First Days of Parenting

1. In the "If I Became a Teen Parent" assignment, did the response you received from your parent/guardian surprise you?  Discuss.

The overall response I got from my mother when asking the questions actually surprised me. I expected a "Oh HELL no" form of response when I asked about it, but instead received a "I would help you because you are my son, and because family sticks together. I would support your decision but want you to find a job, and would worry about your future." Overall, I was just surprised of how supporting she says she would be (if something were to happen like having a child).

1. What responses to the flour baby project surprised you?  (i.e. What friends, family, or strangers said or how they acted)

Overall, I think a stereotype stands... - When I attempted to joke with my friends online, I got a congratulations rather than a "WTF DUDE?", whereas my grandparents responded to my sister with a response similar to that. The only real thing that surprised me was that my parents are so supportive of me if I were to become a father, rather than tell me to be on my own.

1. In what ways should we have started this project differently?  (i.e. If we had it to do over again, how would you have started the project?)

I think the project should be started in the same way (everyone appeared interested, and even the one student that was slacking brought a baby day 2 of the assignment), but we should have greater strictness when it comes to the "Child abuse" thing. - Although students must do an essay on child neglect, etc if they purposely cause harm to their child, or forget them... Even a student from another class purposely punched the flour baby hard enough to dent it a lot. (Sabrina's "Child"). The students responsible should be reported to the office for damaging the property (and grade) of their peers.

1. What was the most surprising about the "Baby Costs" project?

I was unable to find all of the prices for the baby cost project (I found the starting costs such as $15,000 for anesthetics, etc. but could not find the prices due to a million different types of diapers, etc.) - I was surprised about how confusing it is to calculate the financial cost of everything. Just to have the child, insurance is a MUST!! - $15,000 for anesthetics,  thousands for having the child, etc. - plus hundreds of dollars per month on clothing, food, etc - is an extreme financial burden on anyone.