What challenges do teen parents face?
For a long time, I was really strong about saying: teen parenting is the same as an older mom parenting. But now I’m getting to the point where I’ll say there are limitations for some young moms. I’m not an advocate of teen parenting. It’s hard to pay bills, it’s hard emotionally, and it’s not like you’ve had a chance to live your whole life….Another thing that’s hard: teen parents are not part of the societal norm. I’d get on the bus and people would say: ‘who’s the father of your baby?’ They would never ask a 30-year-old mother that! And everybody tells you what to do. The doctors told me to wean. But I decided on my own to breastfeed for 2 1/2 years. One of the hardest things for me is being in school and giving Malakai the time he deserves. I’ve gone to the rehabilitation center (Northwest Behavioral and Health Management where Crane was treated for heroin addiction) and high schools, and told the young women, if you want to have children, just wait until after you’ve gone to col
