That would be a good thing.

your conclusion would be correct. However, there is nothing rational in the world of the anti-choice crowd

And that also includes the choice to go through with the pregnancy.

This happens more often than people realize. Often it is commitment phobic boyfriend who demands that his girlfriend get an abortion, while she wants to have the child.

They wanted all the material matters in place, really, too many in my opinion. They then decided after eighteen years of the pill, to have a child. She proceeds to miscarry five times in a row. Each time, she is given a D & C afterward. By this time events have occurred to put them in a less prosperous financial setting.

She again becomes pregnant and the doctor tells her the chances are good this time that she will be able to go to term. But they have moved into his mother's home for an indefinite stay because of her health and their continued financial problems. He says she will have an abortion or the marriage is over as they can't take care of the child. The stress is such that she rents an apartment and plans to have the child alone, but then changes her mind and remains in the marriage of 25 years.

She resented it, although they are still married. She had more health problems and had a hysterectomy. They continued their marriage for financial reasons. He's on disability and she's nearly disabled. They have since gone bat shit listening to Glenn Beck. Thinking back, they were off for years, just wasn't as notable as now.

That was an example of the truth of what you say when you note that the men are the ones often insisting on terminating pregnancy. Others have insisted on the woman coming to term and still leave her with a child and no support. There are forced choices in either direction, but in the end, it is the woman's choice by law - or at least it once was.

People have different ideas about when and in what circumstance they should become parents. Although some people have no plan at all. This girl is putting a lot on her family for the choice that she alone made to have unprotected sex. With any choice in life, particularly this one, comes huge responsibility and consequences and more choices will have to be made.

While I agree fully that it is her body and her choice, I'm unsure why she can take the parents to court on this issue. She can move out and be a single mother but they aren't required to care for her or the child and I think that is what the suit is trying to force them to do since she lives at home. And they said she is being put up to doing this by a group.

Her child will become one of the poster kids in the 'forced birth' debate just as those conceived by rape have been used to muddy the issue. With that side, all they have is 'person hood.' What is being argued is that women having abortions are being oppressed by others to do so, making forced choices to have abortions.

As to those who choose without pressure from others, they say those women are mentally ill. Some GOP say rape victims who want to abort is proof that they are emotionally unstable and should be prevented from making the choice to abort due to mental incapacity.

This is not going to help pro-choice.

The wife of a co-worker told me she thought abortion was murder and I was astonished because they were working for a progressive cause. It turns out that her husband had pressured her into having an abortion when she had an unplanned pregnancy. She wanted to keep the pregnancy and have the baby but was afraid that he would leave her and their other child so she had the abortion. She is the only woman I know who bitterly regretted her abortion. This was back in the late 70s...I often wondered if that marriage lasted. I rather doubt that it did....it was a clear case of how important a woman's right to choose is.

the girls parents shouldn't be in a position to support the child. I would tell the daddy of the baby you helped make this baby therefore you help provide for this baby.

Although if this father is just some 16-17 year old kid, there may not be much that he will realistically be able to do, save for whatever wages come from flipping burgers.

Usually in such situations the "father" dumps the girl, and makes so little money that it is not worthwhile to come after him for money. And then of course, the girl's family ends up shouldering much of the financial burden.

is a better father then she is a mother. They are having some martial problems. I don't know if they are going to make it. She left last friday took her son from a previous relationship and left the 7 yr old daughter with daddy. He has heard from her threw text messages and she is mad at me and even her mother because we told her the kids need to come first. My son started a new job in management and he has to go to different stores. She encouraged him to move up. She is a little nutty. Also I know at least 2 guys that work with my husband who have custody of their child. The mother's walked out on them never to look back. So it's not all guys are bad. My son is a loving daddy. He is teaching her to cook (because her mother doesn't like to cook).

She wants to give birth to it (at which point, it will be her or him).

for raising this child.

The pregnant girl is responsible for this child and while it's her decision to make, nobody else should have the responsibliity of raising him/her.

Don't the parents get a choice, too? Though they will probably end up with the responsibility anyway if this girl decides to keep the baby.

