was forgiven and she retained her title. Rees lost hers. I guess Prejean got lucky. Rees lost something that meant a lot to her.
It is likely Prejean just forgot, but I'm not getting into her morality here. The point I want to make is the permanency of cyberspace. It is so easy to forget that a photo here, a video there, a friend's snapshot of a drunken same-sex smooch at a college party, can and will come back to haunt you.
Ask your child, the one who screams when you accidentally invade their privacy in the bathroom, how they would feel if you, their parent, saw a picture of them naked on the computer? How about the neighbors, the family for whom they babysit, etc? If they give you the standard, "GROSS," don't miss the chance to follow up. Please remind your child that any pictures or videos of them will exist forever. Then also remind them that they may one day have a dispute with the person who retains control of the photos. That person may decide that Facebook, MySpace, or some other such Internet venue if the perfect place to exact their revenge.
Carrie Prejean is lucky for now. Her luck may change. Help keep your kid's luck in the right place.
Enjoy your day!
In case you have missed the hubbub this week, Miss California has come under fire for two reasons in recent weeks. First, when asked her thoughts on gay marriage, she said she feels marriage is for a man and a woman. I will not blast her view. I think it was bold of her to stand her ground. It is her belief and she stood by it. Carrie Prejean, I applaud you for this.
Round two sees semi-nude photos of a young Carrie surfacing on (drum roll please) the internet. According to an interview with a since dethroned former Miss Nevada 2007, Katie Rees, all Miss USA contestants have to sign a contract in which they are required to state whether there are any nude or semi-nude photos of them floating in cyberspace. She and Prejean both said their weren't. Both were either lying or forgot. Prejean's oversight was forgiven and she retained her title. Rees lost hers. I guess Prejean got lucky. Rees lost something that meant a lot to her.
It is likely Prejean just forgot, but I'm not getting into her morality here. The point I want to make is the permanency of cyberspace. It is so easy to forget that a photo here, a video there, a friend's snapshot of a drunken same-sex smooch at a college party, can and will come back to haunt you.
Ask your child, the one who screams when you accidentally invade their privacy in the bathroom, how they would feel if you, their parent, saw a picture of them naked on the computer? How about the neighbors, the family for whom they babysit, etc? If they give you the standard, "GROSS," don't miss the chance to follow up. Please remind your child that any pictures or videos of them will exist forever. Then also remind them that they may one day have a dispute with the person who retains control of the photos. That person may decide that Facebook, MySpace, or some other such Internet venue if the perfect place to exact their revenge.
Carrie Prejean is lucky for now. Her luck may change. Help keep your kid's luck in the right place.
Enjoy your day!
Monday, May 11, 2009
Bristol VS Levi
First, I want to say hello to my first follower! Hi! Thanks for reading. I hope you find my blog useful.
Now onto today's post. In the past few weeks, we've seen a lot of Bristol Palin and her baby's father, Levi Johnston. They've both made the rounds on various TV shows talking about teen parenting, each other, teen pregnancy, blah blah blah. All adults know that parenting is hard work. It is the never-ending, always challenging, mostly rewarding job for which your pay will not come in the form of a check. It will come in the kisses and hugs and love of your children. And if we do our job well, we will protect our children from having children before they are prepared.
I have never wavered from my position on Bristol Palin's pregnancy. I certainly agree with her that abstinence is the best way to avoid getting pregnant, but I will add that there is a responsibility of parents to be approachable and willing to discuss all issues relating to teen sex. I wonder if Sarah and Todd Palin did this?
On a recent episode of Oprah, there were two 14 year olds who were dating, along with their parents and the topic was sex. The two (barely) teenagers felt that their relationship had reached the point that they were ready to have sex. Oprah had a psychiatrist (?) on the show who asked the couple a few poignant questions. She first asked how long the two planned to be together. The girl said a long time. The boy said 6 months to a year which was very shocking to his girlfriend. In response to her horrified look, he said,"What? It is high school!"
Next, she asked how often they planned on having sex. Were they planning on having sex every time they could? The boy said he would leave that up to his girlfriend who had still not recovered from the love of her young life giving their relationship a death sentence.
The conversation went on with the kids but what I really appreciated about it was what the parents had to say. They clearly had spoken at length with their kids and recognized that if they wanted to have sex there was little that could be done to stop them. They made sure both kids knew the risks of disease and how effective different forms of birth control were. The boy's mother also said that she did everything she could to make sure the kids didn't have the opportunity to do anything while they were in her home, calling on friends and family to stop by unannounced in the afternoon before she came home from work.
