Congrats Jamie Lynn, we are so proud?

This morning I woke up to the news that teen sensation, and new mommy, Jamie Lynn Spears was going to be marrying her baby daddy! I just sighed there is so much to be done! When I get to talk to teens about abstinence I always start by asking, "What is the worse thing that can happen to you if you choose to have sex outside of marriage"? Undoubtedly the first answer I get every time is pregnancy. It floors me that this is still what we are most terrified of happening. Forget the STDs that you may contract that will render you barren or itchy for the REST OF YOUR LIFE. No you are worried about a baby. Why worry about a baby? Can't you see how well Jamie Lynn and her sister Brittany are doing? If there has EVER been a poster child for adoption these two sisters are it.


Please allow me the opportunity to talk about adoption today. If you have made the choice to be sexually active outside the boundaries of marriage and now you are with child please consider adoption. It is truly one of the most selfless acts you will ever do. To give a baby, that you are incapable of adequately caring for yourself, to a two parent home full of love and security would be making the best out of a pretty bad situation. The only alternatives are not very attractive. You could keep it, and hope that someone will still want to go to the prom with you. But don't forget if you do go to prom to be sure to line up a babysitter. And when the baby is waking up every two hours to feed maybe you could find some time to study for your next exam.


I will not say that abortion is an alternative. Whereas adoption is the most selfless act you can commit, abortion is by far the most vile and selfish act you can commit. I know you are probably saying, "but Jennifer, what about a woman's (or teenage girl's) right to choose? I am all for choice. Your choice is to sleep with him or not sleep with him. But once you decide to sleep with him then you are saying you can handle all of the consequences that come with it. Including pregnancy. So you are pregnant and don't want to be inconvenienced by the baby so you do what? You kill it? How is that even rational? Better yet...how is that even still legal? There are many a girl or woman who have chosen the abortion route and many will tell you the "problem" does not go away after someone vacuums out your uterus that my dear is when the problems just begin. You would have a lifetime of guilt and regret to face. It is truly a burden many women take to the grave.


I did not say that adoption would be easy. Taking this option, you would still have the joys of morning sickness, heart burn, stretch marks and a bladder that is used as a trampoline for the life growing inside. And there would be great heartache for when the baby goes to live with a mommy and daddy that will love and nurture him or her for the rest of their lives. But there are thousands and thousands of families looking for a baby to love and maybe you can help complete a family.

I know that probably none of the options I have mentioned sound promising. So why don't we back it up to when YOU are making the Choice to sleep with him or not to sleep with him. Choose Not and then you will not be forced to face these impossible situations. It just dawned on me that most of this was written for the girls, but the boys need to realize they are not off the hook and one day soon I will be addressing you as well! So congrats Jamie Lynn getting married at the ripe old age of 17! I am sure your parents are just too proud!