Meanwhile, I wouldn't mind if the group that was behind this lawsuit put their big girl panties on and explain who they think is responsible for the care of this child. Are they going to provide anything other than judgement?

get stuck raising a child. Those are facts. I know at least 2 girls that have gotten pregnant and the girls were still in school and the guys were still in school. One of the guys didn't even care about the child. One of the child mother lives at home with her own mother and baby. The mother is already struggling with a 12 yr old at home who needs care because the child is handicapped. She has to feed, wash, change the child's diapers, go to work and now there is another child in the house. The child mother's is out of school and living at home with her daughter. The other girl was alittle more responsible in that after high school she did go to work. But has bounced from place to place. She lived at for awhile but moved out becaue she was able to do what she wanted to do. The boy's family was more responsible after she had to take him to court. She didn't really want the child to go to the boy's house but in the end the boy's family loved the child and wanted to do the right thing and love him. He is now 12 and goes back and forth. I just wish kids would realize 5 minutes of pleasure can bring you such hard ships in life if you aren't prepared. The girls family always ends up have to pick up the slack raising the child.

Once she is 18, they have no responsibility towards their children and are under no obligation to help at all. Perhaps these irresponsible children would think twice about unzipping their pants and use some birth control if they knew the responsibility was all theirs. This particular girl is being led around by the nose by people who don't have her best interest at heart and will drop her like a rock once the child is born.

in school. By the way in our rural town the high school allows girls to continue their education and bring their babies at the school where they take them to an area where the babies are taken care of.

that once that child is 2 years old, her parents' responsibility ends. Has she said whether she plans on raising this child or if adoption is an option? Does she just expect her parents to clean up her mess?

That's just like all the rich parents that bail their little darlings out of whatever jam they get into. You don't learn responsibility that way.

I'm not a parent but I'm going to ask my twin what she would do under these circumstances. Mind you, she took her 17 (now 18) year old daughter to the gynecologist to get her on the pill when daughter confided she was thinking of becoming sexually active with her boyfriend. But accidents do happen and no birth control is 100% so I'm going to put it to her in those terms.

ask to be born. Yes accidents happen. In a perfect world 15, 16, 17 and yes even older people shouldn't be have sex outside of marriage. But this is what is going on today. I remember back in 1967 when there was a girl in my graduating class was pregnant and she finished out the year. It was pretty shocking at the time. Back then girls were ostracized for having babies out of wedlock. Today there is no shame. But I have evolved where if my daughter who was at least 20 would tell me that she wants to have sex then I would run to the doctor and make sure she takes birth control. Parents need to stop thinking our kids aren't experiencing sex. We need to have that conversation with our daughters especially because they come home pregnant. However, I believe we need to make sure our sons know their responsibilities also. If you are going to dance around that bed you better be prepared to pay the fiddler. As a parent I will make my son step up to that plate. However, 7 years ago when he was 25 he got his girlfriend pregnant and he stepped up to the plate and he turned out to be a great dad. She is a little daddy's girl. He is a better dad then the mother is. Even his child's grandmother on her side realize he is a great dad.

I sure couldn't.

She was 16 turning 17 and hew was 18 I believe and her parents made her terminate the pregnancy. My brother works very hard, he has the best work ethic of anyone I know he is now 23 and he would have been the one young man who would have supported her and child. I know that's not always the case and what she had to go through was no lite decision but I was witness to the very unfair and often mean ways her parents treated her until she relented.

It's all about choice.

Provide a roof over their heads? Babysit- probably reluctantly- while young mother goes to school, looks for a job, goes to work in a dead end job? Have their plans for retirement and travel destroyed? Phooey!!

In some states there are mechanisms for declaring emancipation from one's parents. If she is old enough to care for a baby, she's old enough to be fully responsible for herself and the baby, seeking help where she can find it, just as she did in getting help from the anti-abortion crowd in taking her parents to court, instead of working through it with them.

As long as the choice is hers, nobody else should have a thing to say about it.

