Parenting

How Can You Know If You’re Ready to Parent?

The prospect of becoming a parent can be scary. This is true even for those who planned to become pregnant, but there is little doubt that an unplanned pregnancy can add extra anxiety to the situation. With that said, someone who did not plan to become pregnant is just as capable of being an effective parent as anyone else.

One very important factor in raising a child is providing him or her with a stable, loving support system — a system that starts with you, their parent. However, not everyone has that system in place, meaning it can be difficult to know where to start. If you are someone thinking about parenting, but without a stable support system in place, it is important to ask yourself the following questions:

• Is your partner supportive?
• How will your parents and other family members react?
• What effect will your child have on your education or job?
• Can you afford to have and raise a child?
• Do you feel mature enough to raise a child?
• Do you have a stable, reliable housing situation?

Our 30+ affiliate pregnancy centers are on hand to help you work through your answers to those questions and analyze what your answers mean for your ability to successfully parent. They can provide information and support, regardless of whether you ultimately choose to parent or not.

Should you be experiencing an unplanned pregnancy and are considering parenting, please contact us today to schedule an appointment, or visit our Find a Center page to find the center nearest you.