Choice.

And now a break from you regularly scheduled program. OK OK I know, I'm supposed to blog about the ultrasound. BUT how can I when something much more pressing in on my mind. THE ELECTION. I would suggest you stop reading now if you are a Sarah Palin supporter or if you don't believe in birth control, because I'm not and I do. I don't really want to offend anyone, these are just my opinions. SO PLEASE NO HATE MAIL. : )

Nick and I have a ritual of falling asleep to NPR every night. Last night was no exception and as I was dozing off there was a discussion about Bristol Palin's pregnancy. I was on the brink of being asleep and suddenly I was wide awake saying "I guess Gov. Palin's abstinence only sex-ed programs worked."

Today I've been thinking a lot about this young girl's pregnancy. I've been thinking how out-of-touch her mother truly must be, both with her own children and with the nation. It has made me reflect about how grateful I am that that I had a mother that taught me the importance of choice.

To have options is one of the most important gifts a daughter can receive from her mother. I was given the tools to learn about birth control and the responsibilities that come with being sexually active. HAVING A CHOICE. HAVING AN EDUCATION. HAVING THOSE TOOLS. This is what has allowed me to be in control of my own destiny and my own body.

My pregnancy has been of my own design. Nick and I have had 8 years to grow together, learn together, and be more and more in love with each other. We have had years to travel, beach holidays, trips to Europe, time to work on our careers, and build a life as a couple. Together we WORKED on our marriage - through the hard times and through the easy ones. We were able to have long discussions about whether or not we wanted to have children and decide for ourselves that bringing a child into this world would be right for us.

Being 17. Being Pregnant. Having a Shot Gun Wedding. What a sad way to start a life together. To bring a life into this world together. Not all of you may feel this way. Teenage pregnancy happens all the time. Lovely, smart, beautiful, kind people have had teenage mothers. BUT talk about giving yourself the short end of the stick. Think about trying to make a marriage work when you are both under 20 and have a newborn.

My heart goes out to this young girl who wasn't given the tools to make decisions for herself. Who's education about sex included nothing about condoms, the pill, or (almost more importantly) preventing STDs. She now has to bare the brunt of her mother's narrow belief system. HER MOTHER, a women who was able to build her own career and have children when she decided to, has left a sad sad legacy.