| Am I Mature Enough To Become A Parent?
Dear Dr. Levister: I'm 14 and pregnant. My mom says I'm not mature enough to be a parent. I say I'm not too young to love my child. L.E. Dear L.E. It's noble to say your child will be loved but love alone won't put food in its mouth nor will it pay for your child's college education. Parenting is hard work that requires more than just love. It's pathetic that our schools don't require classes in what is probably the most important legacy you'll leave behind. Becoming a parent means being an adult 24-7. Becoming physically mature means you'll need to mature emotionally and mentally too. A parent has many responsibilities. When it comes to child rearing, providing food, shelter clothing and medical care are just the beginning of what is expected. A child needs mature guidance.
The state does decide what makes a parent
Is there a Charter right to be irresponsible? Alberta courts have said "no." Now the case is off to the Supreme Court of Canada. When Jane Doe told her live-in boyfriend John Doe that she wanted a baby, he said he didn't. It's a sad but common story: Typically, the couple splits to find partners with matching interests.
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Religion calendar
THE GLOBAL DAY OF PRAYER , with people in more than 195 nations gathering publicly to pray, will be locally from 3 to 6 p.m. Sunday at the Hilton Vancouver Washington, 301 W. Sixth St., Vancouver. The annual day of repentance and prayer started in South Africa in 2000. Clark County church and marketplace leaders are hosting the event, which will also be broadcast live on KKPZ-AM 1330. ERNIE COUCH & REVIVAL will perform gospel music at the 11 a.m. Sunday worship service at Manor Evangelical Church, 17913 N.E. 72nd Ave., Battle Ground. An offering will be taken. * Call 360-574-3584. A FAREWELL DINNER for Brandi Hacker begins at 5:30 p.m. Sunday at St. Andrew Lutheran Church, 5607 N.E. Gher Road, Vancouver. Hacker, who has been an intern at St. Andrew for the past year, is returning to the Lutheran School of Theology in Chicago to complete her last year of pastoral studies.
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