Voicing Concerns Over Teen Pregnancy

While wrestling with the idea of becoming a single mother, I often wondered: Because I am a college-educated, professional woman, was there really any difference between me and a prospective teen-age mom? After all, in the final analysis, my main reason for wanting to become a mother was to love somebody.

After I had my daughter, I came to realize that teen motherhood is a disaster because it is only a popular myth that teens want somebody to love. On the contrary, teens have babies in an attempt to create someone who will love them.

If you can still truly love somebody who wakes you up from sleep every few hours for several months, who depends on you for their health, safety and amusement, and who might not say “thank you” or “I love you” until a few years into the relationship, only then should anyone consider motherhood.

BEVERLY J. SCHNEIDER, President

Single Mothers by Choice

Los Angeles