(March 30, 2001) — As part of the Glendale Unified School District, the Pregnant Minors Program (located on 125 S. Louise St.) is an educational program for teen mothers, directed by Kathy Collins. About 20 students participate in this program and about 16 babies are taken care of there. Free daycare is provided for the babies while the parents get educated. The Clark Chronicle interviewed three students about their decisions and their life once they learned of their pregnancy. The following interview is with 19-year-old Abigail… CC: What were your parent’s reaction when you told them you were having a baby? A: My family is really strict and they weren’t supportive. I feel really helpless at home because my mom doesn’t want to talk to me and she never listens when I need to talk to her. CC: What was the baby’s father’s reaction? A: He was shocked, but he said, “I’ll support you all the way.” And he is supporting me. CC: What was your first reaction when you found out you were going to have a baby? A: I was shocked, but in a way I wanted the baby because my parents were very negative to me. CC: How has your baby affected your social life? A: I don’t have much of a social life because I have to take care of my daughter Angel all the time. CC: How has your baby affected your family life? A: My family life has always been negative. My mom isn’t understanding and instead of supporting me and making me feel better when I need her to, she neglects me. My dad doesn’t talk to me. CC: Your education? A: I learn more here than I learn at public high schools because here it’s a small environment and when you don’t understand something, they care and explain it to you. CC: Do you plan on going to college? A: Yea, Pasadena Community College. I would like to major in performing and theatre. CC: How old are you now and how old were you when you got pregnant? A: I’m 19 and was 16 when I got pregnant. The father is 21 now. CC: Did you consider having an abortion? A: My mom said to have it but I said no. In a way I kinda wanted to get pregnant so I could get out of the house. CC: Does the father play an active role in your child’s life? A: Yea, he plays with her and supports us. CC: How did it feel to be in a labor room at your age? A: Giving birth is really hard. It hurts a lot and those Lamaze classes didn’t help at all. They had to cut my stomach open and I felt every stitch, I felt everything. It really hurts!!! CC: Do you have any advice for people who are planning to have sex or children at a young age? A: I think they should wait. Right now there are so many opportunities, you have so much time for yourself; before you have any kids have a lot of money. CC: Do you have a job? A: No, her dad pays everything mostly. CC: What kind of sex education did you have in school? A: I had health but I never really paid any attention. I think if I had paid attention, it would’ve been helpful and I might not have gotten pregnant. CC: If you could go back, would you pay atten- tion in class? A: Oh yea, now I would – it’s important to me now. CC: If you could go back in time, would you do it again? A: I would kind of wait because I really don’t think it’s fair for anyone.