What's with all the pregnant teens?!?

[!SoBusy!]

I think I've seen 10 question in the last few minutes from pregnant teenage girls! What the heck is going on?! Are we, as mother and fathers, failing our children by not educating them more? Are parents and children so disconnected that they can't even talk about sexuality PRIOR to becoming pregnant? Do these teenagers just simply not care and think they are bullet-proof (or semen-proof)? I just don't get it. It sincerely makes me so sad to see so many young, desperate, pregnant girls asking complete strangers for help rather than their own parents......I'm interested to see what some of the "young pregnant girls" will say in response to this question. Did you get pregnant because you just didn't care to use protection? Were you just not educated on the subject? Did you become pregnant to rebel? I know that there are God awful people in the world who take advantage of young girls. Its not those young girls that I am talking about though.Breezer: Yes! I would be disappointed in my child, but I would also be disappointed in myself. I'd always wonder if I could have done more to educate them and "protect" them.I'm not "blaming" anyone. I'm just asking. I included both parents AND teens in this question. Like one person said, some parents preach until they are blue in the face and the kids just choose not to listen. I know that some families simply don't discuss sexuality at all though. I'm just feel so sad for these girls. I hope this situation never occurs with my kids. If it does, I'll be as supportive as humanly possible (after the initial shock).Thanks for your GREAT answers! I think most of you are right. The parents can lecture for the rest of their lives or not discuss it at all, and people are going to be curious. Period. It just happens, I know this, and its not necessarily bad. Beautiful children and wonderful families are created. I'm glad to hear that teen pregnancy is decreasing though.Hannah: I'm 24, so no, I'm not "too old" to remember. I had a great relationship with my mother. We had a very open line of communication. I was scared to death of my father though. I DO remember being scared, but if I truly needed help, I knew my parents were the best place for it.I've never responded so much. lol Sorry.

[chik7896]

A parent can preach and preach to their children about sex until they are blue in the face. This does not mean a child will listen to them. You can't sit here and blame these kids parents and say they are "failing" their children. When kids walk out of the door, they do not have a parent with them at all times. Kids can make their own decisions and sometimes those descisions just aren't the right ones. I am a parent myself, and I will do my best to raise my daughter the right way, but I will not blame myself if something like this happens to her. At least I will know what I did was right.

[Storm]

I was 19 when I had my son so I guess I could have still been considered a "teen". Back when I was young condoms were not "cool". Very few people I knew used them. As I got older I made darn sure that I used them.Nowadays though I heard that teen pregnancy was down but STD's were up. The younger generation has been having more oral than intercourse.As for thinking they are bullet proof, yes, I think they do believe that. I know when I was in my younger teens I thought that nothing could ever happen to me. I would have never gone to my parents first if I had been pregnant at 15.

[RRK]

If a child under 18 gets pregnant, it's the parents' fault. Period.This happens when single, working mothers think it's okay to stay ill-informed, put their kids in daycare and accept no responsibility for their actions. Amazing.

[Allicia T]

I Had Been With My Boyfriend For A While, We Had Sex And I Found Out I Was Pregnant. I Was Only 14 And Was Really Scare But Would Never Have An Abortion!!!! I Misscarried MY Little Girl At 4 And A Half Months (thats the First my paents new of it) And I Was Just As Upset As A 30Year Old Mother 2 Be Would Have Been!! My Parents Brought Me Up In A Good Home And I Was Well Educated But It Happened. Teenagers Come On Here To Ask People They Dont Know Questions, Which They Feel Safe About Doing As They Dont Feel Stupid And Know Nobody They Know Will Find Out. A Teenager That Is Pregnant And Doesnt Want To Be Are Scared And Need People To Answer There Questions And Help Them Not Judge Them. So I Suggest You Dont Read Or Answer There Question Then It Wont Get To You!!