What part of that do you not get? Being pro-choice sometimes isn't all that convenient. But it's hers to make. Consistency in being pro-choice is what separates us from the reactionary crowd.

and the father isn't forthcoming with child support, then CPS steps in and baby goes to foster care (unless the parents are willing to support mom and baby).

Actions have consequences. If she is old enough to be a parent by choice, then she is old enough to learn that lesson.

If she thinks she's capable of caring for, feeding, housing and educating a child, she should do it.

She could give the baby up for adoption. She could keep the baby, get government support, get her own place, get a job, go to college. That is what government help is suppose to be there for. We are not suppose to judge. We are suppose to help.

But the right to choose is the right to choose. You can disagree with her choice, but it's still her choice.

pointing out that because she's still a minor, living under her parents' support, her actions will affect their lives profoundly.

doesn't want will effect the daughter in a profound way, and her relationship with her parents. Putting myself in this girl's shoes, I can honestly say that this would ruin my trust in and respect for my parents.

We either have the right to choose or we don't.

my children to know the consequences of teen pregnancy (I have two children--one is no longer a teenager). Given that I am responsible for them, I am also responsible for the consequences of perhaps not providing enough information for them to not make the decision that will "affect my life profoundly." (<<<that's a bit tongue-in-cheek there) It's the job I signed on for from the moment they were conceived.

Why is it that we pledge to support our spouses through sickness and health...and not our children, who surely need us more?

Abortion, Adoption, or unexpected grandchild--that's what I accepted when I first made my own choice.

She made the decision, I made the doctor's appointment and the baby (now a grown man) was much loved by the whole family.

at the moment she was conceived. I think that's a real stretch - accidents can still happen no matter how much you try to be a good parent. I would be very unhappy if she found herself unwed and pregnant and expecting me to raise her child. Very unhappy.

But, in a million years I would never force her to have an abortion. I have a relative who forced his 16-year old daughter to have an abortion and the relationship was permanently destroyed. And I do mean permanently - I don't think they've had any contact in the past 25 years and that's not likely to change.

It's a tough situation all around.

We don't get to decide what troubles we're willing to help our children through. It's why I believe it's my responsibility to educate my children.

I had my daughter at 19 (I was living at home). My parents weren't happy about it, but they didn't have children just for the good times. They helped me. Nowhere in my post did I say parents should be expected to raise a surprise grandchild; I'm saying they should love and support their children through good times, bad times, and tough decisions.

Forgive me if I extrapolated.

That should apply to the parents of the baby's father as well. The girl always gets the blame, and it is always HER parents alone that didn't teach her correctly. The parents of the young man have the same responsibility.

Be smart, be safe, or you'll be walking that path alongside her.

There is no litmus test for having a child.

Yes, all of those things would have to be dealt with, but it's still her choice to make. If she wants to keep the kid, she can do so.

My own teenagers were well aware of my rule on this. If any of them got pregnant as teenagers, their college funds would be liquidated and spent on short term job-training, setting up an apartment, etc. Choosing to have a child is choosing to become an adult, as as adults, they would be responsible for themselves. I would not support them financially, and would not act as a free daycare center. It's a bit harsh, but so is real life and parenthood.

But pro-choice means just that: her choice to have the baby must be treated with equal worth as her choice to abort.

And gladly.

When I think about how my tax dollars are used to kill in wars, it warms me to think some of it goes to providing a home and food for a family. I'd rather spend it on that than give it to Lockheed Martin.

In a civilized society. Like EU countries. NOT this country, because of people like YOU.

she will get no support or assistance from the state of Texas, once that baby is born.

She has the right to keep the baby.

Once we force abortions, we really will have abandoned the choice concept.

By your argument we should force birth in good circumstances.

You are absolutely right, her parents should be able to opt out of bringing this child up. They have as much right to live as they wish as she does. They should not be expected to provide for the baby's needs.

AND if they should end up having to provide, the boy and his parents should as well. There shouldn't be any of the she works at McDonalds and her parents babysit but he goes off to college and his parents get to brag on what a great future he has while the girl has none at all.

