Chapter 2Responsibilities of Parenting

Parenting and Families

Parenting is a job A job unlike any other – unpaid

24 hours a day/7 days a week Parenting impacts individuals, families, and

societies. It requires knowing and understanding a child’s

needs and then meeting those needs. Requires good judgement One of the most important roles a person has in

life Usually not educated or trained, you learn as you

go

Preparation for Parenthood

First step in effective parenting: Having reasonable expectations

Every child develops at a different rate This must be remembered when parenting

It is important to accept and respect differences among children

Reasonable Expectations

Considering parenthood? Take a close look at what it involves. Emotional maturity Health considerations Financial concerns Skills in managing personal resources

Parenthood Readiness

Being responsible enough to put someone else's needs before your own

Should be able to devote all of your attention to that child without expecting anything in return

“On call” 24 hours a day/7 days per week Having a child does not fix relationship

problems, low self-esteem, or any other personal problems

Emotional Maturity

Medical checkup Proper nutrition Pregnancy is risky if under 17 and over 35

Pregnant teens less likely to get proper nutrition, gain adequate weight, and seek proper prenatal care

Over 35, more likely to develop diabetes, and high blood pressure during pregnancy

Health Considerations

Raising a child is expensive If both parents work, what will you do after

the baby comes? How will you pay for expenses? How will you afford child care?

Financial Concerns

Money, time, skills, and energy are examples of skills that must be managed in preparation for parenthood.

5 Key Steps to Good Resource Management: Set goals Identify resources Make a plan Put the plan into action Re-evaluate from time to time

Resource Management Skills

Parenting must be learned Classes, books, community groups, online

support groups, and learning from close friends and family

Work or volunteer working with children Observe children whenever possible

Parenting Skills

Stage Time Period Parents’ Tasks

Parents feel great joy when a new child joins the family.

Once people become parents, they must put the needs of their children ahead of their own needs.

Becoming a parent radically changes your life, and the your way of living

Parenting comes with long term responsibilities

This is true of a new birth, adoption, or remarriage.

Parenting Responsibilities and Rewards

Having children changes everything New challenges arise as a parent Much less time for yourself Child comes 1st

Parenting can be overwhelming Reach out to family and friends for help and

support

New Responsibilities

Huge amounts of time and energy Babies have to fed, diapered, played with,

comforted, and supervised for safety Parents have limits placed on their personal

freedom Less time with friends, all their free-time is

dedicated to the new baby Parents can better adjust to these changes if

they prepare for them.

Lifestyle Changes

Parents may feel new emotions Stress from all of the changes Conflicting and difficult emotions

Can see doctors and support groups for negative emotions, to help them get through the rough spots

Emotional Adjustments

Changes in how they interact with friends and family

Can cause problems within a marriage/relationship Lack of sleep Overwhelming concerns Negative emotions

Changes between the new parent and their parents (the new grandparents) Grandparents feel love and joy, and typically

want time of their own to spend with their grandchild

Relationship Changes

Impact on careers Cut back on working hours Change of careers to be home more Some employers offer benefits for working

parents such as: Flexible hours, part-time work, or work-at-

home options

Employment Adjustments

Both parents are legally responsible to provide food, shelter, clothing, medical care, an education, and legal help for their children.

Parents have the legal right to raise their children based on their beliefs and values.

Parents have the right to choose where their child will live and receive schooling or medical care

If a parent leaves a child’s life, they are legally responsible to pay child support until that child is 18

Legal Responsibilities

Brings many joys Parents feel happiness, pride, and love that

they have never felt before. By helping children discover the world,

parents often see it with new eyes themselves.

Raising a child can give a parent a great sense of accomplishment

Rewards of Parenthood

Teen Parenthood

The teen years bring on many physical changes

The start of adult sexual development Teens become able to physically reproduce The decisions you make about sexual

behavior will have a great impact on your life!

