Perhaps you have been away at college or somewhere and this holiday season is the first time you are going to see your family, namely your parents, the news of your unplanned pregnancy.

I know avoiding them probably seems easier, but keep in mind; our families love us and want to support us, even through the bad times. Our parents are the ones who picked us up when we fell down, dried our tears when we got a broken heart, and encouraged us when we needed it most. So during an emotional and stressful time, such as an unplanned pregnancy, it is only natural... more

“Who are you to judge the life I live? I know I’m not perfect - and I don’t live to be, but before you start pointing fingers, make sure your hands are clean.” ~ Bob Marley

In the upcoming days some of us may be traveling over the river and through the woods, to Grandmother’s House. Or perhaps your family gathers at a more modern place in the city.

Where ever your family gathering may be, there is sure to be tons of well meaning advice, lots of opinions,... more

When you tell your family and friends that you are pregnant, you probably are going to be bombarded with well intentioned opinions and advice. You may also deal with some anger, disappointment, and shock from family members.

At times, the opinions and advice of friends and family may become overwhelming. Everyone seems to know what you should do and what is best for you. But, only you know what is best for you and your unborn baby and only you can make this decision. They may or may not be supportive of whatever option you choose whether it be parenting or placing your baby for adoption. At some point, you will have to put your foot down and let friends and family know that you appreciate... more

When you tell your family and friends that you are pregnant, you probably are going to be bombarded with well intentioned opinions and advice. Everyone seems to know what you should do and what is best for you. But, only you know what is best for you and your unborn baby and only you can make this decision.

At times, the opinions and advice of friends and family may become overwhelming. They may or may not be supportive of whatever option you choose whether it be parenting or placing your baby for adoption. At some point, you will have to put your... more

Family support is very important to many of us. Our parents are the ones who picked us up when we fell down, dried our tears when we got a broken heart, and encouraged us when we needed it most.

So during an emotional and stressful time, such as an unplanned pregnancy, it is only natural for us to turn to our family. But, telling your family, especially your parents that you are pregnant may be very hard.

Personally speaking, even though I was 24 years old when I was pregnant with my son, I was terrified to tell my parents. I was afraid, ashamed, and just... more

If the only reason you are considering adoption is because your family is pressuring you to do so, stand up to them. Make this your first big adult decision. There is no situation that will be better suited to your strongly expressing your wants and needs, because you and your baby are the ones who will be most deeply affected.

If your parents are telling you “not in my house,” and they refuse to budge from this position, try to find someone supportive who would allow you to live with them for a few months after delivery, until you get on your feet. And remember that... more

So, how are your parents handling the news of your pregnancy?

The way your family treats this time has a great deal to do with whether or not you will ultimately surrender your baby to adoption.

It doesn’t matter if you are of age or completely independent—family members still have a major impact on your choices, and their opinions are highly influential. Of course, the younger you are, the more you must listen to what they have to say.

When faced with a crisis pregnancy, most people do have strong initial opinions on what should be done—be it abortion, adoption... more

Earlier I talked about how to tell your boyfriend or partner that you are pregnant. In this post, I'll talk about breaking the news to your family, who are the next group of people that definitely need to know.

If you have a rocky relationship with your parents or if you are worried about the severity of their reaction, it's tempting to want to hide your pregnancy from them as long as you can. Feelings of shame and fear are very common for women in crisis pregnancies, and it doesn’t matter if you are 14 or 40—they happen to adults as well as minors.

So while you may wish you could to keep the news to yourself, please remember that nothing good ever comes from secrets or lies.... more