The Invisible 22%The Invisible 22%

Academic & Social Support for Academic & Social Support for Pregnant & Parenting TeensPregnant & Parenting Teens

Teen Births in IllinoisTeen Births in Illinois• Peoria CountyPeoria County

13.3%13.3%• Tazewell CountyTazewell County

8.8%8.8% Teen Births in the U.S.Teen Births in the U.S.

• 41.9 births per 1000 teens41.9 births per 1000 teens

Possible ResourcesPossible Resources

Real StoryReal Story

• Well, I just want to tell my story of how I got pregnant and how I live my life today. Well, I just want to tell my story of how I got pregnant and how I live my life today. When I was 13 years old I meat this guy. He was much older than me, and at first I When I was 13 years old I meat this guy. He was much older than me, and at first I didn't like him, but as time passed by I kind of "fell in love" with him. He was about didn't like him, but as time passed by I kind of "fell in love" with him. He was about 27 and I was 13. I know what you're thinking - what the heck is a thirteen-year-old 27 and I was 13. I know what you're thinking - what the heck is a thirteen-year-old girl doing with a 27-year-old guy? I was probably desperate to runaway from my girl doing with a 27-year-old guy? I was probably desperate to runaway from my problems at home, and I didn't know I was getting into a deeper problem. My family problems at home, and I didn't know I was getting into a deeper problem. My family was O.K. with the relationship, and we were about to get married (with the consent was O.K. with the relationship, and we were about to get married (with the consent of my mother of course) when I had a problem with my new step-dad. I couldn't stand of my mother of course) when I had a problem with my new step-dad. I couldn't stand him. My boyfriend proposed to run away. We were still going to get married, or at him. My boyfriend proposed to run away. We were still going to get married, or at least that's what he said. So one day, I ran away with him. We had the apartment least that's what he said. So one day, I ran away with him. We had the apartment and all the basic necessities. After like two months I became pregnant, at the age of and all the basic necessities. After like two months I became pregnant, at the age of thirteen years old. I wasn't even finished 7th grade! I decided to have my baby. thirteen years old. I wasn't even finished 7th grade! I decided to have my baby. (Don't ask me why. I don't know.) He ended up cheating on me. I spent six and a half (Don't ask me why. I don't know.) He ended up cheating on me. I spent six and a half years with this person until I finally decided to end my relationship. I went to school years with this person until I finally decided to end my relationship. I went to school pregnant. All the looks I got, all the comments I received, really affected my life. But pregnant. All the looks I got, all the comments I received, really affected my life. But I finished junior high and I was on my way to high school. While my friends were I finished junior high and I was on my way to high school. While my friends were thinking on going out to the movies, I had to think about making dinner and thinking on going out to the movies, I had to think about making dinner and changing diapers. It was hard, but I did it. I didn't give up. I had to wake up at six changing diapers. It was hard, but I did it. I didn't give up. I had to wake up at six a.m. to change the baby, dress up, and go to school. I had to be at the bus stop by a.m. to change the baby, dress up, and go to school. I had to be at the bus stop by seven to be in school at 8:15 a.m. (They had childcare in the school, but only if you seven to be in school at 8:15 a.m. (They had childcare in the school, but only if you maintained a good academic grade.) I had to go through childcare, homework, maintained a good academic grade.) I had to go through childcare, homework, uniforms, and all the rest of that stuff. I was a full-time student and worked part-uniforms, and all the rest of that stuff. I was a full-time student and worked part-time, and still had to come home and take care of my son. I graduated high school time, and still had to come home and take care of my son. I graduated high school with the Class of 1998 with all my friends. I'm currently a college student in with the Class of 1998 with all my friends. I'm currently a college student in California, working toward my accounting degree, and I'm also working full time for a California, working toward my accounting degree, and I'm also working full time for a law firm. I just turned twenty and I have a five-year-old boy that waits for me to get law firm. I just turned twenty and I have a five-year-old boy that waits for me to get home and give me a kiss, and say "I love you mommy." My message to all the teens home and give me a kiss, and say "I love you mommy." My message to all the teens out there is to never give up, you can make it. Hang on - life is hard, but in the long out there is to never give up, you can make it. Hang on - life is hard, but in the long run, it's worth it. Good luck!run, it's worth it. Good luck!

