Stone Soup by Jan Eliot for January 11, 2025

Alix is a sensible child.

Life is hard, get a helmet and be prepared

Alix, you are wise beyond your years.

Just keep your pants on. Exercise a bit of self control.

Holly just described their own mother’s life. Ironic she doesn’t see it?

I could imagine to hear some Texan attorneys sharp inhale.

Be a Democrat and never think about having babies. They are options off a menu. Take or discard.

One has to steel oneself to weather the hormone storm. Both genders. It’s not easy.

Funny how women say they want control of their bodies and choices and yet they haven’t figured out how to say NO.

Good advice, Alix.

In some states, you don’t have that choice.

Unplanned pregnancy… the original “F.A.F.O.”!

Holly (and later Alix) should see a healthcare provider for education and long-acting reversible contraception (LARC).

From 2009 to 2017, the Colorado Department of Public health & Environment used a private grant to offer LARC to teens and women in the state. Here is what they found:

- The teen birth rate was nearly cut in half.

- The teen abortion rate was nearly cut in half.

- Births to women without a high school education fell 38 percent.

- Costs avoided: $66.1-$69.6 million.

After the private grant ended, the CO legislature considered continuing the funding, but GOP state senators shut it down.

Why does it seem that some people haven’t learned anything since kindergarten?

“You’re either a boy or a girl; you just have to say no and keep your legs crossed; every pregnancy, if taken to term, would result in a happy, healthy, bouncing baby.”

Well, guess what? Life is more complicated than that. They can go ahead and lead their black-and-white lives. But those of us who live in the real world acknowledge and want to address the ambiguities and problems that occur.

Google newborn ambiguous genitalia, rape pregnancy statistics, and teratology (with images).

I’m sorry if I seem angry – just very frustrated with people who think they know what’s best for you and, dangit, they’re going to make sure you behave like they want you to. I’m not ragging on Alix here, she’s too young to know any better. But we grownups should know better.

Alix smart, only if teenager’s would listen to Alix.

Isn’t it your decision? And why not?