St. Charles West student works to ‘build a better future’ for her daughter
By Alyssa Walker
Amp writer
Mother’s Day brings Anna Scott mixed feelings. She is happy to have a daughter, but she wishes she had waited to grow up before having a child.
Anna, 17, said she did not plan to be a mother.
“I knew it was a possibility, but I didn’t think it would happen to me at only 14,” she said.
Deanna, 2, jumps out of Anna’s lap and runs behind a chair. She peeks out to see if Anna is watching.
“Mommy, mommy, look,” the toddler said, ducking back behind the chair.
Anna grins, flashing her rainbow-colored braces.
“My only mistake was not waiting,” Anna said. “But I would never go back now because I love her dearly.”
Anna is a junior at St. Charles West High School. Originally from Silex, she now lives in St. Charles.
Anna said she wears her class ring with Deanna’s birthstone in it instead of her own.
Deanna’s father is no longer in the picture. Anna said that his mother is more involved than he is.
“I want her father to be in the picture for her sake, so at least she wouldn’t feel she wasn’t loved by him,” Anna said.
Anna’s fiance, Mark, is not Deanna’s father. But Anna said he has become her daughter’s father figure.
“Mark thinks a lot of me because of the responsibility that I carry,” she said.
After giving birth, Anna became involved in the Special Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women, Infants and Children (WIC).
The federal grant program provides supplemental food, nutritional information, counseling and healthcare referrals to low-income mothers with children up to 5 years old.
To quality for WIC, mothers must meet income guidelines. A health professional must determine that the child or mother is at nutritional risk. Families enrolled in benefit programs such as food stamps, Medicaid or Temporary Assistance for Needy Families are automatically eligible.
Anna said WIC has helped fill a variety of needs, including paying for Deanna’s formula.
Anna is also enrolled in the Youth in Need teen parents program. It provides in-school support and counseling for teen parents while they complete their education.
“Deanna has given me more of a reason to be successful so I can build a better future for her,” Anna said.
Anna said she worried about expenses and support when she found out she was pregnant.
“I wouldn’t have made it if it wasn’t for my mom,” she said. “My mom takes care of Deanna when I go to school.”
Anna’s mother, Carol Matheson, said that she cried when Anna told her that she was pregnant.
“I thought her childhood was over,” Carol said.
According to teenpregnancy.org, 78 percent of pregnancies among teens ages 15-19 are unplanned. In 2003, 81 percent of teen births happened outside marriage, up from only 15 percent in 1960.
Anna said that, when teens see her with Deanna, they often tell her they wish they had a baby. But Anna does not recommend teen pregnancy.
“I tell them it’s not that easy,” she said. “I don’t have time to be a teenager, go to parties or do anything that involves being a teen, because I have more responsibility.”
By Alyssa Walker
Amp writer
Mother’s Day brings Anna Scott mixed feelings. She is happy to have a daughter, but she wishes she had waited to grow up before having a child.
Anna, 17, said she did not plan to be a mother.
“I knew it was a possibility, but I didn’t think it would happen to me at only 14,” she said.
Deanna, 2, jumps out of Anna’s lap and runs behind a chair. She peeks out to see if Anna is watching.
“Mommy, mommy, look,” the toddler said, ducking back behind the chair.
Anna grins, flashing her rainbow-colored braces.
“My only mistake was not waiting,” Anna said. “But I would never go back now because I love her dearly.”
Anna is a junior at St. Charles West High School. Originally from Silex, she now lives in St. Charles.
Anna said she wears her class ring with Deanna’s birthstone in it instead of her own.
Deanna’s father is no longer in the picture. Anna said that his mother is more involved than he is.
“I want her father to be in the picture for her sake, so at least she wouldn’t feel she wasn’t loved by him,” Anna said.
Anna’s fiance, Mark, is not Deanna’s father. But Anna said he has become her daughter’s father figure.
“Mark thinks a lot of me because of the responsibility that I carry,” she said.
After giving birth, Anna became involved in the Special Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women, Infants and Children (WIC).
The federal grant program provides supplemental food, nutritional information, counseling and healthcare referrals to low-income mothers with children up to 5 years old.
To quality for WIC, mothers must meet income guidelines. A health professional must determine that the child or mother is at nutritional risk. Families enrolled in benefit programs such as food stamps, Medicaid or Temporary Assistance for Needy Families are automatically eligible.
Anna said WIC has helped fill a variety of needs, including paying for Deanna’s formula.
Anna is also enrolled in the Youth in Need teen parents program. It provides in-school support and counseling for teen parents while they complete their education.
“Deanna has given me more of a reason to be successful so I can build a better future for her,” Anna said.
Anna said she worried about expenses and support when she found out she was pregnant.
“I wouldn’t have made it if it wasn’t for my mom,” she said. “My mom takes care of Deanna when I go to school.”
Anna’s mother, Carol Matheson, said that she cried when Anna told her that she was pregnant.
“I thought her childhood was over,” Carol said.
According to teenpregnancy.org, 78 percent of pregnancies among teens ages 15-19 are unplanned. In 2003, 81 percent of teen births happened outside marriage, up from only 15 percent in 1960.
Anna said that, when teens see her with Deanna, they often tell her they wish they had a baby. But Anna does not recommend teen pregnancy.
“I tell them it’s not that easy,” she said. “I don’t have time to be a teenager, go to parties or do anything that involves being a teen, because I have more responsibility.”
would you?
http://amp4teens.buzznet.com
and vote for you favorite amp writer in the shout out box! thanks!