Did these two extremely young kids have sex? Honestly, I don't know. I turned off the TV to make dinner or help with homework or some other parental task. I truly hope not. Here's what I learned though. Kids don't get sex. They don't understand the emotions that accompany it at all. They simply see it as a physical act. As parents, we need to ask the tough questions so they truly understand what they are getting themselves into. Here are some ideas for taking your next conversation about sex to the next level, thanks in part to Oprah.
1. Why do you want to have sex?
2. How long will you be together?
3. How often do you plan on having sex? Who will decide?
4. Who will be responsible for birth control (not you, by the way)?
5. If the girl does get pregnant, what will you do? Where will you live? How will you finish school? Who will care for the baby? Who will pay for the baby's needs?
As for Bristol and Levi, it is unclear what they are doing now. Bristol appears to be hitting the circuit as an ambassador of abstinence? Is this a paid job? Has she finished high school? Is she going to college? Is Levi able to see his son or is his relationship with the Palin's so fractured, he doesn't have the courage to be around them and therefore doesn't see his son?
Regardless of where they are, let their public drama become an example for you to share with your kids about how even the best intentions don't turn out the way people plan. Particularly people whose brains are still growing.
Enjoy your day!
Now onto today's post. In the past few weeks, we've seen a lot of Bristol Palin and her baby's father, Levi Johnston. They've both made the rounds on various TV shows talking about teen parenting, each other, teen pregnancy, blah blah blah. All adults know that parenting is hard work. It is the never-ending, always challenging, mostly rewarding job for which your pay will not come in the form of a check. It will come in the kisses and hugs and love of your children. And if we do our job well, we will protect our children from having children before they are prepared.
I have never wavered from my position on Bristol Palin's pregnancy. I certainly agree with her that abstinence is the best way to avoid getting pregnant, but I will add that there is a responsibility of parents to be approachable and willing to discuss all issues relating to teen sex. I wonder if Sarah and Todd Palin did this?
On a recent episode of Oprah, there were two 14 year olds who were dating, along with their parents and the topic was sex. The two (barely) teenagers felt that their relationship had reached the point that they were ready to have sex. Oprah had a psychiatrist (?) on the show who asked the couple a few poignant questions. She first asked how long the two planned to be together. The girl said a long time. The boy said 6 months to a year which was very shocking to his girlfriend. In response to her horrified look, he said,"What? It is high school!"
Next, she asked how often they planned on having sex. Were they planning on having sex every time they could? The boy said he would leave that up to his girlfriend who had still not recovered from the love of her young life giving their relationship a death sentence.
The conversation went on with the kids but what I really appreciated about it was what the parents had to say. They clearly had spoken at length with their kids and recognized that if they wanted to have sex there was little that could be done to stop them. They made sure both kids knew the risks of disease and how effective different forms of birth control were. The boy's mother also said that she did everything she could to make sure the kids didn't have the opportunity to do anything while they were in her home, calling on friends and family to stop by unannounced in the afternoon before she came home from work.
Did these two extremely young kids have sex? Honestly, I don't know. I turned off the TV to make dinner or help with homework or some other parental task. I truly hope not. Here's what I learned though. Kids don't get sex. They don't understand the emotions that accompany it at all. They simply see it as a physical act. As parents, we need to ask the tough questions so they truly understand what they are getting themselves into. Here are some ideas for taking your next conversation about sex to the next level, thanks in part to Oprah.
1. Why do you want to have sex?
2. How long will you be together?
3. How often do you plan on having sex? Who will decide?
4. Who will be responsible for birth control (not you, by the way)?
5. If the girl does get pregnant, what will you do? Where will you live? How will you finish school? Who will care for the baby? Who will pay for the baby's needs?
As for Bristol and Levi, it is unclear what they are doing now. Bristol appears to be hitting the circuit as an ambassador of abstinence? Is this a paid job? Has she finished high school? Is she going to college? Is Levi able to see his son or is his relationship with the Palin's so fractured, he doesn't have the courage to be around them and therefore doesn't see his son?
Regardless of where they are, let their public drama become an example for you to share with your kids about how even the best intentions don't turn out the way people plan. Particularly people whose brains are still growing.
Enjoy your day!
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