Beverley East, Contributor

Listen up all you young 'uns! I cannot understand why so many young girls are still having babies! Can you tell me? This is the 21st century, the age of technology, the age of information and fulfilling your life's dreams.

I ran into a friend of mine a few weeks ago and I asked him how his daughter was doing. He looked at me in despair. "Making more babies," he replied. "Give me her phone number right now," I responded. I was furious. "Sure, you talk to her," he handed me his phone.

We had had this conversation two years ago when she was 17 with so much promise of a bright future when she announced she was pregnant. Now, two years later, another baby on the way. I was disappointed in her and made no qualms about telling her.

"First baby is a mistake" I laid into her, "but a second baby is carelessness and stupidity."

priorities

Don't you young people want more in your lives than bringing life into this world? It's not cute, it's not easy being a single mother/dad, and as in love as you think you are now, let's see if five years or five months from now either of you are looking into each other eyes with the same dreamy thoughts. I doubt it.

The rhythm method is no longer in and has not been for the last 50 years or more. While our parents struggled so hard to make our lives easier, why would you want to take 10 steps backwards to make your life harder?

Babies are hard work, a full time job in themselves. It's a lot of joy of course, but raising children is much harder than it looks if you plan to study and make a real life for yourself. What concerns me is all this unprotected sex, not just the thought of being pregnant. Giving birth doesn't kill, but there are so many sexually transmitted diseases - HIV/AIDS being at the top of the list. In this part of the world, Jamaica is the second highest in the incidence of HIV/AIDS, just behind Haiti.

How will you continue to have an enjoyable life if you are trying to take care of your health? Whereas AIDS is very matter-of-fact in many parts of the world, it is still a stigma here in Jamaica. So, wrap it up young men if you cannot abstain.

babymother

And, young girls, there is more to life than being someone's baby mother. You don't have to prove your love to some young boy by having his baby. Especially a baby that you will be left holding, a baby that he cannot help you take care of.

And, young men, don't be caught with the finger pointing at you and your mother telling you that this young girl is trying to trap you.

You be responsible for your own actions. You be responsible for your body. Even if the young lady tells you that she is using birth control that is not enough. Wrap it up. Don't let one second of your hormones go out of control that will change the course of your life forever. They say diamonds are forever, well so are babies. You cannot turn the clock back.

When I was 10, my sister came home with a beautiful baby girl. This baby was just beautiful;I was in such awe of her, but I saw how my sister's lifestyle changed drastically. Her daughter never slept at night, but in the morning my sister still had to get up and work. She still had to do her chores in the house.

Watching her struggle, the extra money she earned could not be spent on parties and high fashion, all went to buying diapers, baby food and other essentials. My mother offered very little assistance. From my sister's experience, this was all the contraception I needed.

Don't you want more? To be more? Babymother and babyfather is not a career, it is a life choice. Travel the world, experience and study as many different things as possible then, if that same person is in your life down the road when you have some education, you may consider getting married and having a child.

Knowledge, education, experience are the keys to success. Many single women and some single fathers have had successful careers raising children but why choose the high road? The career journey is difficult as it is.

Take no chances, remember the rhythm method is out!! Be sensible. Take care of your bodies and don't let anyone infect it. And parents don't be afraid to talk to your children about sex. Yes, I said the three-letter word that gets swept under the carpet. The consequences that surround them the pressures they are under. It is no point brow beating them to study hard and get good grades if they are clueless about life's natural act.

Life's enjoyable act, life's seduction that can change their lives. Step up to the plate. I've told my son already he gets my 100 per cent support on anything he is about to achieve, any new ideas he wants to undertake, but any baby mama drama - he is on his own and he knows I don't play.

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