I expect that Bristol Palin needs a laugh about now. So I'm writing this hoping it will give her a smile.
Bristol, I was once a single working mother of two teens and I was worried sick about them. They were cute (like you) and had lots of boyfriends. So I felt compelled to give them the lecture my Dad gave me when I turned 13: "Don't do anything with a boy on a date that you don't want to have all over school the next day."
Well, things have changed and everyone in Hollywood or God knows where (even Alaska!) is getting pregnant as a teen. Not such a bad thing, have kids early and you're still young when they are out of the house.
Bristol, the great thing about having kids early is that you are still young when they are teens. That means you like the same movies, TV shows, music and most important---you laugh at the same things.
When my girls and I went out on Saturday night dates, there was a rule: we all had to be home in time to watch Saturday Night Live together. Our dates weren't too keen on this as they watched us rolling on the floor and laughing our heads off (this was back when SNL was really funny.)
Then came AIDS and it was my daughters' turn to sit me down and give me a lecture. I assured them that I totally understood about "safe sex" but that wasn't enough for them. "Mom, really you ought to try not to be alone with a guy for long," advised my 16-year-old. "You know, things can get out of hand and you may forget to be careful."
This struck me as so hilarious that I laughed so hard that I wet my pants---I mean, how many Moms get that kind of advice?
Many years later, we are still having laughs about that time of our life.
If you have a girl (and I really hope you do, either now or later) I hope you'll enjoy being a young mom as much as I did.
Love you and bless you and your baby!!