How to Deal With a Teen Father

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By hlejames
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Deal With a Teen Father

Teenaged boys often lack a sense of accountability as parents. The teenaged girl is often left to face this problem without the support of the other participant, the teen dad. If your son is going to become a teenaged father and you want him to treat the situation like a man, this article is for you.

Difficulty: Moderately Challenging

Instructions

Step 1

Your still the parent, even if he is one too. This means laying down the law. Insist that he finish his education, and that he do everything possible to help the teen mom finish hers such as offering to tutor her. You must insist that all extra curricular activities that are not paving a way to college must stop. Play time is over for him. It will be hard for everyone involved, especially your son, so don't neglect that he is facing a tough emotional time as well.
Step 2

Put him to work. Insist that your son get a job. Do not ask him for rent, but rather ask him for a set amount of money out of his paycheck that you will hold. Let him know that this is for the baby. It could be emergency money, money for a house, or even gas money to take the mom to and from doctors appointments.
Step 3

Ask him to explore matrimony. It is true that no one should get married just because they have a child, it would be nice for the baby to have the experience of a traditional nuclear family. It is also important for your son to associate being a father with being a husband.
Step 4

Encourage your teen dad to be present. No matter what it takes, your teen dad should be at every appointment, every ultrasound, emergency hospital visit, through labor and delivery all the way up until baby's graduation. It would not hurt to enroll your son into parenting classes, and inviting the mother.
Step 5

Prepare your son for the probable. Most teen relationships don't last. Especially ones between teen parents. However, fatherhood is a lifetime commitment. Encourage your teenaged father to not only pay child support, but to take an active parenting roll in the child's life.