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Finishing School as a Teen Mom

© Trula Breckenridge

Education can often be an important factor in career success. For a teen mother, it is often the determining factor between a life of poverty and a life of independently supporting a family. But there is no denying it, the fact of having a baby makes it much harder for a teen to finish high school, especially without the support factors of their parents and their school system which so many teen mothers do not have.

What can a teen mother do? First off, square your shoulders back and prepare for battle. You have made the decision to be a mother and that is something wonderful and you should be proud of your baby. With that in mind, understanding the difficulties you will face as a teen parent can prepare you for the struggles you may encounter with trying to finish your education.

#1. Be honest with yourself. If school and academics were not your strong points before baby, don't go blaming baby for your bad grades or other troubles. Yes, it is hard to study for an exam if you have a teething baby up all night yelling and feverish, but there may also be other factors. You may have rebelled, acted up, or skipped class, now is the time to put that behind you and focus on two things: your child and finishing school. Learn to develop good study habits so that one bad night of teething, for example, won't affect your grades.

#2. Ask for help. More often than not teen mothers are viewed as bad girls and written off as future losers and rejects. Teachers sometimes won't reach out to teen moms and offer help, because they feel you won't want it, don't need it, and aren't going to do anything with your life anyway. Often if you want help with your schoolwork or need extra time getting assignments in, you are going to have to reach out and ask for help from your teachers, principal, and even the school board. You have the right to be educated, don't ever let anyone tell you otherwise or not answer your questions.

Some school systems have woken up to the reality of teen parenthood and offer flexible hours, different classrooms or schools, and some even offer a real child-care center within the school! If you are lucky enough to be able to go to one of these schools, take full advantage of it. If not, don't let that deter you from finishing school. Call your local social services and ask about childcare vouchers, this can sharply decrease the cost of childcare. Depending on your income you may not have to pay anything at all. Even if you are currently receiving public assistance they may not tell you about this, so be sure to ask. It is also for working moms, too.