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As a teenager, becoming a parent may not be the priority for you right now. The body is still developing mentally and physically. Unfortunately, in Kenya, we have a significant number of teenage pregnancies. This means that by 15 years of age or even earlier, many of our teenagers are already fathers and mothers.
Here are some important questions you may want to ask yourself before choosing to be a parent.
- Do I want to be a parent?
- Who do I want to be a parent with?
- When do I want a child(ren)?
- How many children do I want?
And what are some qualities of a good father?
- He takes responsibility for the children.
- He cares about the children and tries to provide them with a better life than he has.
- He spends time with the children and helps them to develop knowledge and skills.
- He knows the importance of showing love and affection.
- He financially supports the children.
- He tries to maintain a good relationship with the children’s mother.
- He makes decisions based on what is good for the children.
- He knows how to care for children or is willing to learn.
- He is willing to give up things to be a good father.
- He wants to keep his family healthy by not exposing himself or their mother to diseases like HIV.
- He plays with his children, reads to them, and engages in youth-centred activities.
What are some qualities of a good mother?
- She cares about the children and tries to provide them with a better life than she has.
- She spends time with the children and helps them to develop knowledge and skills.
- She knows the importance of showing love and affection.
- She tries to maintain a good relationship with the children’s father.
- She makes decisions based on what is good for the children.
- She knows how to care for children or is willing to learn.
- She is willing to give up things to be a good mother.
- She wants to keep her family healthy by not exposing herself or their father to diseases like HIV.
- She plays with her children, reads to them and engages in youth-centred activities.