Re: "A New Baby BOOM!"

The following is my impromptu response to Rebecca Newell's column titled "A New Baby BOOM!", which can be found here: The Rebecca Review.

At the start I must state that I see a problem with lumping 18- and 19-year olds with the younger teens. I realize there is no magic barrier that kids hit when they turn 18 to turn them into true adults, but where do you draw the line, when obviously a line needs to be drawn?

I would certainly agree that more emphasis needs be placed upon responsible sexual activity and less upon abstinence. Yes, the latter needs to be addressed, but putting the sole emphasis on that really doesn't do any good and can in fact do much harm.

On the other hand, to the comment that they should be learning to manage time, checkbook, etc., instead of the tasks that comprise child-rearing, I think this solely lies with the person in question. Certainly I can agree that it doesn't appear in the best interest of those not yet graduated from high school to be having children, but for those who have and are of legal age to vote, why shouldn't they have children if that's what they so desire? To add one's own values to the life of another is unjust. Because one values education and the social scene more than a (possibly) marital relationship and children--at a given age--means that those with the children must be missing out, perhaps one some vital life lesson? From my perspective having to balance a checkbook (which most must learn when having children) and budget, children's activities schedules, meal-making and feeding, and diaper changes is a pretty good life lesson. Not to mention one that teaches you time management. Either way it's learned in the same manner: trial and error.

As I indicated, I'm shooting from the hip here, so I'm certain I've missed something, or perhaps not delved deeply enough into one point or another. But on the other hand, I'm not a college graduate, have never taken any class outside the high school walls. I should also add that while I wasn't one of those who had three children by the age of 20, I had three before age 24. And that four year interim? Yeah, I didn't do much that would fall under the "learning" department.

(Also let me say that I've enjoyed reading your other posts in addition to the one to which I'm responding.)