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Home › Articles › Preparing for Pregnancy › Too Young?

Too Young?

Are You Too Young to Be a Parent?

By Shel Franco

Pages:  1  2  3  

  • You have a smaller chance of developing certain pregnancy-related conditions such as diabetes, high blood pressure and placenta previa.

    • With all of these physical benefits on your side, you might wonder why anyone wouldn't want to conceive at a young age.

    Emotional Factors
    Dr. Margaret Paul, relationship expert and best selling author, does not deny the physical benefits of having children young. She does, however, have a few reservations on the emotional side.

    "The parents are young and full of energy, and children do take a lot of energy," says Dr. Paul. "The mother's body is young and healthy and well-equipped for child-bearing, but not necessarily for child-rearing."

    Dr. Paul believes that being a responsible and loving parent is something that comes with "inner work," knowing how to meet your own needs so that you can meet the needs of another. According to Dr. Paul, many adults between the ages of 19 and 22 find parenting an attractive way to define themselves, because they do not know how to be fulfilled on their own. In other words, they are having children early to get fulfillment rather than to give love.

    "The ideal time to have children is when both parents feel fulfilled within themselves, have a loving relationship between them, and feel they have a lot of love to give," says Dr. Paul.

    Social Factors
    A good relationship with your partner is important, but so are friends. Sit in on any playgroup, and it's not hard to see that some young mothers are missing out. Playgrounds and indoor gyms are packed with moms and kids. While it's a great opportunity for children to interact with kids their own age, the same can not be said for the mothers.


    Pages:  1  2  3  

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