I’M Starting A Program To Help Myself And Others

Wed., Jan. 28, 1998

Miriam Zuniga Special To Opinion

I’m a 16-year-old girl who had a little boy, Edwardo, two months ago. I knew from the time I found out I was pregnant that I would keep my baby. I didn’t consider abortion or adoption because I don’t believe in abortion and I didn’t want to regret later on in life not raising my baby.

My mom was supportive of my decision, and the baby’s father was, too. I was in school at Jantsch Alternative School when I got pregnant and I really love school. I think education is very important and want to be sure to continue my education. I want to either be a lawyer, writer or teacher. Now, I am being tutored at home for 12 weeks through Jantsch and will return to school there. They have a day care, and that’s where Edwardo will be when I am in class.

In February, I am starting a program for teen moms and their babies. A couple of adults are helping me with this. We will celebrate our babies’ birthdays together by having a party every two months. We will go out together and with our kids, so our babies know we are there for them. I plan to go to Riverfront Park and Chuck E. Cheese’s and other places that are friendly to young children.

There are a lot of programs already available for teen moms, to help with parenting and child development education. But I didn’t find any programs out there to help teen moms socialize and talk to one another.

We are in the planning stages for our group right now and will be open to ideas of what else we should do. We are hoping for donations from individuals and businesses.

I got the idea because of what happened to me after I had my baby. Before I had Edwardo, I was always on the move. I went to school and studied, and then I’d go out and have fun with my friends. We’d hang out downtown or cruise around in cars. I spend a lot of time with my son now, and I like that. But I have felt stuck at home and I do get bored. I’ve been watching too much television. Whenever anyone calls, I am always there. I ask my friends: “Where can I go?”

I hope teen moms who participate in our program will attach to their children by spending some time with them outside the home. I hope it helps us understand our babies better. I hope we help one another not to feel depressed or angry toward our babies because we can’t go out as much. So that’s why I thought up this program.

MEMO: Your Turn is a feature of the Wednesday and Saturday Opinion pages. To submit a Your Turn column for consideration, contact Rebecca Nappi at 459-5496 or Doug Floyd at 459-5466 or write Your Turn, The Spokesman-Review, P.O. Box 2160, Spokane, WA 99210-1615.

Your Turn is a feature of the Wednesday and Saturday Opinion pages. To submit a Your Turn column for consideration, contact Rebecca Nappi at 459-5496 or Doug Floyd at 459-5466 or write Your Turn, The Spokesman-Review, P.O. Box 2160, Spokane, WA 99210-1615.