Feature Article Teenage Pregnancy
PREGNANT AT 15
Being a parent can be very tough, as a parent has to juggle the responsibilities of working, having a social life, coping financially and taking care of a baby all at a same time. Teenage parents struggle even more, as they face difficulties with coping financially, finding someone to take care of the baby when they are at work or at school, having little to no sleep, while worrying about finishing their education. Kate Atkins-Portman talks to journalist Chloe Chow about her life as a teen mother.
I WAS FIFTEEN WITH TWINS. “On the night of my Year 10 formal I slept with my boyfriend of three years, Cameron.” Kate said. “Around Christmas/New Year, I felt sick and missed a period. It didn’t think too much of it because my period usually comes at very odd times. A week later, my older sister took me to the doctors for a check-up because of how sick I was feeling. The doctor did some tests. I was pregnant. I was shocked and didn’t know what to do. My sister hugged me and told me that everything would be ok.
When I went back home, I told my parents. They were surprised, as I was a model student who got straight A’s, joined dance groups, choir, musicals, social justice groups and tennis. My parents never thought that I would ever get pregnant. They were both disappointed but my mum hugged me for a long time and my dad kept telling me that I should’ve been careful. Afterwards, we talked about the situation and decided that I would keep the baby.
The next day I told Cameron about my pregnancy and he didn’t take the news too well and left without saying anything. I was extremely upset, but I didn’t let it get to me, as I had my sister and my parents to help me through this situation.
Few days after I told Cameron, I went out with my two best friends Hanna and Maddie and told them the news. They were surprised but tremendously supportive. When I returned to school, I was 4 months pregnant and people started calling me names. But I was lucky to have both
Being a parent can be very tough, as a parent has to juggle the responsibilities of working, having a social life, coping financially and taking care of a baby all at a same time. Teenage parents struggle even more, as they face difficulties with coping financially, finding someone to take care of the baby when they are at work or at school, having little to no sleep, while worrying about finishing their education. Kate Atkins-Portman talks to journalist Chloe Chow about her life as a teen mother.
I WAS FIFTEEN WITH TWINS. “On the night of my Year 10 formal I slept with my boyfriend of three years, Cameron.” Kate said. “Around Christmas/New Year, I felt sick and missed a period. It didn’t think too much of it because my period usually comes at very odd times. A week later, my older sister took me to the doctors for a check-up because of how sick I was feeling. The doctor did some tests. I was pregnant. I was shocked and didn’t know what to do. My sister hugged me and told me that everything would be ok.
When I went back home, I told my parents. They were surprised, as I was a model student who got straight A’s, joined dance groups, choir, musicals, social justice groups and tennis. My parents never thought that I would ever get pregnant. They were both disappointed but my mum hugged me for a long time and my dad kept telling me that I should’ve been careful. Afterwards, we talked about the situation and decided that I would keep the baby.
The next day I told Cameron about my pregnancy and he didn’t take the news too well and left without saying anything. I was extremely upset, but I didn’t let it get to me, as I had my sister and my parents to help me through this situation.
Few days after I told Cameron, I went out with my two best friends Hanna and Maddie and told them the news. They were surprised but tremendously supportive. When I returned to school, I was 4 months pregnant and people started calling me names. But I was lucky to have both