12-Year-Old and A Mother: Is She Ready?

A 12-year old girl in Australia recently gave birth to a baby boy. Sky News reports that she fell pregnant to her 15-year old boyfriend who she was sleeping with in her mother’s house for quite some time.

It is really shocking to hear news of girls giving birth at an age when they are still considered children themselves. Is a 12-year old up to the tasks of motherhood? Can she care for her baby when she herself is still dependent on her parents? It is easy to shake our heads in disapproval when we hear of teenage girls getting pregnant. Something needs to be done fast to curb the rising number of teenage pregnancies.