Teen Parent Connection

I wrote this a while back, but never posted it. I didn’t want to change my wording so I left it. This event was several months ago, but I left my feelings written as I originally wrote them because they were written in the moment…
This morning I wake up feeling lucky. Lucky to have the wonderful family I have been blessed with and lucky to be a part of their lives.
Last night, I went to a fundraiser for Teen Parent Connection. If you don’t know what it is, take a moment to look it up. It’s a wonderful organization of people who help teen parents when they need it most. They have support groups and classes about becoming parents and what’s involved with it, they support these young people during the time when they need it most.
My sister was a part of this organization both as a teen parent and then as a mentor for others once she was a mom. I tend to forget how hard it was for her because I was so young when my nephew came into this world but last night I heard stories from other teen moms that bravely spoke to hundreds of people that attended the event. It’s was beautiful. These young women who took a situation that I’m sure scare them to death and turned it into a blessing with the help and support of Teen Parent Connection. They became teen moms like my sister once was and didn’t let that stop them from living their dreams.
It’s funny how you forget how things once were. Teen Parent Connection is a real organization doing things to change the lives of people that could be your neighbor, coworker, cousin, child, friend, sister or even you. The stories I heard made me cry. The reason: because they were real.
People become parents at many different ages and its doesn’t necessarily become easier at any specific age but teens are judgmental, society sucks, people don’t generally support teen pregnancy but its a real thing and it happens. Life happens. Who knows, maybe I could have had a child but it wasn’t in the cards for me. Everything happens for a reason and the children and families involved in TPC are proof of that.
I’m not mentioning anyone in particular here but he knows who he is and I couldn’t imagine my life without him. 17 years ago, I was still a child and was pretty excited my big sis was pregnant and I was going to be an auntie! I knew people were not supportive and I’m sure there were moments people judged but if there is one value OUR mother taught us, it’s that we were not put on this earth to judge. Well leave that to the big guy upstairs.
Lots of love to you, sister. There is no price I could put on the things you have taught me. My support last night, that’s nothing. Giving back to an organization like TPC is priceless.

The mission statement of Teen Parent Connection:
«To serve the community through education on the realities and responsibilities of teenage pregnancy and through long-​term assistance to adolescent parents for their development of self-​esteem, parenting skills, and empowerment toward self-​sufficiency.»
Yea for TPC! Here are some of the services they provide for young moms and dads:
–Doula (pregnancy support person). Will met with mom and dad throughout pregnancy to prepare for the ‘big day’. The doula will be there at the hospital during the birth to provide information and support. Doula’s also meet with parents after birth to help with breastfeeding, postpartum depression screenings, etc.
–Childbirth Education Class (CBE). Parents can learn about birth while meeting other young parents!
–Health Families DuPage: Trained family support workers visit families in their home and answer any questions about taking care of baby/​toddler/​child. FSW’s can answer questions and provide support for discipline, immunizations, illness, and also perform developmental tests.
–Groups: Parenting support groups are a great way to meet other young parents and learn more about how to care for your child. We have groups all over DuPage county!
–Parents Pantry: When a parents utilizes any of the above services, they are rewarded with Baby Bucks. They can use these Baby Bucks to go shopping in our AMAZING Parents Pantry, and purchase diapers, wipes, formula, baby clothes, etc.
–Prevention: Health educators and peer educators visit classrooms and community groups to discuss the realites of teen pregnancy, and how to prevent an uninteded pregnancy, as well as STD’s/HIV.
–And finally, our scholarship program: parents can apply for a large shcolarship to be used for a college or vocational school.
So, yes, I work for Teen Parent Connection. Please refer any interested parents to our website
or call us directly at (630) 790‑8433.

State-​of-​the-​art support for adolescent parents. They have a fine track record for helping young parents finish high school, often college as well, and they have great success in rearing their children compared with those without support. The young parents attend a 2-​year program and many remain in touch to speak to high school students, become trained support group facilitators, etc. The vast majority do not become pregnant again, while most without support get pregnant within a couple years.
For women 22 and under who are pregnant or have already had a child, or men 25 and under.
7÷8÷06 update: This organization used to be called «Greater DuPage MYM.» MYM stood for «MELD for Young Moms» and MELD stands for «Minnesota Early Learning Design,» so the confusion caused by having an acronym within an acronym and a nondescript name caused them to change it this year.