This is yet another example of why sex education and access to birth control is so important.

but i guess they have the right to kick her out at 18 if it's that much of an issue for them.

should 16 y.o.s have those choices, what about a 12 y.o. or 9

Her choice. If the parents don't want to deal with the reality of that there are programs and people out there that will help.

She wants to make the choice for herself, then she should be self-supporting or find people willing to support her and her newborn.

I would think her lawyers would be more concerned with extricating her from her parents' control. Problem solved.

I will have to read more about what her lawyers are trying to do.

It is not appropriate for parents to be forced to support a pregnant teenager.

Got it. We shouldn't bear any culpability.

No commitment to our kids if they're going to get in trouble. Perfect.

Only be parents when things are all sunshine and rainbows?

Her choice to have the baby, then her choice, and obligation to either adopt out, or find a way to support herself and chil . Her parents shouldn't be under the obligation to support or raise her choices.

we're not paying for your hospital bill because you didn't wear your helmet? I agree that legally they are responsible. I have known parents that have abducated that responsibility but the fact remains that legal responsibility does remain and I think it should be their legal responsibility. Until your child is of legal age to get a job and get an apartment then you are responsible for them like it or not. The parents themselves signed up for that when they had her. If you don't want all the possible scenarios that come with being a parent then don't have children.

Might be a case for that if she chooses to have the baby over her parents objections. Any attorney could give more advice on this than me.

since it's a pretty safe bet that they didn't teach their daughter about the importance of birth control.

and did not when she became pregnant and there is even more than that the antiabortion group is worried that her parents might 'mickey' her with RU486

but I am just posing a question that comes to me based on this discussion:

16 is practically adult.

What if the girl was 12?

What if she was 10?

I don't know the right answer. I know what I would hope I'd do (let the girl keep the baby if she wanted it), but is the answer different based on the age of the pregnant minor? Just askin'.

It is her choice, her body.

If you don't want to answer, that's okay. But I realize that. That's why I asked.

Even if the intention is good. That girl will not be 16 for very long. She will live forever with the fact that her parents took something very dear and irreplaceable from her.

My birth mother was 16 when she was forced to give up a child that she very much wanted. It has haunted her for her entire life. Her relationship with her parents was never the same. She has suffered emotionally for almost 60 years because her choices were taken from her. All because her mother thought she knew best.

It is this young woman's body and no one elses. If she wants this child it is her right to choose to give birth. If her parents don't want to be burdened with a grandchild then the state can help find this young woman other living arrangements.

Please don't put words in my mouth. I'm just wondering, since the parents obviously have to live with her decision, at what point is it the pregnant woman's decision? I don't have a daughter, but I was somebody's daughter. If I'd gotten pregnant at age 10 or 12 or 14 or 16, my parents would have had a major change to their lives based on my choice. Clearly this woman's parents are impacted in financial ways, at the very least. That's all I am saying. Do not assume I am siding against the young woman. I am not and never would.

I read the article though, and frankly it doesn't seem like her parents will be effected at all. I hope the girl has a good life no matter what she decides, it seems like up until now it hasn't been ideal.

parents to try to force her to have an abortion. You can choose to have the baby, or you can choose to have an abortion. Nobody should be able to choose for you. Her body, her choice.

her father denies the claim and believes his daughter has been put up for this lawsuit.

I don't want anyone to tell me I can only have *this many* children, and I don't want anyone else to be told how many kids to have. Or that they can't take care of their lives how they want to.

"CHOICE" MEANS THE PREGNANT WOMAN GETS TO DECIDE AND NOBODY ELSE.

Making someone get an abortion who wants to have the baby is just as horrible as forcing someone to have a baby who wants an abortion.

excpt you'd have to define man

untill you're 18 - laws kind of define men/womyn that way - but other than that i dont know any laws that dfine -

murder. It happens all the time.

charging someone as an adult doesnt mean they are considered adults that's why they are charged "as" adults not just charged.

I know it can be done and is done. I've seen it happen.

Then she can get government help and get out on her own.

The daughter has a legal case that her parents must support her (housing, clothing and feeding her) until she's a legal adult.

