Survey for School Assignment - mothers under 21

[katy93]

Hi,
If your a mother who had their first child under the age of 21, could you please fill in this short survey. You can either post your reply on here, or email it to me on katy.93@live.com
Thanks

Survey – Young Mothers and the issues that are faced

Thank you for participating in the research I am conducting for my Year 12 Independent Research Project for Community and Family Studies. The research question that this survey is based on is ‘What issues do young mothers others face and how do theses issues affect their wellbeing? ’ Please fill in as much of the survey as you possibly can, and to ensure research is valid, please answer the questions honestly. All personal information is confidential and your name or details will not be included in any part of the research.


What age were you when you had your first child?





What did you feel were the main issues you faced when you had your child? (Please write ‘Y’ or ‘Yes’ for all applicable)
1. No opportunity for further education (eg. Continuing school, TAFE or University)
2. No support from child’s father
3. No support from family
4. No support from friends
5. Unacceptance from community
6. Stereotypes people placed on you (judgement)
7. Difficult to find stable housing
8. Not enough (or lack of) money
9. Not knowing what to expect from a newborn child
10. Other (please explain)






Were there any stereotypes that people placed on you based on the fact that you had a child? If so, what were they and why do you think that people had these stereotypes?






When you had your child, what were the things in your life that changed? (examples include the amount of time you spend with family/friends, your accommodation, leaving school/work etc. – please list them and explain in as much detail as possible)







Which changes in your life do you think were positive, and which were negative? (Eg. A positive change may be your new lifestyle, with your child and a negative change may be you have less money and time for social activities with friends.)





Were there any support services available to you when you had your child? (Eg. Social workers, help from charities, young mothers groups) If yes, what services did you access and find most useful?





Are there any support services you wish were available to you? (This may include specific services that already exist, or services that cater for a certain area – eg. Finance such as government benefits, socialisation with people in the same position as you, help on how to deal with your child)
:)

[Myztiks#1Fan]

What age were you when you had your first child?

i fell pregnant at 20 and had my son when i was 21.

What did you feel were the main issues you faced when you had your child? (Please write ‘Y’ or ‘Yes’ for all applicable)
1. No opportunity for further education (eg. Continuing school, TAFE or University)

NA as i didnt plan on any further study in the near future. however i do plan on study within the next 2yrs. i am now 23yrs old

2. No support from child’s father

i recieve no support at all from my sons father. he is 27 and wasnt ready for the responsibility of being a father

3. No support from family

i had and still continue to have very little support from my own family. i was a SAHM(stay at home mum however i was also looking after my sister who was 16 at the time as my mother suffered from severe depression and tried to commit suicide several times in the first year of being a mum. my father is also an alcoholic

4. No support from friends

i actually lost all my so called friends when i left work and went on leave. at least i was able to squeeze them out of my life as obviously they didnt care. i also didnt know anyone who had children at my age in my group of friends

5. Unacceptance from community

i think the community generally looks down on younger parents, esp single parents

6. Stereotypes people placed on you (judgement)

that i just wanted to sit at home and do absolutely nothing as ya know, single parents reap in the money and all
7. Difficult to find stable housing

this is somewhat true for myself. i couldnt of afforded private rental so i was living with my parents. as i was on the government waiting list, i was able to take over the house as it was in my parents name as they moved up north for work

8. Not enough (or lack of) money

as i was on the single parenting payment and was paying my parents high amount of rent, money was always tight. i never bought myself anything unless really needed.

