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There are many decisions that teens make that affect the rest of their lives. One of the most long-lasting is becoming sexually active, getting pregnant, and raising a child. In recognition of the month of May being Teen Pregnancy Awareness month, Teen Connection looks at "Teen Pregnancy, Teen Parents."

Statistics can be boring. But the statistics on teenage pregnancy are alarming. Some 560,000 teenage girls give birth each year. Everyone asks the questions. "Why are children having children? What are they doing have sex so early?" You hear it wherever people are talking about the conditions in America today. The answers are complex. Many theories are expressed by adults who work with teens, by researchers in the field, and by teens themselves as they tell us their stories.

"If I had a child I don't know that I would be able to care for him correctly. It is a decision that you want to make when you are old enough. When you know you have the time, the money, the responsibility, the maturity, everything. It's a big decision." Those words were spoken by Bob Lazers as he appeared on Teen Connection in October of 1997. 10 short months later he became a full-time teenage father. Traveling to Stevens Point we spent the morning with Bob and his 9 month old son Noah, he had a message for his peers, with the hope that this time someone will listen.

Teniesha Daniels, from Milwaukee, is a full-time mother of two. "I became sexually active when I was 15 years old." Teniesha states, "Basically I was dumb to the fact. I though I would never get pregnant. That didn't even come to my mind. I thought it wouldn't happen to me." At the age of 20 she dreams of opportunities of college, while working and struggling to find ways to make the life of her children better. Inviting us to spend the evening with her and her family she had a story to tell.

Panel participants will include 6 teenage mothers that are struggling with the reality of caring for and raising a child. They too, will have poignant stories to share with the audience. Joining them is Pat Marquette who is the Teen Parent Center Coordinator for the Green Bay YWCA.