Talking to your teen about teen pregnancy

Talking to your teen about teen pregnancy is one of the toughest talks parents have to do, even tougher than just the plain puberty and sex talk. Often, because it is a consequence of sexual behavior, the topic of teen pregnancy gets glossed over or reduced to part of the sentence, "Don't have unprotected sex because you can get pregnant." Your teen needs to know more than that. They need to know your family values, what it means for their health, how difficult the road of being a teen parent is and that you are there for them no matter what.
When discussing your family values concerning teen sex and pregnancy, be clear about your attitudes and thoughts. Ask your teen how they feel. Bring up society's issues of pro-life and pro-choice. Discuss how you feel about each issue, but try not to debate it. Remember that teens are developing their values and need to be able to think things through. You can help them by using modeling behavior.
It is hard for a teenager to imagine the difficult road of becoming a teen parent. The reality of having a child is not something that is easily taught or shown. Parents can make the most impact on their teens by using the hopes and dreams of their teenager to counteract the difficulties that would arise should the teen have a child. Use examples of teen pregnancy in their school or in the media or on their television shows to start talking about which hardships would most influence your teen. Use your active listening skills. It is also in the interest of parents to support school programs like Baby, Think It Over.
Talking to your teen about teen pregnancy means talking about tomorrow, your child's real future. You'll want to keep communication open, honest and happening often. You'll want to mention that you will always be there for your teenager, even if they make a mistake. When having this talk with your teen, always end it by reaffirming your love and support for them. Tell your teen you believe they are capable of making good choices and you will always answer whatever questions they have.