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I have to admit: I don’t know why the Kardashian family is famous. I’ve never seen the show(s). I only know that one of the women is pregnant because I picked up my cousin’s People magazine while I was on vacation. Without having read that particular article, I might not have clicked on this one in which Kourtney gives advice on unplanned pregnancy.
People always complain that celebrities set bad examples with their partying, their issues with drugs and alcohol and, of course, with their unplanned pregnancies. While Kourtney isn’t exactly a teen, she does have teens who (apparently) look up to her. As such, people argue that she and other celebrities like her should be held to a higher standard. I always said that was a bunch of malarkey. People, the non-celebs among us, are responsible for their own actions. I’m pretty sure if I was parenting a daughter and she got pregnant and told me, “Kourtney Kardashian made me do it,” I’d laugh at her. And send her to her room for lying, among other things.
Anyway, back to the article about tips regarding unplanned pregnancies from Kourtney.
1. Always take your birth control. Well, duh. Kourtney neglects to discuss, however, the inability for some women, especially younger women, to attain affordable birth control. The world can argue that it is now easily accessible and affordable and I will argue that these women have never lived in a house with a family that opposes birth control, lived paycheck-to-paycheck or otherwise had to make the decision between medication and food. I’d expand Kourtney’s advice to include a barrier form of protection. Remember: sexually transmitted diseases are still a reality. The pill won’t protect you from them so it is important to use something like a condom! Of course, this tip doesn’t help women who are already pregnant, now does it?
2. Seek the support of those you trust. Amen, Kourtney! This may mean that the first person you tell is or is not your own mother. It may mean that you don’t tell certain friends for awhile. It may mean that you might have to totally reevaluate who you do and do not trust in your life. Doing so, however, will provide you with a support group during a time in your life when you need the most support. Whatever your eventual decision, you are going to need the support of those in your life. Don’t be afraid to actually seek that support.
3. Don’t be afraid to consider all the options that might be right for you. Apparently Kourtney took some heat when she mentioned that she did consider abortion (but not adoption). I hate when people get all judge-tastic about the decision process surrounding an unplanned pregnancy. The truth is that you have three options. You first must decide whether or not you want to continue or terminate the pregnancy. From there, you must decide whether you want to parent your child or place your child for adoption. Exploring your options is your right, whether Jane Doe or Joe Schmoe feel you should skip step one or not. If you have no one with whom to discuss these options, please seek out a counselor. An unbiased bit of advice may help you make the best decision for your particular situation.
4. Do your best to embrace whatever choice you end up making. I gotta say, I love this bit of advice. It’s the truth. I know that readers of this blog are often considering placement as a route for their pregnancy. In the end, some choose it and some do not. The point is to do the best with whatever decision you make. If you choose to parent, be the best parent you can be. If you choose to place, be the best birth mother you can be. Hard days will await you, whatever your decision. Make it your goal to put your best effort into it, no matter your decision.
I still don’t know why she’s famous but she has some good advice. The truth is that we all become a “pro” on unplanned pregnancy as we experience one in our lives. As such, we all have advice we’d like to impart to the public. What about you? Do you have some advice to share with others experiencing an unplanned pregnancy? (Snarky answers of “keep your legs closed” will be deleted and the account banned. Heads up.)
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