What a story… about the 18, teenage girls creating a pregnancy pact in Gloucester, Massachusetts, and on the same day that Jamie Lynn Spears gives birth to her baby.

For the first time since 1991, birth rates have risen 3 percent in 2006, according to preliminary data released in December by the National Center for Health Statistics.

It seems that this is another opportunity for parents to get close and personal with their teenagers. Instead of freaking out, ask your teenager what they think about all of this. Ask them what they think it would be like to raise a baby at there age. Communicate with your teen about issues that could affect them. Pretending like these issue don’t exist, doesn’t make it so.

Many parents are thinking how will this affect my teenager, will she think it’s cool to get pregnant? Maybe so, so you better find out and start the communication now! The only way to help your teen today is to talk to them about everything that is out there that the media is bringing to light. It’s a great opportunity to find out what they are thinking and to educate them on the real facts of a situation.

When my oldest daughter was 13 years old, I was sitting outside with her and 2 of her friends and I said to them, “Your pregnant, what are you going to do?” Hypothetically. Each one of them had a different answer. One said have the baby and keep it, one said have the baby and give it away, and the other said abort.

So, you don’t know what your teen is thinking until you ask. Start talking to your teens about everything, bring all of the issues to the light and discuss them, pregnancy, sex, drug use, eating disorders, everything. It’s up to us as parents to go to our teens and talk about things. Research the information together on the favorite tool, the Internet, and find out the facts.

We live in a different world today, compared to when I was a teenager or even my girls where teens. We have to pay attention to our kids and what’s going on with them and other teens.

Good luck parents, and let me know how it goes.

HAPPY NEW YEAR!  Wow, another year has gone by, and it was an interesting year at that.  What I have noticed is that with most all of my friends, is that is was a big year for them as well as me. So, as we get older do they just have more meaning because we are paying attention more or in fact are they really bigger?  For me it is both, they are bigger and I am certainly more sensitive to my life.  I love the fact that my everyday life affects me; it lets me know that I am alive. The highs and the lows let me know that I am feeling. A lot of big things are going on in life. The nurturing of my relatively new relationship of a little over a year that has been wonderful, teaching me so much about myself. The blossoming of my current friendships and the development of many new friendships. My book, My Feet Aren’t Ugly has been full of fun and excitement, the great girls I have had the opportunity to work with, and all of the other projects that I am involved in. With life moving forward as it does, I want to be here to participate, it makes more sense when I am there to experience it. My thoughts for you this year are to see how present you can be in your life, and how it unfolds differently. Feel those highs and lows and embrace them. Enjoy your relationships like they may be gone tomorrow; take care of yourself like you are caring for a child. Live life to it’s fullest and show up.

Today I did an interview on The Ladies Room with Lolis, talk Radio in Austin Texas; I was one of 3 guest. One of the guests was Julia Cuba, Girl Stout Troop Leader, for Troop 1500. I don’t know if any of you have heard of troop 1500, it is a National Program.I was so impressed; I decided to check out their Web Sites.  Troop 1500 was very interesting. The girls in Troop 1500 have mothers in prison, and the Troop leaders make sure that the girls maintain a relationship with their moms.The major goal of Troop 1500 is to strengthen the bond between mother and daughter in order to break the cycle of crime.  It got me thinking about how important mothers are.  I lost my mother when I was 26 years old at a very critical time in my life.  I know what’s it like to be without a mother. I have 2 girls 29 and 30 years old, that I believe would feel a loss without me.  I see my friends having lunch, shopping or just connecting with their mother’s everyday, and it makes me know that my lose is big. So how important are mothers? When we are little, our sense of self, who we are, comes from our mother’s. We watch our Mom, to see how to be.  I am so grateful to be a part of my daughter’s lives and to participate as a mother. If you are a daughter or a mother, I would love to hear your thoughts about being either one. As the holidays creep up, I always have many moments thinking about mother/daughter relationships. I would love to remind each and everyone of you to stand in gratitude for your mothers and to let them know always how important they are to you.