Many people believe that teenagers aren’t ready to be parents, as most of them don’t have the emotional maturity or finances needed to have kids. And they’re not entirely wrong. While there are teenagers who can rise above the challenges that having children presents, more often than not, parenthood in teenage years results in negative outcomes for the parent and the child.
This family, whose daughter decided to go through with her teenage pregnancy, also worried that she wouldn’t be able to fulfill the needs of her baby. When they noticed their fears coming true, the dad decided to call CPS and shared more about the whole situation online.
Most teens don’t have the maturity or finances to become parents
Teen daughter held gently by a woman, illustrating emotional impact of dad calling CPS in a difficult family situation.
These parents tried to warn their daughter about it, but she didn’t listen
Alt text: Dad calls CPS on teen daughter facing custody issues with her baby after reporting concerns to child services.
Text on a grey background about a dad’s difficult decision to call CPS on his teen daughter after learning she was pregnant.
Text excerpt from a dad explaining why he called CPS on his teen daughter due to pregnancy concerns.
Pregnant woman in a yellow floral dress holding belly outdoors, representing dad’s difficult decision to call CPS on teen daughter.
Text on a plain background expressing financial struggle to support a teen daughter and baby, related to calling CPS.
Text describing a father’s struggles before calling CPS on his teen daughter, highlighting financial and family challenges.
Text excerpt about a teen daughter’s pregnancy and family issues related to why dad called CPS on teen daughter.
Text about a dad explaining his decision to call CPS on his teen daughter for intervention and care concerns.
Newborn baby lying on bed while parent changes diaper, illustrating dad confesses why he called CPS on teen daughter.
Text excerpt showing a dad explaining why he called CPS on his teen daughter despite the difficulty in making that decision.
Text describing a dad’s difficult decision to call CPS due to his teen daughter’s neglect and inability to nurture her child.
Text excerpt showing a dad confessing why he called CPS on his teen daughter, explaining the difficult decision.
Middle-aged man holding phone near face, appearing serious while calling CPS on teen daughter in a difficult moment.
Later, the dad clarified some things:
Text post explaining a father’s decision to call CPS on his teen daughter and clarify misunderstandings.
Text excerpt discussing a dad explaining why he called CPS on his teen daughter and addressing neglect concerns.
Text of a father explaining his difficult decision to call CPS on his teen daughter due to financial and family concerns.
Text excerpt from dad confessing why he called CPS on teen daughter, explaining difficult decision and care for infant.
Many parents think their children aren’t mature enough to handle adult life skills
Unfortunately, many parents don’t feel confident that their teenagers are prepared to handle adult life skills, let alone have a child. Just 8% were sure that their adolescent child could make an appointment with a doctor on their own. Around 41% expected their kids to eat healthy foods, while 46% believed that they would save their money for their future.
Experts are quite disappointed by these numbers. “That’s stunningly low,” said Sarah Clark, an associate research scientist with the University of Michigan. “That’s not where we want kids to be at age 17 and 18.”
When asked why parents think their teens aren’t ready for independence, 24% said they aren’t mature enough, 22% believe they don’t have enough time to take on responsibility, and 14% feel that they don’t know how to handle their own business.
The responsibility for this partly falls on the parents themselves, as 19% said it’s easier to just take care of tasks themselves instead of leaving it to their teen. 7% didn’t even know how to assign their kids more responsibilities.
“It’s less time and less hassle if I just do it myself—as a parent myself, that’s true, but you have to more think about it as an investment of time preparing your kid to handle him or herself,” Clark said.
Parents have to prepare their kids for adulthood
If parents want their kids to be independent and resourceful adults or even good parents in the future, they have to start being more serious about teaching them vital life skills. Just because someone turns 18, it doesn’t mean that they magically receive a crash course in adulthood. Until they transition into adulthood, they have to learn the things that prepare them for it. Even chores like going to the bank.
“I need to go to the bank. You’re going to go with me, and we’re going to learn how to do a deposit,” Clark said. “It won’t be the most fun field trip we have as a family this summer, but it’s necessary.”
