Welcome to Cascade.

I am 22 years old and I have two kids. To most this wouldn’t be a shock, because now a days most do have kids very early, before they should. They have kids before they know what it means to be a parent or all the hard work that goes into being a parent. I just ask myself sometimes; why would you choose to give up your freedom? Why would you rush to have so much responsibility? You maybe saying I am a hypocrite because I just stated that I, myself have two kids. But that couldn’t be further from the truth, You see my mother passed away a few years ago and I had to step up to take care of my sister and brother. My sister is 17, now and my brother is 13. So as you now see I didn’t choose this big responsibility. I was given it.

Now back to my question; why would you give up your freedom voluntarily?

I have so many family members who started early and their kids followed in their footsteps. Its a cycle that continues through the generations and no seems to think this is a problem? Some times I feel like even in my own family they praise this behavior. Its so backwards because the kids are the one who suffers once the novelty of being pregnant and having a baby wears off. Then neglect comes in, abuse, etc. because the young person realizes playing house is not as much fun as they thought and their babies dad isn’t interested anymore. And who suffers from all of this? why the child of course.

Having been put in this situation, I don’t understand the urgency girls now a days feel to get pregnant before they finish high school, before they think about college. Do they not think about the future of themselves or their child? I firmly believe that it should be required for girls and guys who want to have a baby, take a parenting class. So that before they decide they want a child, they will be fully informed of what it requires to be a successful and responsible parent. It takes a lot of patience and understanding. I am still learning and it is not easy always having to put others before yourself. But I do it because I love my sister and brother and they are excellent kids. And I know that no one could do a better job than me.

So what is my purpose for writing this blog? That’s simple. I just want all the young girls out there to know that they should enjoy their childhood as long as they can because only get one. And it goes by fast as it is; but once you give up that freedom it is gone. Children are a blessing, but wait as long as you can. It will be that much more gratifying if you do.

-NikSTAR™