Choosing to make responsible decisions about sexual behavior is part of becoming mature.

Sexual Development

Sexuality and sexual behavior are not the same thing

Sexuality is your BELIEFS AND VALUES ABOUT sexual behavior

More than physically maturity/the ability to be sexually active

Sexuality has physical, intellectual, emotional, and social aspects.

It affects your behavior and your relationships

Sexuality

Messages about sexual activity seem to be everywhere Music TV Radio Movies Ad’s

Examples? Sexual Activity differs from Intimacy

A lasting relationships is based on intimacy, not sexual activity

Sexual Pressures

Decisions about sexual activity are too important to be made casually.

They deserve careful consideration, because they can have lifelong consequences

What lifelong consequences can you think of?

Sexual Pressures

A deliberate decision to avoid high-risk behaviors

Use these techniques to stay abstinent: Talk about your feelings before you get into an

intimate situation Say no to any situation that does not feel right Show affection in nonphysical ways

Abstinence

Emotional problems Trust issues Difficulty committing in future relationships Loss of self-respect STI’s (Sexually Transmitted Infections) Pregnancy

Consequences of Sexual Activity

A disease that is spread from person to person through sexual contact

Also called STD’s 1 in 5 people in the USA have an STI 25% of new cases of STI’s are teens All STI’s are preventable The only way to complete prevent STI’s is through

abstinence Some can be treated, others

STI’s (Sexually Transmitted Infections)

Chlamydia

Pain when urinating. Women feel abdominal pain, nausea, and low fever. Some show no symptoms.

Can cause sterility (the inability to have children).

Can be cured with antibiotics. Most often considered the most

common STI in the United States. Causes Pelvic Inflammatory

Disease.

Genital Herpes

Open sores on sex organs, which go away in a few weeks. Painful urination, fever.

Can cause brain damage or death if passed to a baby during childbirth.

There is no cure. Symptoms can be treated.

Outbreaks occur several times each year.

There are two different strands of this disease. The symptoms of one strand occur on the face while the symptoms of the other strand occur on the genitals.

Genital Warts (HPV)

Small growths on the sex organs, which cause discomfort and itching.

If left along they may become cancerous.

There is no cure, but a doctor can remove them. A vaccine is available to prevent the disease.

Hepatitis B

Causes flu-like symptoms.

Can lead to liver disease or cancer.

There is no cure. A vaccine is available to prevent the disease.

Gonorrhea

Burning, itching, and the discharge of liquids from the infected areas.

Can cause sterility in females. A baby born to an infected mother can suffer eye damage.

Can be treated with antibiotics.

Causes Pelvic Inflammatory Disease.

Syphilis

In early stages, sores on the sex organs, fever, rash, and hair loss.

Can cause insanity and death.

Can be cured with antibiotics, the most common being penicillin.

HIV/AIDS

No visible symptoms in first stage of infection. Later stages include fever, headache, sore throat, rashes, diarrhea, swollen glands, body aches, diminished appetite, and weight loss.

AIDS lessens immunity to other illnesses, which can cause death (breaks down the immune system).

There is no cure. Some medicines can delay the development of AIDS.

Leads to death as it progresses. Mainly present in semen, blood, vaginal

secretions, and breast milk.

Trichomoniasis (Trich)

Caused by a parasite Causes burning, itching,

and inflammation of the genitals

This disease is more difficult to detect and cure in men that it is in women.

Does not usually cause infertility

Other STI Facts

Once you are cured from an STI you CAN contract it again.

STIs are spread from mother to baby, sexual contact, and blood to blood contact.

STIs do not just “go away” if left untreated. Many STIs cause infertility if left untreated for too

long. Sexually active individuals should go to their doctor

for an annual STI screen. It is normal for women to have some vaginal

discharge, but excessive, discolored, or odorous discharge could mean there is a problem.

You may have an STI and not know it. Abstinence and condoms reduce risk of STIs.

