THE PREGNANT SCHOOL GIRL'S FUTURE

 Is the best punishment for a girl who got pregnant while in school withdrawal from School? Is her future really concluded? To start with, the tendencies of a girl child getting pregnant while in high school especially is inevitable because, at that age puberty has fully emerged. They look developed and fresh, men notices their maturity and so experiment is the order of the day for them. They actually thinks they are already adults. I see it as an era of confusion when even the shadows looks real, we all went through that feelings somehow. Now in order to avoid such a mistake and (pause) on a girl, this period is the time a mother needs to build a stronger bond with her daughter, by helping her to understand the need for safe keeping, sex education and the detriments of premarital sex. This is essential because if you don't tell her, the media and her friends will teach her wrongly. Now if unfortunately the girl child gets pregnant at that age and time, it's obvious she has made a terrible mistake, but her future is not concluded. So many girls are drowned by that singular act, while some got up and pick up their pieces. TALE believes that for such a girl, all hope is not lost. The deed is done but the future needs salvaging.
Now the message here is; Parents, this is not a time to use your words and kill her. That her mistake is seen does not mean she is useless, it could really be just a mistake and for the first time. Scold her yes, let her know the consequences of what she has done, then draw her closer, support her because she's already ashamed. Emotionally she's broken, all she has is you, you are her hope of survival and strength. Don't kill her with curses, don't trow her away, don't call her names before your neighbors, "She no be Ashawo (prostitute) because ashawo no dey carry belle born am" Unlike how our mothers treated some daughters, after all shouts and expression of disappointments, please be her shoulder to lean on. Wipe her tears and shame her mockers. Stand by her and point her to the ways of rising again. When the baby comes, let her share in the responsibility so she can understand the price of carelessness. Then let her go BACK to school, help her nurse the baby, and if you are busy, then send the baby to a place of care. Build a stronger relationship with your daughter so that such doesn't repeat again, she still have a life beyond that mistake. To TALE, such mistake is only a pause, her life can be replayed and still find expressions again. That child might be the only child she may have in life, save her. Some parents whose daughters died between the age of 25 to 35 years unmarried, only wishes if she had a child at home to console them today. Your child might have made a mistake but your grandchild is not a mistake. You have gone through pregnancy and labour before, remember she's a kind like you, even if your hubby doesn't want her around out of anger, find her a shelter somehow, make her know she has you amongst all. Then after all said and done, go home and get your hubby to understand and forgive. Don't abandon her. King Solomon was a product of circumstance, but the greatest judge (God) gave him honour and till date he remains the wisest king ever lived, despite all his weaknesses. Our people usually say; No one knows whose belly that will give birth to a king, or when he's coming. *** Another mistake parents makes is tying up a girl's life and feelings to a man she never truly wanna spend her life with, all because she got pregnant for him. Maybe she dated the man for money, help, security, affluence and now because the family needs to cover their shame, they forces such a girl to marry that man, that is wrong. Life is far more than the tongues of critics and religious games, gossip never started today, actually it has now become a professional business so let them talk. Mistake is a finished action, you can't remedy it with another says TALE. And if there was no plans for them to settle down from the beginning of the relationship, it shouldn't be forced unless they decided so, other wise you give that child an unending pains and regrets and she won't forgive you as a parent for life. Don't push her into that marriage, a man who loves her will still come her way even with two kids, that I've seen. So mummy, don't let her die a sad woman all for one mistake she made years back. The mistake is already made, but every child deserves a life and a second chance. Seeing how she is now, where she was going before the pause in her life, what next for her is what parents should be concerned about on the child, not what the community will say. Be wise woman, the world is moving, and God has remained new everyday. Never let a mistake damage the best in any child. Thanks for reading , comment, LIKE this page, and share. TALE celebrates you!