Tonight I went to a parenting class for pregnant girls at risk and for new parents at risk at a local crisis pregnancy center called "A Hope Center". This place is a Christian based organization that strives to give at risk girls the skills and the support to choose to keep their child. I did a presentation about Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorders there last year at it was a disaster. A girl flipped out because I said something she found offensive. She started hollering at me and calling me ignorant. I cried. I am a comfortable public speaker and crying is not like me. She really upset me. I said I would never, ever do it again.
They have called several time since to schedule me. I have always said no. Last month I was sleeping on the couch and I got a phone call, I said yes because I was half asleep. Crap! I have not been looking forward to it at all. Tonight went great! I was so pleased with my presentation (thanks Kari) and I think they enjoyed it and learned a lot. I think I said "There is no safe amount of alcohol to drink during pregnancy" about 350 times. Only to be rivaled by "My child's brain damage was 100% preventable" which I said roughly 375 times. I will definitely do it again. I am determined to get the word out to women of child bearing age that it is NOT safe to drink while pregnant. Your child should be worth your abstinence from alcohol!
Before I left tonight, Dustin asked where I was going. Robert said, "Mom's going to talk to pregnant women." Dustin had no idea what I was going to talk about and he said, "Tell them NOT to drink alcohol, it made me foolish." It sent me out teary and determined to touch SOMEONE tonight that may choose not to take that drink with their child in the womb.
The whole subject makes me sad. Teens should be talking on the phone and giggling with their friends not having sex and drinking. Good for you for not putting your head in the sand (like I like to do) and stepping up to help them see the dangers of playing adult with their young bodies. YOU are my rock star!
ReplyDeleteYay Patty! So glad to "see" you!
ReplyDeleteSheri,
ReplyDeleteI am so proud of you!! Yah!!! ~Kari
Sheri -
ReplyDeleteI have to tell you this. Not that it will cheer you or anything, but I still have to share it with you. My daughter is 16. She was telling me about a girl at her school who is 14 and pregnant. The girl is a wild child and drinks and smokes and according to my daughter even does drugs. Sigh. So sad. She is two months along and my daughter confronted her at lunch about what she is doing to the baby. The girl's response, oh its ok, my baby doesn't have a brain yet so its not going to hurt it.
It just broke my heart into a million pieces and all I could think was, if this baby survives, I hope she gives it up and it gets a decent home with a caring family like Sheri's.
How on earth do we get through to these kids?