Take a moment and imagine life without a father or having a father that was absent most of your life. Believe it or not it happens in so many people's lives and it happens to children that have teenage parents as well. The fathers often go unnoticed in teenage pregnancies, we focus on the mother and baby and their needs, but remember a father is impacted as well and they need advice and help too, they also have rights to see their child/children. An unmarried father has the visiting and custody rights a long with the responsibility of child support and caring for the child/children while he is taking care of them.
FACTS ABOUT TEEN FATHERS
• they are less likely to finish high school then their peers
• 8 out of 10 teen fathers do not marry the mother of their child
• according to Lifeline Family Center only 20% of teen fathers marry the baby's mother
• teen fathers (married or unmarried) are required to pay child support until the child is 18 years old
• teen fathers are always older than the mothers by a few months or even a year
When you hear the words "teen parent" your mind automatically pictures a teen mother right? But what about the father? In shows about teen pregnancies the whole point is focused on the mother and her struggles with the child and even though the fathers are filmed they do not show how they are impacted. Fathers care and need advice and help just as much as the mothers do, that is in fact their child as well.
ADVICE FOR FATHERS
• show that you will be involved in your child's life before they are even born, even if the mother and you are no pager together
• definitely be there for your child and the child's mother after the child is born
• be able to have a stable job that can help out with the child/children expense
• enjoy watching your child grow up fast before your eyes, you will be proud you chose to be in his/her life
I liked how you gave the fathers multiple ways to help cope with a situation like this one.
Reply
Julia Maldonado
11/30/2014 11:47:28 am
I really liked how you gave the fathers advice. You didnt focus on just the teen mom, you focused on the teen dad. Great job.
Reply
Remi Garza
12/7/2014 12:51:15 pm
Wow, it must be so hard to grow up like that, it makes me wonder, if adolescents were better educated on sex and what they are getting into, would the amount of teen parents drop? I like the teen dad thing because it is always teen mom this, teen mom that. Nice job.