I was taught that you should never blog when you are angry. So, I have had to wait a day before I was able to write about a post I read at Weary Parent. Are you ready for the title of this post? Birth Control For Middle Schoolers. Does the title alone get you going? Read a little….
"Another news headline has got me really thinking again today. CNN reports that a Maine Middle School is offering birth control pills to girls as young as 11."
I just gave you the headline. You will need to go over to Weary Parent and read the whole article.
I do not live in the stone ages here, but come on birth control pills are a prescription. There could be major side effects when taking them. They won’t even give Mylanta for a tummy ache or Tylenol for a headache without a doctor’s note. Something is wrong.
I hope for the my middle school’s sake they never even think of supplying my child with these pills. That is my job and nobody else’s. Do you see why I had to wait? lol
I know that there will be other opinions on this so, I would love to hear them.
Technorati Tags: Birth control pills, children, headlines, middle school, middle schoolers, prescriptionAdd to:
I agree with you 100%! It seems as if the rights of parents are being taken away one by one. First, we cannot discipline our child in public in fear of being wrongly accused of child abuse and having our child taken away. Now, the schools seem to think they have the right to put our child on a prescription medication without our consent??? The world is getting more scary by the day
Posted by: KellyBax | October 19th, 2007 1:07 pm |
Thanks for the comment Kelly. I couldn't agree more!
Posted by: kathylynn | October 19th, 2007 1:09 pm |
Thanks for the comment Kelly. I couldn't agree more!
Posted by: kathylynn | October 19th, 2007 1:11 pm |
I need to think on this one. I need to read the article and the other blog. From my first onset of reading the title my heart says NOOOOOOOOO. But, then again, the harsh reality, kids ARE doing the humpty dance at a younger and younger age now a days. I do however believe this is a wake up call for parents to become more and more involved in not only their child's academic journey but, their personal lives as well. I was a teen mom and I sure wish I had someone that I could trust and not feel judged about having sex, etc. Not making excuses for my life story but, making a point that sometimes kids need to feel that they can go to an adult (preferably their parents/caregiver) and when this isn't the case, then sometimes young girls mostly will go to a young man to fill that void. I am hoping this school district has the best idea in place for the entire family and not just the kids in this situation. maybe this can be a setting where they can open this forum up to encourage parents to become more involved in their kids lives.
i'm sorry for puttting an essay in the comments. i'll close now.
Posted by: tanyetta | October 19th, 2007 1:22 pm |
p.s. if my comment has offended anyone, i apologize ahead of time. i was just trying to give my thoughts on this matter
i'm really a nice person!
Posted by: tanyetta | October 19th, 2007 1:24 pm |
Tanyetta, I really appreciate your thoughts on this. I also wish parents would be more involved. This would make a huge difference in the behaviors. The problem is that my kids are affected by others lack of parenting. What is right for my children may not be right for someone else's, but let ME decide what is right.
Posted by: kathylynn | October 19th, 2007 1:30 pm |
As I said in the originating post, the best and only form of birth control for kids this age is parent involvement. Kids these days are entrusted at a much earlier age. Left alone with the opposite sex should never be an option at 11 & 12. How about we try having the parents actually be parents rather than throwing up our hands and looking the other way!
Posted by: Kathy H. | October 19th, 2007 2:23 pm |
This makes total sense.
Wow. this entire situation should and hopefully it will become a HUGE wake up call for parents and caregivers.
I love that Bill Cosby book–come on people!!!!
The way I see it, and this my 1.2 cents (yeah i know that's worth a lot)
My kids would NOT be affected in a negative way by this school's decisions because I would rest assure that I've had the talk with them at home.
I've done all I can to instill in them way before middle school the talk about (sex, etc) and pray that it sticks. Most times kids listen to that little voice if they've had the talk.
This is such a hard issue to pinpoint one straight feeling or decision. I'm not at the middle school level yet, so of course, i am taking notes for when my son is at this age.
I do have a 20 year old who thinks i'm nuts because we've had the talk, discussions over and over about life's decisions. I never ever told her to NOT have sex.
It just seemed like it would not make sense to tell her that. I did however explain to her about the decisions she will be faced when and if that time comes.
If she decides to have unprotected, protected, behaviors there is a consequence and there will be lasting scars from these decisions. pregnancy, stds, false feelings of self-worth, shame, on and on.
I know from my situation, being told NOT TO HAVE sex meant NOTHING to me. It made me more curious and rebellious. NOt saying that all kids think this way.
I have however learned from my decisions regarding this. Turns out we're still together but, it doesn't always turn out that way. You know this topic is close to home so, I'm glad we can all discuss this in an open way
Posted by: tanyetta | October 19th, 2007 2:26 pm |
On another thought–wouldn't it be great if all the parents and caregivers all came together in that community and took a stand to pledge to be 100% in their children's lives and dismiss this school's decisions???????? NOw that would be amazing!
Posted by: tanyetta | October 19th, 2007 2:29 pm |
Tanyetta, it sounds like you are a very involved parent and are doing a great job.
Posted by: kathylynn | October 19th, 2007 2:35 pm |
Thanks so much for extending the discussion. The whole idea of middle school kids having access to birth control is enough to make me angry and sad at the same time. I just hope that I am doing my job as a parent and that my kids will make the right decisions as they go through the teen years.
Posted by: Char | October 19th, 2007 9:25 pm |