Teens are Pregnant

Today there are many cautionary shows on television about teen pregnancy. I like the shows. They are realistic about the hardships and sacrifices the girls make to become moms, at 15, 16 or 17. It also realistically depicts what teen boys really want, new trucks, video games, and to hang out with their friends. The teen’s parents usually are supportive, but in reality the kids are not emotionally or mature enough to become parents, themselves. Almost, if not all, do not continue their educations. They have babies to feed and clothe.

This reality show was not around when I was a teen. I attended a large High School. Regardless the size of the school everyone knows who the popular students were. I don’t remember how I met Ronnie, our last names began with the same letter, so we must have sat near each other in classes. She was, sweet, smart, attractive, and a majorette. This meant she had the “correct” friends, and was very popular. She had a boyfriend also and she possessed all the things I wished I had.

I always thought Ronnie’s boyfriend acted like a fool when they were together. He was a grade or two ahead of us, tall, blonde, silly, and LOUD. She was always playfully smacking him, and telling him to stop doing foolish things. I thought she deserved better. They had been together for a long time. I wanted a boyfriend, I did not want one like him, ( wisdom on my part).

During our senior year, I heard she was pregnant. Her mother told my mother, they had been secretly married, and now the news was out. This was not surprising. Ronnie was just a normal teenager, and this was their choice. Her mother was showing Ronnie’s marriage license around, I guess to show her daughter’s honor? This was 1969, not today.

I went to college, and my own dating life began in earnest. Ronnie and her husband and baby, moved into my apartment building. We would pass in the elevator, or I would see her pushing the baby in a swing. I always said hi, but deadlines, classes, dates, and part time work prevented me from sitting down and catching up with Ronnie. I am not sure what we had in common anymore?

One day we had a chance to chat. She said she sees the life I have, and wished she would have waited to marry and have the baby. She could have gone to college and become a teacher, her dream. She laughed when I said how I envied her in High School. I wanted to be a twirler, and be as popular, as she was. She said, “ yeah, look where it got me”.

Hello 1972…. back to the future.