Welcome to my new blog.!!! My name is Shira Dillon and I am a high school teacher in Los Angeles, CA. This blog will explore the mind and life of teenagers today and help adults better connect with them. Please come by often or subscribe so you can receive these bogs by email. And don't forget to like my FB page www.facebook.com/ParentsTeachersandTeens to unite with me to help public education become a better institution of learning. Our children need it!
I have taught in middle and high schools in the Mid-West in the state of Indiana and on the West Coast in the state of California and there is one topic that has always been the same. Sex! Students in both middle and high schools are having sex and many of these kids are becoming pregnant. I have taught grades 6th-12th and I have had students to become pregnant every single year in every single grade. I have known stories of fifth grade girls in elementary becoming pregnant, and I can honestly say that I hardly ever meet the parents of these pregnant kids. When I do get a chance to meet the parents, they are often very nice, well to do people, who always say the same thing. "I Never Thought This Could Happen To My Child!"
The truth is teen pregnancy is not a "bad kid" issue. It's just an issue. Unexpected pregnancy doesn't stop at the teenage years because many responsible adults unexpectedly become pregnant daily. So why is it as parents we fool ourselves into thinking it will never happen to our kids. Why couldn't it? Because you have screamed, yelled, and made threats of what you would do if they ever bring a baby home. Sorry, no number of loud threats will keep your child from having sex when every human hormonal desire they possess is saying to do it. It is important to talk to your children about safe-sex, the value of their virginity, and how to use appropriate contraceptives.
The vast majority of my sexually active students say they don't use protection because they fear what their parent will do if they find out they are active. Still some say, they have parents that do not care so since the parent doesn't care, then why should they. I once had a student who had gotten pregnant in 6th grade by a fifteen year old boy. In her situation, her parents were very elderly and had no clue what was going on in their child's life or time period. They ignored all the signs of her being sexually active in hopes that doing nothing will someone make the situation not real. Ignoring the signs = ignorance. When you see an elephant in your room, address it!
In a nutshell, Our Rituals = Our Results. Whatever results you receive with your child transpires from the things your child does regularly. If your child comes to school on time everyday (ritual) your child will have perfect attendance and might receive a certificate or another form of recognition for it. We reap what we so. Many teens are having sex. Many of them are having unprotected sex quite frequently. When this happens, there's no room for "how did this happen?" Rituals=Result is how it happened. Unfortunately, sometimes teenagers get pregnant their first time. It can happen! For some, it happens sooner than later, but for certain, if our child continuously practice the ritual of unprotected sex, pregnancy will result.
It's time for us to stop making teen pregnancy such a taboo topic. It can happen. And in the defense of my students who are teen moms, they all love their child and thank God for them. However, they also all admit that their teen years was not the right time to bring the baby in the world. In my book, Sex, Drugs, and Other Elephants: How To Deal With Teenage Issues, there are two different teen pregnancy stories from teenagers that I have taught which will blow the mind of anyone who reads them. One girls shares the secret behind her pregnancy for the very first time, while another courageous student shares her entire diary documenting her teen pregnancy experiences. It is my hope that you get this book, read these stories, and then give the book to your teenager to help them. This book is also a fantastic way to help bring up the topic of sex and teen pregnancy (as well as a host of other topics) to any kid, rather they are sexually active or not. "The Bird and the Bees" type stories are out. Get Sex, Drugs, and Other Elephants: How To Deal With Teenage Issues to help address the elephants they may be hiding in your household. The truth is that teen pregnancy can happen. Get prepared before it happens to you/yours now!
For kindle version go to http://www.amazon.com/dp/B00C9SUKKQ
Shira Dillon is a high school teacher in South, Central Los Angeles. Shira has over 15 years experience working with teenagers and is an expert with helping them and their parents deal with teenage issues. Ms. Dillon is the author of the book Sex, Drugs, and Other Elephants: How To Deal With Teenage Issues that share true stories from the authors life, as well as true stories from teenagers and how they deal with their problems. For more information about the book go to www.heyiwantthatbook.blogspot.com For a consultation, email me at shiradillo@gmail.com
Follow me on Twitter @ShiraNicole
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