I work with pregnant teens in South Africa. That exact thing is something I hear every day. And I can't tell them that it's not true, to give their parents some credit. Because too often it ends up exactly like that. Girls kicked out of the house, homeless. Do-it-yourself or backstreet abortions OR babies dumped /…

One day, in my dreams, people will realise that sex is just sex. A bodily function which may or may not have emotional connotations, and which may or may not have physical / emotional / other consequences.
Both "sides" (for lack of a better word) - build it up to be waaaay more important than it really is. Having sex…

I'm South African. For some reason, I own an American cookbook owned by my Irish/English grandmother, published 1950. Recipes for possum, squirrel and moose. And all the aspic ever. Never made a anything from it, but do read it for entertainment from time to time.

I dunno. People get in a tizzy about stuff, thinking it's adding to the incredibly long list of things you have to protect your children from. To me, nothing's changed. Instead of focusing on cotton balls, a parent's job is surely still the same as it ever was: trying to make sure they don't fall into the trap of…

Whaddya mean you hope she travels to some African countries? For the love of Pete, keep her where she is. We really don't need to speak English *that* badly.

Logically, I know this. But sometimes it just feels like the good are outnumbered. Rape is a huge issue here in South Africa, one which most of us, out of absolute necessity, take very seriously. The bad / stupid people have louder voices, sometimes. So we have to be louder :)

Obviously, we've been having those very conversations for years. It'd be too late to start now, I think. Otherwise I would be, and my son could be, the "fucking idiot" that the s0-beautifully-named commenter below alluded to :) I guess you can never know for sure if the way you've raised your child is right - but I…

My son is a first year university student. It terrifies me that he's surrounded by people like this, who can no longer be considered children, perhaps in need of understanding or help. At worst, predatory adults. At best, fucked up individuals with no sense of decent behaviour. How are people like this made?

I know there are great doctors and nurses out there. So often, the girls are pleasantly surprised that they weren't treated badly. But the perception and the fear is there. It just depends on who you get on the day. When I went for my pregnancy test at the local gov hospital at 14, the nurse announced the positive…

Hell it's not fun hey. Literally nobody else is doing it though. Not without anti-choice agendas and such. And I have to. I was pregnant at 14 - I had a great family. Not everyone has that. So got to do what I can for them.

I run an non-profit in South Africa for pregnant teens. I work full time so in the evenings after work I log on to Mxit (SA mobile social network) and subscribers (over 24000 now) can send me anonymous messages via live chat to ask questions. Huge lack of support both emotional and practical. Abortion on demand up to…

It was a green one, unfortunately. Slightly old & manky. But unscheduled jelly beans are not to be sniffed at.

Jaden Smith is a small boy. He is saying small boy-ish appropriate things. Therefore, I shall move on to eating this jelly bean I found on my desk.

Thought it was some horrendous joke when I read it first. How many people really believe this stuff? I'd be sad and outraged but it's all so silly that getting angry would feel like kicking a puppy. A confused, evil, really dumb puppy. With rabies and maybe a limp.

20-somethings are not "kids" for the love of Pete. Even 5 year olds know you don't break other people's stuff. Gross, man.

Have only ever been a single mom and am ever so glad. I don't have to worry about all this. Sure, it's all on me, but at least I'm not waiting (or wishing) for someone else to pitch in. That would stress me out no end.

Wow, thank you :) x

As a mom of a 19 year old son and a 12 year old daughter, I believe I'm well placed to say this woman should go fuck herself, really.
Assholery of the highest order and I really have no more words that are as polite as these.

Wonderful. Thank you.

It's a step forward, for sure. Not to say that everyone should feel they have to talk about it - it affects people differently and it's never a decision taken lightly. (wish people would understand that nobody does it for fun!) Glad people are talking about it.