Causes many problems that affect both the teen mother and father

Creates: Health risks Education challenges Emotional stress Social stress

Pregnancy

A teen is not yet physically or emotionally mature and may not be ready for the extra demands of pregnancy

Teens are at a greater risk of medical complications Iron deficiency Toxemia – causes premature birth Nutritional deficiency

Health Risks of Pregnancy

Nearly half of teen mothers who leave school never finish their education

This is true even for those who plan to return Without a high school diploma, it is hard to find a job,

especially one with a salary to support a small family Pregnant and parenting teens can work with school

counselors and social service agencies to find solutions to such problems

Graduating should be a high priority goal for young mothers and fathers

Education Challenges

Having a child is costly Both parents are legally responsible for

providing for their child For many teens the burden of child care

expenses becomes overwhelming

Financial Issues

New relationships forming Old relationships changing Teen parents often miss their old friends but

find they no longer have anything in common with them

Teens who enjoyed sports or after-school activities often must cut back or give them up altogether

Emotional and Social Stress

Methods of Family Planning

Abstinence

They only way to prevent pregnancy and STIs 100%!

Hormonal Methods of Birth Control

“Trick” the body in order to stop ovulation Hormonal Implant Hormonal Injection Hormonal Patch Vaginal Implant Birth Control Pills IUD (Intrauterine Device)

Barrier Methods of Birth Control

Physically block sperm from reaching the ovum Condoms Diaphragms Cervical Cap IUD

“Non” Methods of Birth Control

Emergency Contraceptive Withdrawal

Permanent Methods of Birth Control• Vasectomy

• Tubal Ligation

Hormonal Implants

Hormonal Patch

Hormonal Injections

Intrauterine Device (IUD) and Uterine Device

Vaginal Implant

Birth Control Pills

Female Condom

Male Condom

Diaphragm

Cervical Cap

Natural Family Planning

Spermicide

• Some work by “freezing” the sperm!

Emergency Contraceptive Can be used 72 hours after sex Use hormones or medications

that block pregnancy Stop the release of the egg Stop sperm from fertilizing the

egg Prevent a fertilized egg from

implanting in the uterus If already pregnant, they have

no effect

Withdrawal

Immediately before ejaculation, the male removes his penis from the vagina

This is an INEFFECTIVE method of “birth control”

Fluids that the male secretes before ejaculation can contain sperm!

Tubal Ligation

Having your “tubes tied” A surgical procedure in which the fallopian

tubes are tied, cut, or blocked

Vasectomy

Prevents sperm from being added to the semen before ejaculation

It is essential to for teens who are pregnant to seek guidance from trusted family and other trusted adults in their lives to make a decision on what to do now

There are several options for teen parents, and each has it’s pros and cons Co-parenting Single Parenthood Adoption

Teen Parenting Options

Co-Parenting, whether while still in the relationship or out of the relationship will take time, dedication, and work

You will need to put your personal feelings aside, and do what is best for the child at all times

It will take a lot of hard work, but a co-parenting situation is most rewarding for teen parents who choose to keep their child

Co-Parenting

Stressful to care for a new baby, alone These responsibilities can be draining for an

adult. Teens considering single parenthood need to

be realistic and ask a lot of questions

Single Parenthood

Birth mother and father legally give up their rights and responsibilities for raising the child to another family

Not an easy decision to make It is a permanent decision An act of love Two types of adoption:

Confidential (closed): Birth parents do not know the names of the adoptive parents. No exchange of information.

Open: Birth parents and adoptive parents know something about each other. Different levels of open adoption exist.

Adoption

What does it mean to be sexually responsible? It means knowing the facts about sexuality. It means

thinking about the outcome of your decisions and actions. It means knowing your values and living by them.

Both you and your partner deserve to be treated with consideration and respect

You should be able to communicate your thoughts and feelings honestly with each other before taking the step to be sexually active

Take Responsibility