The parents in this case will be responsible for the teen (and I presume their grandchild) until she's 18 but even then there are laws about "kicking" a teenager out of the house (I believe they then fall under tenant/landlord laws then).

Just because it is against the law doesn't mean it doesn't happen.

she'll certainly be savvy enough (or be coached) about what her parents owe her in continuing support.

Most teens don't know they even have legal recourse so they simply acquiesce (or they are so furious when things do get to that point that they don't care).

But that doesn't diminish the fact that these parents are legally responsible for caring for, maintaining, and supporting this teen (and her child) until the girl is 18 years old.

All she is doing right now is trying to stop her parents from forcing her to have an abortion.

Don't get me wrong. I don't agree with the parents' actions at all however it doesn't change their legal responsibilities here. (I firmly believe the girl has the right to make her own choices).

I would guess this girl - or those whose agendas are behind this - will be using every legal angle she/they can (and rightfully so) on this case.

is now living on her own; but, her Mom has full responsibility for her baby, and has since his birth. I am sure her Mom did not think she would be raising a child at her age. I am also acquainted with a Mom who had a total of nine children, none of whom she raised. She had three sets of twins. Every one of her children were taken from her except for the last one. She was addicted to drugs, alcohol, and, birth control, evidently. I am sure the former Mom gets help with raising her child from us, and the latter, well, everybody is taking care of those. The children have all sorts of problems; none of which make them eligible for any kind of help for their mental problems.

or doesn't want an abortion and do so without intervention from parents or courts?

That's why this case exists right?

I was 18 when I got married and had a baby. My husband and I received government help, he went to school, got a good job, and then we got off of government help. Liberals are suppose to want to help, not judge.

right to get an abortion by taking the parents side in this case, don't you?

Is a 16 year old competent to make a decision to keep a potential human or abort a potential human?

how about a 13 year old, 15 year old?


Also, if you had read the OP it says the parents are wanting her to get an abortion----

Edit-fixed error

conversely, she has no right to not keep the child...it works both ways.

I see a bunch of posts in this thread saying---


HER BODY HER CHOICE!!!

not really that black and white of an issue though is it LOL...Mantras sound cool though

the same as going through with it...however, if you deny one you're hard pressed to justify denying the other.

The only correct response for anyone who is truly pro-choice.

It is her own body.

but she relies heavily on her parents' (not ultra-lefty pro-choice without limits DUers) for her daily needs. Common sense seems to evaporate with some people around here when it comes to this issue.

I'm quite simple with this as a parent. If my daughter goes this far to defy her parents' wishes to have the baby when we believe it would be best, based on her lifestyle and as a dependent of ours, that she terminates the pregnancy, then OUT of the house she goes. Let's see how long it would take for her to regain her common sense. With huge life decisions like this, comes equally huge responsibilities.

On the other hand, if that anti-abortion group is willing to put up this much funds in order to get that unborn born to brag to their misinformed flock, well, then they should sign an affidavit stating they will take full financial responsibility and care for both the mother and child until the child is 21.

It's easy to claim anti-abortion or unregulated "pro-choice" for someone you don't have to support financially. But then reality sets in because babies ain't cheap and raising a child ain't easy. That's where the rubber meets the road and you'd be surprised how many would then drop the girl and her baby like a hot potato, and run.

Often the bio parents are teens and/or on drugs and/or in prison. These women's lives are on indefinate hold, their finances destroyed, their plans derailed. Every single one I know who is doing this, and there are many, love their grandchildren, but they had zero say in something that has profoundly changed their lives.

I'm pro-choice to the extent that the individual's choice affects them. Once you expect others to bear the brunt for YOUR choices, it's a different situation.

We sign on for the long haul--no matter what comes.


We don't get to pick and choose the crises we're going to deal with.

I think that her mom should have had a frank talk with the daughter about her sexual activity before the girl got pregnant.

Sometimes children refuse to listen to their parents' advice. Sometimes children deliberately defy their parents. It's possible this child got pregnant on purpose. It happens.