Am I Ready To Be A Teenage Parent?

Raising a child is an important decision and a huge commitment. Each year in the United States, more than 6 million women and teens become pregnant, and about half of those pregnancies are unplanned. Many who become pregnant are unaware of and unprepared for the realities of parenting — they only know that abortion is not the right choice.

At the law firm of Kirsh & Kirsh, P.C., we help pregnant teens and women of all ages learn the facts about the commitment needed and the cost of being a single or teen parent. When women realize they are not ready to be parents, we help them make an adoption plan for their children, communicate with and choose the adoptive parents, and assist them throughout their pregnancies and after their children are born.

Our purpose is not to scare you, and we don’t want to discourage you from raising your child if you believe that it is the best choice. We want to give you the information you need to make a mature decision. To talk with an experienced, objective professional who understands what you are facing and can explain your options, speak to attorneys Steve or Joel Kirsh at our Indiana law firm. We will not pressure you in any way. This is your baby and your choice.

Teenage Parent Statistics | The Costs Of Being A Teen Parent

If you are considering raising your child yourself or with your family’s help, ask yourself, “Am I ready to be a teenage parent, or would putting my baby up for adoption be better for both of us?” As you think about these questions, it is important that you understand the cost of being a teen parent or single parent, both in the first year and over the course of your child’s life:

To support your child with the very basic needs — diapers, clothing, medical care, food — you can expect to spend more than $10,000 in the first year.
To raise a child born in 2011 in the Midwest from birth to age 18, you can expect to pay nearly $400,000. This sum covers only the very basic costs and does not include college expenses.
Many teen mothers do not finish high school and often must raise a child on a single-parent income.
These amounts are very high and will only increase over time. Do not immediately think, however, that bringing a child into the world is not worth the cost. We encourage you to consider that, even if you personally cannot commit to the costs and obligations of raising your precious baby, there are loving families waiting to parent your soon-to-be-born child.

Your Child Deserves A Strong Commitment

As many young women and teens quickly find out, the social life of a new mother changes dramatically. A child needs a committed parent who is willing to sacrifice his or her time, sleep, money and personal lifestyle for the good of the child.

We work with committed couples who are waiting for a child to love, and with mothers who want their children to have the very best life. There is more than one way to be a good mother: Through adoption, a good mother can give her child a loving family who will provide all the benefits that the mother cannot herself provide.

To schedule a free, no-obligation, no-pressure meeting, contact our Indianapolis adoption lawyers at Kirsh & Kirsh, P.C., 24 hours a day, seven days a week, 365 days a year. No matter where you are, we will fly or drive to meet you.

Read our brochure for birth mothers for more information.