Teen MomsTeen Moms

Pregnant CheerleaderPregnant Cheerleader well i was always the good girl. I never did drugs or drank. In my junior year of high school i even made my schools well i was always the good girl. I never did drugs or drank. In my junior year of high school i even made my schools

cheer squad.And i was with my boyfriend of 4 years.i was so happy i thought i had everything. cheer squad.And i was with my boyfriend of 4 years.i was so happy i thought i had everything. in october 2007 we had sex after his schools dance and we thought nothing will happen cause we almost never used in october 2007 we had sex after his schools dance and we thought nothing will happen cause we almost never used protection and nothing ever happened. later that month we had broken up. then suddenly at cheer practice i started protection and nothing ever happened. later that month we had broken up. then suddenly at cheer practice i started feeling sick and one of my friends took me to the bathroom and i started vomiting. I thought i was just tired.And i felt feeling sick and one of my friends took me to the bathroom and i started vomiting. I thought i was just tired.And i felt really sick again at a football game while i was cheering. really sick again at a football game while i was cheering. I started thinking oh my god i think im pregnant. i asked one fo my friends to get me a I started thinking oh my god i think im pregnant. i asked one fo my friends to get me a homehome test. and i did two of them test. and i did two of them and they both came out positive.i was in shock so i decide to tell my ex and he thought i was lying to him so i could i get and they both came out positive.i was in shock so i decide to tell my ex and he thought i was lying to him so i could i get get back with him.so one day we had an appointment and he came with me . he then tells me that he wants to be in get back with him.so one day we had an appointment and he came with me . he then tells me that he wants to be in that babys life and he wants to get back with me.but the thing was he had an other girlfriend. so later that day when the that babys life and he wants to get back with me.but the thing was he had an other girlfriend. so later that day when the clinics test confirmed that i was really pregnant he broke up with his other girlfriend. clinics test confirmed that i was really pregnant he broke up with his other girlfriend. months go by and everything is going fine hes supporting me and we finally told my mom. at first she was mad but now months go by and everything is going fine hes supporting me and we finally told my mom. at first she was mad but now she accepts it. and right now im currently 31 weeks and i'm having a she accepts it. and right now im currently 31 weeks and i'm having a babybaby boy.but recently my boyfriend is acting really boy.but recently my boyfriend is acting really different . he rather be with his friends and when we do talk on the phone its like he doesnt care and its like i have to different . he rather be with his friends and when we do talk on the phone its like he doesnt care and its like i have to force him to talk to me. and im really tired of it and he complains about how im annoying and basically tells that hes force him to talk to me. and im really tired of it and he complains about how im annoying and basically tells that hes tired of me. tired of me. so i dont know wat to do should i leave him after 4 years and pregnant with his son or stay with him but when hes not so i dont know wat to do should i leave him after 4 years and pregnant with his son or stay with him but when hes not even happy with me. im really afraid to do everything on my own. i thought he was going to be there with me. so i dont even happy with me. im really afraid to do everything on my own. i thought he was going to be there with me. so i dont know wat to do. all i want is my son and im impatiently waiting 2 months for him to come already. even though some know wat to do. all i want is my son and im impatiently waiting 2 months for him to come already. even though some people stopped talking to me and even my cheer squad act like they dont know me. so i guess i have to put my head people stopped talking to me and even my cheer squad act like they dont know me. so i guess i have to put my head up. up. GabyGaby

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You Cannot Now But Be AfraidYou Cannot Now But Be Afraid You cannot now but be afraidYou cannot now but be afraid

Of all that you might lose,Of all that you might lose,And curse the granite circumstanceAnd curse the granite circumstanceThat forces you to choose.That forces you to choose. You are too young, a child yourself,You are too young, a child yourself,As I am, too, and yetAs I am, too, and yetThere is a child between us, whomThere is a child between us, whomWe cannot just forget.We cannot just forget.

This child - our child - has no one elseThis child - our child - has no one elseTo be its only father.To be its only father.Others may be guardians,Others may be guardians,But you can be no other.But you can be no other. This fact will not relent, though batteredThis fact will not relent, though batteredHard by bitter tears.Hard by bitter tears.Time moves only forward asTime moves only forward asOur yearnings turn to years.Our yearnings turn to years. And everything we've wanted turnsAnd everything we've wanted turnsTo what we must accept,To what we must accept,And what we'd least relinquish comesAnd what we'd least relinquish comesFrom what we most regret.From what we most regret. I do not ask to live with youI do not ask to live with youOr ever be your wife;Or ever be your wife;Only that you share the giftOnly that you share the giftAnd burden of a lifeAnd burden of a life That waits upon your willing loveThat waits upon your willing loveTo greet its upturned faceTo greet its upturned faceThat it might twist your heart with joyThat it might twist your heart with joyAnd unimagined grace.And unimagined grace.

