Parenting
...70's was an aftermath of free spirited loving. Those of us who were too young to really understand that there were responsibilities that went hand in hand with the freedom would face the consequences. Society coined the phrase, "in trouble." At the age of 14 I was a girl in trouble, and again at the age of 16. By the age of 18 I was responsible for three children who would be a part of tomorrow's future. Reflecting back on the past 27 years, it is difficult to discern between the teaching as a parent and the learning as a parent. There have been volumes written about parenting and the different stages of child development. Some of the key points that have been a real learning process for me are planning and social adjustment, self-esteem, discipline, multiple roles of the parent, and the thrill of the teenage years.
Planning and Social Adjustments.
The first major impact of parenting on my life was the social adjustment that was necessary. Failure to plan for parenthood would account for some major adjustments in my life.
Concrete Experience. Planning for the birth of my first child was an overwhelming experience, especially because it was an unplanned pregnancy. The first priority was to find a physician that would provide prenatal care. I was considered high risk, and was not enthusiastically greeted by more than one physician. Legally, I was not old enough to receive medical treatment with out parental consent, requiring my mother to take an active role in working through some of the legal problems. Doctors told me that there were places for girls like me and recommend that I go there. This was only the beginning of what could be considered social out-casting. I was a child about to learn the cold hard truth about the realities of socially unacceptable behavior.
The next lesson would come from the educational institution. When...
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