There are always a few couples in high school that have a serious oops and get pregnant. It’s commonplace and not even taboo like it used to be when I was growing up. But seventeen girls at Massachsetts’ Gloucester High are pregnant, more than quadrupling the usual rate at the 1,200 student school. A story now featured everywhere from the Boston Herald to Time Magazine emerged as school officials investigated.

Apparently many of these girls made a pregnancy pact, getting themselves knocked up on purpose so they could raise the babies together. One of the fathers, reportedly, is a 24-year-old homeless guy. Statutory rape charges may be filed in some of these cases. Statutory stupidity charges should be pending as well. I lack the words to sufficiently describe how messed up this is.

I think Becky will back me up here. Having a child is not a hobby. Having a child is not a cure for loneliness or boredom. Having a child is not something you do because you didn’t make the cheerleading squad and would like to stand out. Having a child is the most important, most life-changing thing you will ever do.

Here’s a surefire way to determine if you’re ready to have a kid. If you’re certain you’re ready, you’re probably not. If you’re in high school, you’re definitely not. I’m 33 and I wasn’t sure we were ready.

This is more like a bad episode of the Maury show than a news story but unfortunately it’s happened. Someday you’ll have to explain this to your kids. Mommy, where’s my daddy? He’s some homeless guy I picked out because all my friends were having babies. And then this child will desire and deserve therapy.

Image by shutterspeed 25 licensed under Creative Commons.

Post from: Simply Dumb