We can all agree that teen pregnancy—no matter the circumstances—is not an ideal situation; it is the result of a broken world, and it presents a dilemma for all involved. There are suddenly many things to figure out, and your life is no longer your own. Let’s not forget that, however costly, ill-timed, and inconvenient, children are gifts from God and blessings to their communities. We pray that your community is ready to receive and love you and your child, especially in a time such as this.
While teen pregnancy will change your life, it does not have to derail it. The tools that you need to press into this new path in your life are readily available, easily accessible, and will allow you to proceed in a positive direction.
The first thing to remember is that you are now living for two. The stakes have been raised. Every action you take and every decision you make is for both you and your unborn child. This applies to more than just your physical health, too, especially if you plan to raise the child yourself. Teen pregnancy in particular requires that you also think about your future, and prepare yourself to become someone who can care for a child well, in education, employment, and maturity. It is crucial that you continue to grow in all aspects of your life to ensure future success. Life won’t pause for your teen pregnancy, so take a deep breath and move one step at a time to keep figuring out practical ways to move forward.
Now more than ever, keep getting down on your knees and asking Him to guide your steps, asking Him which way to go, asking for His self-sacrificing love as you prepare to lay down your individual life for your child. As you pray, seek out the support of people and organizations who understand your situation.
Psalm 34: When the righteous cry for help, the LORD hears and delivers them out of all of their troubles.
One of the things that you will need to figure out as you proceed in your teen pregnancy is how to continue your education while balancing the pressures of your pregnancy, and eventually motherhood (if you plan to raise your child yourself). There are many reasons why going back to a regular high school may be difficult. Plugging back into the school system can be a challenge socially, financially, emotionally, and spiritually.
Homeschooling may be an option you want to consider. Deciding to be homeschooled during a teen pregnancy is a great way to ensure that your education remains uninterrupted. Being homeschooled will also allow you to incorporate a Christian worldview into your learning, helping you remember the sacrificial love of Jesus on your behalf. Remembering this truth—and being reminded through your schooling—will also help you to maintain your emotional and spiritual health as you navigate this new path in your life.
Here are a few reasons why a Christian-based homeschool program may be right for you:
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Flexibility. A homeschool program offers flexibility that cannot be matched in a traditional school setting. You are entering a phase of your life where the need for flexibility will be paramount.
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Time with Your Family. Working from home can give you more time with your family to build and strengthen the bonds that you have. Teen pregnancy can put a great strain on a family. The more you work together to improve your own future and the future of your baby, the stronger those family ties will become.
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Working at Your Own Pace. An academic advantage of home school is that you are able to move at your own pace. For the subjects where you excel, you can progress and even get ahead in your education. In subjects where you have more difficulty, you can take the time you need to fully understand them.
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Avoiding the Pressures of a Traditional School Environment. There are a lot of pressures at a traditional school—to fit in, to be liked, just to find your next class through a crowd of people. These are not pressures you need when you’re pregnant. Instead, you can focus on what really matters: becoming the person God intends you to be.
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Fewer Distractions. A teen pregnancy should not define who you are as a person, but once you start showing, it may be the first thing people see. Bullying and ostracizing can be big problems in school for anyone, even during the best of times. Unfortunately, pregnant teens are often are judged and singled out, talked about, and teased. Don’t let them knock you off track and keep you from moving ahead.
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Spiritual Encouragement. Especially during a teen pregnancy, you need to experience the love and power of Christ in your daily life. A Christ-focused program will fortify you and give meaning and purpose to your current circumstances.
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Stronger Faith. Your faith matters. Beyond finding the encouragement you need for today, Christian learning can also help you remain faithful throughout your life. Your faith is the basis of who you are and who you will become. Many students in traditional school settings walk away from their faith after they graduate. Young people who are homeschooled with a Christian-based curriculum are far more likely to continue to live a life of faith, service, and strong personal conviction. Make sure that you live a Christ-centered life and raise your child to do the same.
2 Corinthians 9:8: And God is able to make all grace abound to you, so that having all sufficiency in all things at all times, you may abound in every good work.
Christian-based homeschool programs, such as Enlightium Academy, can help guide you to make the right steps in securing a strong future. Here are some specific advantages of our program:
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Counseling: Our attentive, experienced counselors will help guide you, making sure you get the education you need to succeed.
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Accreditation: Enlightium Academy is fully accredited.
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Teacher Support: Our teachers, many of whom hold master’s degrees in their subject area, care about you and will provide the encouragement you need to keep going. They will work with you one-on-one to make sure you understand the course material.
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Community: You become part of the Enlightium family when you enroll with us, and our faculty and staff meet weekly to pray for our school and all of our students and their families.
Don’t put your education on hold during your teen pregnancy. You and your family can work hard and make sure you can have a viable future for your sake and for the sake of your baby. You face many difficult decisions and changes in your life both before and after your baby arrives. Those helping to educate you should support you and help you move your life forward, and your schooling should offer you freedom and flexibility, providing a deep and fulfilling foundation.