The opportunity for such lessons springs up daily—parents just have to think about them. “I remember my younger son saying, everything was always in the bathroom cabinet. That’s true, it always was, and it never would have occurred to me to have a conversation while we were shopping about the difference between ibuprofen and acetaminophen.”
So, for children to understand how adult tasks and chores are done, parents have to show and explain them, breaking them down step by step. At first, they might not get it right, but mistakes are just a normal part of the learning process.
If teens know how to take care of themselves, they are more likely to know how to take care of others when the time comes. Adulthood, and especially parenthood, is a journey full of extreme challenges, and they can be easier to overcome if we are equipped with the right tools from our younger years. Even when we become adults, we still need the support of our parents, so let’s not be too harsh on teens if they require a little nudge in the right direction once in a while.
Readers had mixed feelings about the whole situation
Screenshot of a social media comment reflecting on the difficulty of the dad’s decision to call CPS on his teen daughter.
Screenshot of a forum comment stating she needs to file for child support related to a dad calling CPS on teen daughter.
Text post from anxiousgamerwife sharing a personal story about family struggles, support, and teen daughter challenges before a CPS call.
Comment discussing the challenges a dad faces calling CPS on his teen daughter and the need for parental support.
Comment discussing the challenges of parenting and concerns about a teen daughter’s mental health before a CPS call.
Comment expressing concern about a dad who called CPS on his teen daughter and the challenges she faces.
Reddit comment discussing a dad’s decision to call CPS on his teen daughter and the challenges involved.
Comment expressing harsh feelings about a dad calling CPS on teen daughter and its impact on the family.
Commenter expressing concern for teen daughter and her baby after dad called CPS, highlighting the difficulty of the decision.
Comment advising to put dad on child support and encouraging teen daughter to get help and education after dad called CPS.
Comment discussing challenges of parenting teen daughter and why a dad called CPS, highlighting difficult decisions involved.
User comment discussing challenges a dad faced before calling CPS on his teen daughter and family struggles.
Screenshot of an online comment discussing parental responsibility in context of a dad calling CPS on his teen daughter.
Screenshot of an online comment discussing parenting and CPS involvement related to a teen daughter situation.
Comment discussing a dad confessing why he called CPS on his teen daughter amid family and responsibility issues.
Screenshot of a forum comment discussing a dad confessing why he called CPS on his teen daughter.
Comment explaining a father’s difficult decision to call CPS on his teen daughter, emphasizing responsibility and care.
Screenshot of a user comment discussing challenges faced by a teen daughter and reasons a dad called CPS.
Screenshot of an online comment discussing a dad’s decision to call CPS on his teen daughter and family responsibilities.
Commenter shares personal story urging dad to reconsider calling CPS on teen daughter, highlighting family support impact.
Comment criticizing a dad who called CPS on his teen daughter, discussing parenting and family trust issues.
Commenter expressing disagreement with dad who called CPS on teen daughter, discussing parenting and unconditional love challenges.
Screenshot of online comment criticizing a dad who called CPS on his teen daughter for difficult reasons.
Comment criticizing a father who called CPS on his teen daughter, discussing parenting and support concerns.
Comment discussing the challenges of parenting a teen and reasons a dad called CPS on his daughter.
Screenshot of an online comment discussing parental responsibility related to why a dad called CPS on his teen daughter.
Text from a dad explaining the difficult reasons behind calling CPS on his teen daughter and its impact on family.
Comment criticizing a dad who called CPS on his teen daughter, discussing challenges of parenting and attachment issues.
Comment revealing a dad’s difficult decision to call CPS on his teen daughter for her safety.
Comment expressing strong opinion about dad calling CPS on teen daughter, highlighting challenges of teen pregnancy and family support.
Screenshot of a forum comment discussing a dad confessing why he called CPS on his teen daughter and the emotional difficulty involved.
Comment expressing regret and betrayal after a dad called CPS on his teen daughter, highlighting family conflict and emotional struggle.
Comment discussing a dad confessing why he called CPS on his teen daughter, explaining the difficulty of the decision.
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