9. Not knowing what to expect from a newborn child

i honestly didnt know what to expect. nobody gave me a manual and not having the support or help from a partner made me struggle quite alot

Were there any stereotypes that people placed on you based on the fact that you had a child? If so, what were they and why do you think that people had these stereotypes?

i was too young and even today, people assume i have a husband as i have a child. not everyone who have children are married but apprantly i should be

When you had your child, what were the things in your life that changed? (examples include the amount of time you spend with family/friends, your accommodation, leaving school/work etc. – please list them and explain in as much detail as possible)

lots changed. i missed working as i hate staying at home so that was a huge adjustment to be a stay at home mum. i never really went out much before i fell pregnant either as i was always working on weekends while everyone was sleeping. i didnt find it hard to go back to work(i was ready to start as soon as my son was born as i felt great) but my mum found it hard to look after my son for 6hrs on a saturday for me while i went out to work. i found it hard to connect with many people also and couldnt find a suitable mothers group where i felt comfortable as well

Which changes in your life do you think were positive, and which were negative? (Eg. A positive change may be your new lifestyle, with your child and a negative change may be you have less money and time for social activities with friends.)

the positives are how much my son has made me appriciate life. he is such a precious little man and the love he has for me is amazing. i have also been able to find amazing friends esp people i didnt know who existed and thats from bubhub. my lifestyle has changed lots but its kinda all over the place atm. i have found being a mum a very hard job. i have struggled many many many times so i dont have my son with me full time atm. right now though, i have some amazing people who i can contact at any time who will listen to me and help me any way they can.

i am very blessed to be able to have a child enter my life and things are getting easier as i am finding it easier now that he is getting older. he is now 2.5yrs old and i am proud of not only him but myself. i have come a long way from where i was when he was born.

Were there any support services available to you when you had your child? (Eg. Social workers, help from charities, young mothers groups) If yes, what services did you access and find most useful?

i have had help a few times from charities, people on here have helped me out lots and now the youth place i go to do my parenting courses is amazing. i wish i found them earlier than i did this year.

i hope that is enough for what you need. my brain isnt working all that well atm as more sleep is needed here. can i ask are you already back at school as i didnt think school was back for another few weeks yet?

[Pinkzy]

What age were you when you had your first child?

I was 2 weeks off my 19th birthday :)


What did you feel were the main issues you faced when you had your child? (Please write ‘Y’ or ‘Yes’ for all applicable)

1. No opportunity for further education (eg. Continuing school, TAFE or University)

N/A

2. No support from child’s father

I was diagnosed with PND shortly after my daughters birth so her father was the main care giver.

3. No support from family

I had a lot of support from my family.

4. No support from friends

I had no support from friends.

5. Unacceptance from community

I did find most people in the community thought both my then partner and I were too young to be parents.

6. Stereotypes people placed on you (judgement)

Absolutely had this.

7. Difficult to find stable housing

Was not an issue at the time, we were renting a more than big enough place.

8. Not enough (or lack of) money

Was also not an issue due to my then partner being financially well-off.

9. Not knowing what to expect from a newborn child

This was an issue for me personally, yes.

10. Other (please explain)

N/A.


Were there any stereotypes that people placed on you based on the fact that you had a child? If so, what were they and why do you think that people had these stereotypes?

A lot of people simply thought that the age of 18 was too young to be a mother. It was the same story when I was 21 when my daughter was 2 years old.


When you had your child, what were the things in your life that changed? (examples include the amount of time you spend with family/friends, your accommodation, leaving school/work etc. – please list them and explain in as much detail as possible)

My friends pretty much ditched me when they found out I was pregnant and couldn't party every night anymore LOL.

I wasn't studying or working at the time so N/A for those issues.


Which changes in your life do you think were positive, and which were negative? (Eg. A positive change may be your new lifestyle, with your child and a negative change may be you have less money and time for social activities with friends.)

The positives were I had (have) a beautiful little girl who is amazing in every way.

The negatives were I suffered PND quite badly and went through utter hell for a very long time.


Were there any support services available to you when you had your child? (Eg. Social workers, help from charities, young mothers groups) If yes, what services did you access and find most useful?

Yes, they were available but I did not go to mothers groups or seek social help.


