Balancing Discipline and Compassion: A Parent’s Guide to Teen Pregnancy

The world is changing drastically, especially amongst the new generations, who are addressed as Gen Z and Gen Alpha. It's quite disheartening to see that most of them don't behave in a morally upright manner anymore, disobeying parents orders and doing things that go against moral ethics. This can be annoying to parents, leading them to take actions that sometimes they won't be pleased with, and today I'll be exploring how I'll react to such as a parent.

As stated in this week's prompt, my daughter, who's supposed to be in her first year, disobeyed all of my teachings and guidance and went on to get impregnated. How will I react? This is disheartening news for some parents to find out that their child, whom they've been trying to groom in an upright way, goes on to become wayward to the point of being impregnated. Such brings a shame to not just the child but even the parents, who might be viewed by others as bad parents who didn't play their role well towards their children.

Personally, learning of such will get me really angry. I mean, how won't I be? I can't even imagine how such would be acceptable in a calm manner, because I'm the type who's known to always educate kids around me about their bodies, what's right and what's wrong, as well as the need to abstain from sexual urges and instead focus on their academics.

Like I said, no parents will be happy about such a news, and given what I've seen and how some parents have dealt with such in the past, I remember during my secondary school days, one of my female classmates got pregnant back then, and the way her dad reacted was so surprising. The way learning of the news got really angry, at first he flogged her mercilessly, after which he sent her out of his house.

The man literally told the girl that he has disowned her and doesn't want to have anything to do with her again. Even though the mother pleaded, the father refused, and at the end of the day, the girl had to leave the house and stay with her mother's family. That affected her life because after giving birth, the one who impregnated her is too young and doesn't have anything to do, meaning she's on her own, and that's how her education ended.

Although I don't know how her life turns out presently, given how her situation turns out, I won't want the same for my daughter. Even though I'll be angry and make it known to her, still after my time of anger, I'll still need to show her love as parents. Regardless of what happens, she's still my daughter, and as humans, mistakes are bound to happen, so we can't, because of mistakes, throw them away.

One thing I'll let her know is that her act or going against my teachings is wrong and let her understand some of the consequences such could lead to if I refuse to take her as mine again after the incident, but for my love for her, I'll make her understand her mistakes and make sure she never falls into such again.

And most of all, take charge of the child and let her focus on her academics. I won't be letting her go into a relationship with whoever impregnates her; if at all they love each other, that must come to a total halt or pause till she takes her life and academics seriously; thereafter, they can proceed with their relationship if they still love, and if not, she can go into another with whoever she loves.

All photos are mine.