http://www.poemsforfree.com/youcan.htmlhttp://www.poemsforfree.com/youcan.html

Teen DadsTeen Dads

Abortion ?Abortion ? im 15 and still in high school. around febuary 2008 i met a guy. luis. he was just supposed to im 15 and still in high school. around febuary 2008 i met a guy. luis. he was just supposed to

be a rebound. so i thought. i ended up be a rebound. so i thought. i ended up getting pregnantgetting pregnant, and he ended up not really carinq. he , and he ended up not really carinq. he told me to get an abortion cause he wouldent be around. i broke into tears, cause secretly i feel told me to get an abortion cause he wouldent be around. i broke into tears, cause secretly i feel in love with him. i told my parents i was pregnant my dad tried to hit me, than he called me a in love with him. i told my parents i was pregnant my dad tried to hit me, than he called me a slut and told me to leave the house. my step mom called me dumb. the only person i had in my slut and told me to leave the house. my step mom called me dumb. the only person i had in my life was my ex, and he knew i was pregnant by another man and he told me he wanted to take life was my ex, and he knew i was pregnant by another man and he told me he wanted to take full responsibillity for me and the baby. i told my dad i needed a plane ticket and that he'd full responsibillity for me and the baby. i told my dad i needed a plane ticket and that he'd never have to see me again. he told me to get in tthe car. we drove for hours. and finally never have to see me again. he told me to get in tthe car. we drove for hours. and finally stopped at a clinic in miami downtown. we stepped inside and he told the lady at the front stopped at a clinic in miami downtown. we stepped inside and he told the lady at the front desk we were there for an abortion. i paniced not knowinq what to do. i went through the desk we were there for an abortion. i paniced not knowinq what to do. i went through the abortion. and my ex boyfreind alex? he ended up leaving me. so now i'm on deppresion pills abortion. and my ex boyfreind alex? he ended up leaving me. so now i'm on deppresion pills and spend most days smoking pot and crying. if i could go back in time i'd stop myself from and spend most days smoking pot and crying. if i could go back in time i'd stop myself from getting the abortion just to please my dad. even after i got the abortion, he treats me like shit. i getting the abortion just to please my dad. even after i got the abortion, he treats me like shit. i wake up everday thinking about my unborn child that i killed, than i wish death upon myself. wake up everday thinking about my unborn child that i killed, than i wish death upon myself.

JaelJael

http://www.pregnancystories.net/single_moms/index1.htmlhttp://www.pregnancystories.net/single_moms/index1.html

Babies of Teen ParentsBabies of Teen Parents

Mother of 4 and 19 years oldMother of 4 and 19 years old I had known my children's father for 10 years before I got I had known my children's father for 10 years before I got pregnantpregnant. When I had both of my children, . When I had both of my children,

Gabriel (2-9-05) and Alyssa (1-15-06), I finally realized he never really loved me, much less, like me. Gabriel (2-9-05) and Alyssa (1-15-06), I finally realized he never really loved me, much less, like me. He used to hit me while I was pregnant and while I was holding my son. When he finally left me, it He used to hit me while I was pregnant and while I was holding my son. When he finally left me, it was because he had gotten another girl pregnant, I never thought I would find a man who would was because he had gotten another girl pregnant, I never thought I would find a man who would love me and my children, like this man SHOULD HAVE!!! love me and my children, like this man SHOULD HAVE!!! But I am very lucky. I had my son at 15 and my daughter 11 months later at 16. I did finish school, I But I am very lucky. I had my son at 15 and my daughter 11 months later at 16. I did finish school, I felt like I had to throw something in everyones face. But that wasn't good enough. felt like I had to throw something in everyones face. But that wasn't good enough. I am now 19 years old with two beautiful children. I did graduate high school and I am now in my I am now 19 years old with two beautiful children. I did graduate high school and I am now in my 2nd semester of college. I am very happily married to a man that I never thought I could love, 2nd semester of college. I am very happily married to a man that I never thought I could love, named David. He isn't my children's biological father, but he is definitely their REAL father. He loves named David. He isn't my children's biological father, but he is definitely their REAL father. He loves them as if they were his own. We recently got married on January 25, 2008. them as if they were his own. We recently got married on January 25, 2008. Everyone always told me that I would ruin my live, and I know and believe that having children, Everyone always told me that I would ruin my live, and I know and believe that having children, saved my life. I am the happiest woman alive, and that is what I throw in everyones face. TAKE saved my life. I am the happiest woman alive, and that is what I throw in everyones face. TAKE THAT EDWIN!!! I'm finally happy and you can't bring me down!!! HA!!! THAT EDWIN!!! I'm finally happy and you can't bring me down!!! HA!!! Princess Reyes-HawkinsPrincess Reyes-Hawkins

http://www.pregnancystories.net/single_moms/index2.htmlhttp://www.pregnancystories.net/single_moms/index2.html