Whatever New Trend it is . . . (Minor Thoughts #5)

Can you consider something a trend if it just keeps happening over and over again? Isn't that called an epidemic? I believe it is. I felt like I should say something because not all adults understand what we (preteens, teens, and young adults) have to deal with on a regular basis. I like to give people the benefit of the doubt. Try to refrain from my cynical views of people and give them a chance. But I absolutely cannot justify the actions of people who can't seem to understand that being pregnant is not what's hot in the streets! There are a lot of various trends out there. Multiple ways to express your "individuality" by following the group other than having a baby because everyone else seems to have one. Reading this, how many people can you think of that is either pregnant, or has been pregnant before the age of 20? I can think of many, and I'm not judging them for their decisions, I just question their motives.

Before I get told off and cursed out, I want to say that if you are, indeed, 20 or under, and you have made a conscious decision to bring new life into this world by whatever means, then I support you 100%. As long as you can be the best parent to that child and can keep your mind focused on your future, by all means, more power to you. I am talking to those, "Ooops! I'm pregnant!" individuals. The ones who have friends or cousins or people at their school pregnant, yet, not learn anything from the mistakes made. How stupid is that?! How stupid is it to think that it can't happen to you if you choose to use no protection, no contraception, and no morning after pill?! There are too many ways to NOT get pregnant out there for you to claim that you have fallen victim. If you haven't noticed, I just killed the whole "the condom broke" argument, so don't go there with me. Believe me, I am not here trying to convince anyone to be abstinent. Because humans have humans needs. But, why is it that because of your 30 minutes (if you were lucky) of "pleasure" has turned into a lifetime sacrifice? People have heard me say that pregnancy is the worst STD you can get. And I don't say that to say that babies ruin people's lives, but I say that because you could have ruined your life, as well as the babies. Unplanned pregnancy can cause regret, neglect, denial, stress, depression, and many, many other ailments for the rest of that child's life. I couldn't imagine bringing a child into this world with no reasonable means of taking care of it with the full reach of my resources. I never went without, so neither shall my child. I'm getting a good education, and so shall my child. How can you provide your child with what you had when after you had it, your life stopped? You can't give what you never had, but you can point them in the right direction.

So this brings me to my point: This is not new. We have all grown up around babies, seen someone take care of a baby, or even heard about how difficult it is, yet, you still "end-up" pregnant? We are so quick to say that our parents should trust us, and we're smart enough to make the right decisions, yet, when given the chance, we mess up. And I'm starting to think it's not even a mistake anymore. I believe that some people are getting pregnant just because they know someone else is. Pregnant women get attention, they get support (albeit temporary), and they have an everlasting link with that father that got them pregnant. A child is not a tattoo, a child is not that new cell phone, a child is not the new dance, a child is not the newest saying, a child is not the new way we wear our hair, a child is a lifetime commitment to a mistake you made because you thought it would be cool. I'm not here to preach. I'm just wondering if you sincerely wanted to bring life into this world, if it was an honest accident, or if because babies are the newest accessory to our "swag".

You all think about that, and you talk to the younger members of the family that are discovering what we've known for years now. You know how it was, you have an idea of what they're thinking, so please try to help them out a bit. I think I need to take more responsibility with my nieces and nephews and younger cousins, and family friends to let them know the difference between having sex and making love and everything that comes with it. Until next time, for the children's sake, don't be a failure!!!