Children

Throughout my early adulthood I did not have much of an opinion of those individuals that were in favor of abortion, but I did always know that it wouldn't be an option for me. My point of view was that I didn't have any place judging others on their decisions. These individuals would know, more than myself, whether or not it was the right decision for themselves. However, my opinion of abortion has changed drastically in recent years. I can confidently say that I am now 100% against abortion. Being a young mother of two, I can sympathize with other scared and unprepared parents. My first son was conceived at the ripe age of twenty-one and needless to say it was a surprise, but a much welcomed surprise. My husband and myself learned really quickly what it was to be a responsible parent in a committed relationship. We were in it together for the long haul. It seems as though many young people today have been raised to be selfish and self-centered. Abortion has become an easy way out for careless individuals who are scared of responsibility. Children are gift from God and should be treated as such.

Recently, I had a close family member find themselves in a similar position as myself, young and unprepared. However, they chose a much different outcome to my disappointment. It was at this moment that I knew that abortion is not something I could ever support. Abortion does not just affect the woman involved, but the entire family. This beautiful and innocent child will never be able to feel the love that we as a family were prepared to give to them. Today, the couple has decided to part ways, and this has been difficult for everyone. My heart aches every time I think about the baby that I will never get to meet and love.

Please notice that I never stated that I was against pro-choice. I do believe that their are extremely special circumstances where a woman should be allowed to make the difficult decision of whether or not to have an abortion. Instances of rape and molestation are touchy matters and these women should never be judged when deciding to abort. Their circumstances were forced upon them without any regard for their well being.

My children are nothing short of a blessing and I thank God for them each and every day. I just wish that others would act responsibly or take responsibility for their actions. Life is not something to take lightly.

Sex Education

Sex Education should be taught in our nation's schools. Which format should be chosen should not only be determined by grade level, but also by the parents and/or guardians of each student.

Lower level grades should initially be educated with abstinence-only programs that are age appropriate. Students in higher level grades should be given an option of which type of course they would prefer, abstinence-only or abstinence-plus. This choice should be made collectively by the students and their parents. Our government shouldn't impose sex education courses that may conflict with the values of American families.

Overall, sex education in our nation's schools is an important piece of education for a student to receive. Conversations between parents and their children can sometimes be uncomfortable and embarrassing. In turn, causing children not to receive vital information concerning their health.

Preventive Practices

Overall, on a scale from one to ten (ten being the best), I would rate may preventive practices as a seven. There are a few preventative practices that I have already implemented in my daily routine, but there is always room for improvement. One area that definitely has room for improvement is my lack of consistent physical activity. My days tend to be filled from start to finish, so it can be hard to find the time for exercise. Whenever possible I try to implement my physical activity along with play time with my six year old son. He is really into sports, so its fun to throw the baseball around the yard or even ride bikes together. Not only is time a factor in finding a consistent exercise routine, but also finding the energy and motivation to get physical. This leads me into my next area of much needed improvement, sleep. Sleep has been a rare commodity for me recently because we have an infant that doesn't always sleep through the night. When he does sleep through, I'm up trying to talk myself out of checking in on him to make sure that he is okay. Hopefully with time this won't be as big an issue for me.

Luckily, there are some things that I am doing right, like eating a balanced diet, using alcohol in moderation and receiving routine health care from our family doctor. Since I am not a picky eater, diet has never been much of an issue for me to maintain. Portion sizes are always important to keep in mind at each meal. Whenever we find an opportunity to kick back, without the kids, we may have a drink or two in moderation. Nowadays I find myself ready to go to sleep only after a couple of drinks. Finally, keeping up with routine doctor visits are important for the whole family.

The one thing that I would like to change the most about my preventative practices is my lack of physical activity. I have always heard that exercise will give you more energy throughout the day. My husband goes to the gym four to five times a week and he always seems to have a lot more energy than myself. Exercise not only gives you, but it is also a great source of stress relief.

Access to Healthcare is a Right

Is access to health care a right or a privilege? Personally, it is my opinion that access to health care is a right. We are privileged enough to live in a powerful and influential country, and there should be no question of whether or not the people of this great country are entitled to receive health care benefits. Our government, thus far, has stood on the side lines while underprivileged citizens have suffered tremendously. Health care should not be a commodity only for those that can afford its benefits. Most of the individuals living without health care in the United States are women and children. The people who need it the most are not being given the opportunity to live healthy lives. Children are most vulnerable to health risks. Shortly after birth children should begin on a journey down a immunization schedule. Without receiving such immunizations they are left susceptible to various illnesses.

I understand that our government has hesitated in creating a universal health care plan for our citizens due to the large dollar amount that is attached to such a policy. However, I find this argument almost laughable in the current culture of our government. It seems that our government is capable of pulling billions of dollars out of no where to bail out industries such as the financial markets and large automobile manufacturers. The government has decided to throw our tax dollars at companies who have made poor management decisions and shown a complete lack of discretion. Instead, those companies should be left to learn from their mistakes and accept the consequences. It is the citizens that deserve to have billions of dollars handed to them so that they can receive the benefits that they are already entitled to, health care.