Parents force pregnant 15-year-old to drop out of school and raise the baby against her wishes: 'I just want to give the baby up for adoption, but they won’t listen to me'

Author image for Emmy Pratt
Emmy Pratt • Senior Editor
Oct 15, 2024 8:00 PM EDT

It's pretty bleak how many people see pregnancy as a divine punishment for women who "misbehave." I don't know about you all, but I don't think forcing irresponsible young women to raise babies that they can't afford and never wanted in the first place is a great idea. I don't think most people who tell pregnant teenage girls to "accept responsibility" and make motherhood their #1 priority actually believe it will lead to the best results. They want her to be punished for daring to have s*x, and not allowing her to have any choice in her future puts her in her place. I understand that a lot of people feel negatively about abortion, but adoption should surely be an option for a pair of 15-year-olds who have their whole futures ahead of them. The parents of the pregnant teen in this story don't see adoption as an option.

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    Cheezburger Image 10416683008
    via Getty Images (Unsplash+)

    This image is for illustration only, and the subjects are models; the image does not depict the actual subjects of the story.

  • 02
    AITA for wanting to give up my baby?
    via u/Whole-Toe-4457
  • 03
    I (15F) just found out I'm pregnant. It's by my boyfriend (15M), and we've been together for about a year. We were both completely freaked out when I told him, but we agreed that we weren't ready for this. The first thing I thought of was getting an abortion. I don't want to have a baby at 15, and neither does he.
    via u/Whole-Toe-4457
  • 04
    When I told my parents, they lost it. They're super religious and said abortion was completely off the table. They even said adoption wasn't an option-they want me to keep the baby, no matter what. My mom said I needed to "take responsibility" for what I did, and my dad told me I'd have to drop out of school to be a full-time mom. They didn't even ask me how I felt about it.
    via u/Whole-Toe-4457
  • 05
    Then, they went behind my back and called my boyfriend's parents. Now his parents are making him keep the baby too. They told him he has to "man up" and take care of it, which means he'll have to quit sports and get a part-time job to help out. We both feel like our lives are being ripped away from us, and there's nothing we can do about it. My boyfriend and I are terrified. We're kids ourselves—we don't know how to be parents.
    via u/Whole-Toe-4457
  • 06
    Since all this happened, I've been really depressed. I don't want this baby, and I feel like my parents don't care at all about what I want. They keep telling me that I'll love the baby once it's born, but I don't feel that way. I feel trapped. My boyfriend says he'll stay and help, but he's just as scared as I am. His parents are being just as forceful as mine, making him feel like he doesn't have a choice either.
    via u/Whole-Toe-4457
  • 07
    I feel like my parents are forcing me into something I'm not ready for and I'm just sinking deeper into . I just want to give the baby up for adoption or get an abortion, but they won't listen to me. AITA for wanting to give up the baby when our parents are forcing us to keep it?
    via u/Whole-Toe-4457
  • 08
    Sea-Ad9057 Speak to a school councillor or a social worker
    via u/Sea-Ad9057
  • 09
    DrVL2 I'd like to add, if her parents and his try to insist that they keep and raise the baby, in many states there are safe surrender spots. You can drop off your baby. You can be anonymous doing it. You don't need your parents to even know where you did it.
    via u/DrVL2
  • 10
    SubstantialPressure3 Agree. Parenthood isn't supposed to be a punishment.
    via u/SubstantialPressure3
  • 11
    JrLavish194 I would be careful about school. Especially if a religious school or in a religious district.
    via u/JrLavish194
  • 12
    Glitter-n-Bones Hello dear, come check out r/AuntieNetwork for options of safe spaces and people who can help you through this super hard time. Editing to add this to my main comment since it keeps getting commented below. I'd never assist a minor in getting an abortion! But I'd offer my open home and a warm bed to anyone in need. I'm a big fan of going to the mall in the big city nearest our local clinic, so anyone coming with me would be welcome to join me at the mall, or they could split up a
    via u/Glitter-n-Bones
  • 13
    Wildthorn23 Please OP see this resource, your parents do not get to tell you what you should put your body through.
    via u/Wildthorn23
  • 14
    Gullible4613 Depending on where you live and the gestational age of the fetus, you may be able to seek out an abortion without parent permission. Use a protected browser or a friend's phone/computer for any research regarding this, just in case. If you are within the window to take the oral abortion- inducing medication and don't need a D&C, you could claim miscarriage if it comes up. Not sure how to navigate the logistics of going the route of a D&C, but there are plenty of resources out there
    via u/Gullible4613
  • 15
    Helium TankAW https://www.plancpills.org/ It is impossible to know if this was a natural miscarriage or you took the pills you can get them mailed almost anywhere use your friends phone etc find the money no matter what. There are options please know you are not trapped if you do not want to be.
    via u/HeliumTankAW
  • 16
    g00dvibez0n1y As a parent, I don't understand your parents or his AT ALL. My boys are 14 and 15 and they would be the worst fathers at their ages. Not that they aren't great kids, they are amazing kids, but they are just that... KIDS!
    via u/g00dvibez0n1y
  • 17
    Huge Huckleberry_470 Call child protective services and they should be able to help you. Giving the baby up for adoption is your and your BF's choice and no one else's. This is a decision the two of you make and not your parents. NTA.
    via u/Huge_Huckleberry_470
  • 18
    Famous-Childhood-180 Please don't give in to your parents. I adopted two girls who were put in the system voluntarily later on (11 months and 22 months) and it was much harder/more trauma for everyone - children and the mother. It was more challenging for the adoption agency as well to find potential adopters. (Still far from a true challenge but newborns are very easy). Google adoption agencies and call a local one. They will know exactly what you need to do and will do their best to support yo
    via u/Famous-Childhood-180
  • 19
    CurrentTurn7126 NTA I feel like it's probably illegal to force a child to quit school and I don't think they legally have a choice wether you go the route of adoption. Worst come to worst after the baby is born take it to a fire station or hospital they are safe places that you can give up your baby without any legal consequences.
    via u/CurrentTurn7126

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teens pregnancy teenager teenagers teen pregnancy reddit story parenting raising teens pregnancy test pregnant reddit thread parent Reddit Parenting Fail parents Parenting FAILS
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