Are there any support services you wish were available to you? (This may include specific services that already exist, or services that cater for a certain area – eg. Finance such as government benefits, socialisation with people in the same position as you, help on how to deal with your child)

N/A.

[TacoFest]

Hi there :) I'll answer for you but my answers may not be "typical" of what you may be expecting!

What age were you when you had your first child?

I was pregnant at 19, and had her at 20.


What did you feel were the main issues you faced when you had your child? (Please write ‘Y’ or ‘Yes’ for all applicable)
1. No opportunity for further education (eg. Continuing school, TAFE or University) Not an issue for me. I finished year 12 and then decided to work full time. I am going to university this year to study primary school teaching.
2. No support from child’s father Again not an issue for me. I live with my partner of 4 years and he is very supportive, not only financially, but he does heaps to help look after Briella too.
3. No support from family My side of the family are amazing. We had the first grandchild on both sides so she is very spoiled. My mum and dad love to watch my daughter, and my mum babysits her one day a week for me :goodvibes:
4. No support from friends This is probably the hardest part for me. I still have all my old friends but it's hard because I can't go out pubbing/clubbing with them like I used to. Having said that I still see them about once a week.
5. Unacceptance from community Only had one issue at a mothers group where I was told I make them "uncomfortable".
6. Stereotypes people placed on you (judgement) Honestly I have never really noticed. No one has ever said anything to me. My daughter and I are always very well dressed and people tend to comment on how nicely I dress her more than anything.
7. Difficult to find stable housing Not a problem as my partner and I live in our own house that we built.
8. Not enough (or lack of) money Not really a problem either. We are not millionares but DP works for himself and we earn enough money so that I wouldn't have to go back to work if I don't want to.
9. Not knowing what to expect from a newborn child I did a lot of reading before my dd was born, and I did find it difficult the first few weeks. Once she was in a routine it was easy.
10. Other (please explain)






Were there any stereotypes that people placed on you based on the fact that you had a child? If so, what were they and why do you think that people had these stereotypes?

The only one I have ever noticed is when I meet new people and I tell them I have a child, the first thing they ask is "is the father still around" and they looked shocked when I tell them yes he is! Not all young mothers are single ;)




When you had your child, what were the things in your life that changed? (examples include the amount of time you spend with family/friends, your accommodation, leaving school/work etc. – please list them and explain in as much detail as possible)

Definitely the ammount of time I used to spend away from the house. I used to go out with my friends one night of the weekend, and I was always going out for dinner/movies etc with my partner. I can still do these things, but now it takes a lot more planning!!! I also left working full time to be a full time stay at home mum.





Which changes in your life do you think were positive, and which were negative? (Eg. A positive change may be your new lifestyle, with your child and a negative change may be you have less money and time for social activities with friends.)

Positives: My partner and I feel a lot more connected and in love now that we have our daughter, obviously my beautiful daughter!, making new mummy friends, I have become a lot more responsible.

Negatives: Can't be spontaneous anymore, don't have a lot of time to myself.

For me the positives far outweigh the negatives :bee:



Were there any support services available to you when you had your child? (Eg. Social workers, help from charities, young mothers groups) If yes, what services did you access and find most useful?

Yes there would of been but I didn't need any "charity" or support really.



Are there any support services you wish were available to you? (This may include specific services that already exist, or services that cater for a certain area – eg. Finance such as government benefits, socialisation with people in the same position as you, help on how to deal with your child)

Nothing I can think of!

[katy93]

Thanks Everyone :)
And no, school hasn't gone back yet, luckily! But we have to work on this over the holidays as we don't have much time to do it once school goes back.

[Myztiks#1Fan]

fair enough but i just didnt realise you were given assignments before school even started for the year. never happened to me with school but none the less.

good luck with your final year of school

[katy93]

Yeah it is a bit weird but in NSW Year 11 goes for 3 terms, so you actually start Year 12 in Term 4, so thats why we got it.
Thanks for wishing me luck :)