Deciding What to Do
Section 4
The decision about this pregnancy is yours. Think of yourself as a “gatekeeper of life.” You can decide whether or not a new life will come into the world through your body. This is your right, but more than that, it is your responsibility. Only you can decide whether you are ready to be responsible for raising a child. Only you know what your plans and dreams are for your life. Deciding about a pregnancy may be difficult for you, yet, no one is better able to decide than you.
Decision-Making in Your Family Take a minute to think how decisions get made in your family. »»
Did everybody have a chance to talk about it?
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Or did one person just decide?
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Did everybody get mad?
You may feel like you don’t know how to make such a big decision. »»
How do you make decisions?
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Is it difficult for you to decide what to do, even simple decisions?
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Do you feel you have to be “perfect”?
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Are worried that you might make the wrong choice? If so, you may need more help and support in thinking through this decision. This is a decision about your life and it has to feel OK for you.
Is there someone pressuring you into one decision or another? Do you fear their hurtful or violent reaction? (see section on abuse below) Do you feel they would be angry or disappointed? While we care about those closest to us, you have to “own” your decision. »»
You can decide the way you’ve seen your family do it or you can decide a different way.
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If deciding is very difficult for you, please read the following and get more help. You have already done some exercises to help you decide. The exercises on the following pages may help you even more.
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