It is utterly amazing the lengths that some will go to in order to be loved. Undoubtedly by now you have heard about the pregnancy outbreak amongst the teenage girls at Gloucester High School in Massachusetts (article here). The outcries have taken the expected routes: "Media has glorified teenage motherhood via the Spears girl"; "Birth control needs to be more accessible"; "the sex ed classes weren't taught well enough"; "there needs to be a closer womens health facility(the nearest one is 20 miles away)."
The school authorities want to take a biological solution, offering contraceptives to students without parental consent. The parents want to hand out more knowledge. The girls want attention; and former students/now mothers want programs.
What do they need?
One girl named Ireland who is now 18 offered this explanation to explain the pregnancies: "They're excited to finally have someone love them unconditionally." Meaning their babies will love them, trust them, and depend on them. The unconditional love and acceptance of another human is what they crave...and they like much of society, have considered love to be a drastic measure that only surrounds dire circumstances. When love is not found, it is sought elsewhere, in this case through babies.
The lengths that some will go to in order to find love.
Sometimes we hear the problems our kids are facing and quietly relive the simplistic days of our own youth. The next time you sit and listen to your kids, quietly imagine the pressure and problems that they currently face.
Listen more, talk less.
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