Societal Downfall

...about this media-fiasco of 17 girls in a MA H.S. becoming pregnant ~ I really can't comment any more than what has already been commented regarding the need for sex education among our youth.

What I'd like to comment on is this, however...ONCE a woman (whatever age, young or old) becomes pregnant, whether planned or unplanned ~ she IS a Mother. Our society's infactuation with adoption and shameful finger-pointing upon "unwed" pregnancy only serves to create harm in regards to a woman's self-esteem and how it affects her important role as a Mother.

It seems that some categories of Motherhood are not valued by our society, and that causes great harm to the sacred Mother/Child bond that begins at conception. If a mother is shamed, scorned, looked down upon, told she is not "ready" or "fit" to be a Mother, because of the circumstances or timing of her pregnancy, then she is automatically devalued as well as the miracle she carries within her very being.

Every pregnancy, every child is a miracle from God ~ no matter the circumstances surrounding their conception. And that miracle involves an inseparable symbiotic connection between the child and MOTHER. Nothing can erase the importance of this relationship and how it affects the bonding & life-long health to both of their futures ~ they are forever linked, even when that bond is somehow damaged and broken through separation.

Once a pregnancy occurs, it is NOT our job as a society to judge or criticize ANY woman ~ it is our job to immediately embrace and value the miracle of life she IS and she CARRIES. Together. The child she carries will suffer life-long consequences for the shame and break in bonding that occurs when a mother feels condemned and unworthy of being the Mother she now is. If she is made to feel "too young, too unprepared, not able to give enough, or 'redeem' herself by giving her baby the 'gift' of adoption to someone more 'capable'" ~ this only proves that our society is completely oblivious and rejecting of the sacredness of a Mother & child.

Unfortunately, our society has suffered great harm because of this. No one can even come close to finding the equation of how much harm has been done to the very fabric of our society. We need to rethink the way we deal with 'unplanned' pregnancy as a society and treat it as miraculous and valued ~ both Mother & child together.

Pregnant Mass. teen says there was no pact

One of the girls who became pregnant at Gloucester High School this year denied Tuesday there was any pact among them to have children, saying instead they decided to help each other make the best of their situations.

Lindsey Oliver rebutted the principal's claim that a sharp increase in teen pregnancies — 17 compared to a typical four — was in part because several girls planned to get pregnant so they could raise their babies together.

"There was definitely no pact," Oliver told "Good Morning America." "There was a group of girls already pregnant that decided they were going to help each other to finish school and raise their kids together. I think it was just a coincidence."

Oliver, 17, said she became pregnant by accident and that she and her 20-year-old boyfriend, Andrew Psalidas, a community college student, were using birth control.

The couple was in New York and could not be immediately reached for comment. Psalidas's father, Charles Psalidas, said his son would not talk to any other reporters because he'd made an exclusive interview agreement.

The couple appeared on the entertainment news TV show "Inside Edition" on Tuesday.

City officials have been reeling for a week since Principal Joseph Sullivan told Time magazine that girls had gotten pregnant on purpose, celebrating with high-fives and plans for baby showers when they learned in the school health clinic they were expecting.

Sullivan has not spoken publicly about his comments and has failed to respond to repeated interview requests.

Mayor Carolyn Kirk on Monday denied any pact existed.

"Any planned blood-oath bond to become pregnant — there is absolutely no evidence of," Kirk said.

Sue Todd, chief executive of Pathways for Children, which runs the high school's onsite day care center, said Tuesday there was no pact. Time magazine reported in its online edition Monday that Todd said June 13 that a social worker had heard of the girls' plans as early as last fall.

Todd denies the Time report.

"At no time have I stated to anyone that our social worker had knowledge of this. I have stated the opposite," Todd told The Associated Press. "If anyone would be aware of this pact being real it would be us because we run the program."

Time spokesman Ali Zelenko said the magazine stands by its story.