I'm Unhappy About My Daughter's Unplanned Pregnancy
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Thanks for listening to my call of the day podcast. You can hear my live radio program Monday through Friday from 2 to 5 p.m. Eastern Time on Sirius XM Triumph 111. Elizabeth, welcome to the program. Hi. Hi. Hello, what can I help you with? I don't even know where to start. Well, in the middle and work your way out both sides. How's that? I like that picture.

Gotcha. So I guess what I'm in the middle of is I have a 19 and a half year old who is the first woman in my line to go to college. And I just found out that she's pregnant.

And my husband and I have known for a while that she's in an abusive relationship, which we have been trying to get her out of. And I don't know what to do. I'm at a loss. I'm sorry. Why is it? Why is this something for you to do? I don't know what that means. She's 19. She's with a guy, good, bad or indifferent, and she's pregnant, but she's an adult. So what is it you think you ought to be doing?

Legally? Not legally, but just how do I guide her? How do I help her? You tried to guide her already. She's making her own choices. You guided her. She still ended up here. Don't think you have infinite power. We don't. I wish we did. Maybe I don't wish we did. Yeah, I don't. But we don't. No, I just... I don't want to hear I just because everything that follows I just is usually irrational.

I just want everything to be wonderful. I want there to be world peace. I just, I'm sorry. I hope you have other kids. I do. Good. Because I want to remind you to focus in on the ones who are making better decisions because you can't fix her. Can't fix this. No, I can't fix it. He's the legal father forever unless he signs away rights.

But he's the legal dad, so we're all stuck with him. And that's the thing. He has another kid that he doesn't take care of. I know that. That was a ridiculous thing for me to say, but I thought it was dramatic. I know that. But this is your idiot daughter who thinks she's special and is going to take a creepy guy and make him wonderful. And she didn't want to go to college. She didn't want to be the first in the line.

She wanted better to get knocked up by this guy because it's a lot of drama and it makes her feel sexy. I don't know. But you're right. This kid's in trouble. There's nothing you can do. That's what's infuriating as a parent. Ever wondered what it was like to develop life-saving medicines before the Internet? Or the challenges scientists had to overcome to get us where we are today, standing at the crossroads of an AI revolution in medicine?

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I know. And at one point she expected more from herself. Yeah, but this is easier. I wrote a book, in fact, my first, The Ten Stupid Things Women Do to Mess Up Their Lives. This was in the beginning. It's called The Female Escape Route. God, it's awfully scary and burdensome maybe to be the first woman to go to college in the family and maybe forget it. This is easier. Living with a jerk and getting knocked up out of wedlock is easier. So I don't know. Maybe when she's 40, she'll go back to school.

Well, thank you. You can ask her her opinion. Don't give advice. Listen to how I'm framing this. You can ask her opinion about adoption and she can pick a family, hopefully one that none of you knows, work through a lawyer. Well, that's what I've...

I mean, I just found this out a few days ago, and that's what I've been trying to do is not really give advice at the moment, but just figure out where to go. No, never. No, never. Not at the moment. No advice. Ask her opinion. I want to make that indelible on your brain. Only ask her opinion about adoptions. How old were you when you had her? I was 17. Does she know this? Yes. Okay.

Well, she's following the family line. Yeah. Well, and I think part of what's going on in her head is because her dad and I are still together. And she saw that we made it work. Yeah, but your husband didn't beat you. No. Yeah, a little wrinkle. So she's doing a lousy version of you. And I know this breaks your heart. And I wish I could offer you something that would make you feel better other than to say you have other kids. Focus on them.

They need your support, even though they're not making stupid decisions, okay? At least I assume they're not. Yes, ma'am. Okay. They need you. Right now, you just have to sit back and wait to see what she's going to do. All right. Thank you. You're welcome, Elizabeth. Sorry about that. I know it's very sad.

My number, 1-800-375-2872. If you like this podcast, be sure to rate it on Apple Podcasts or your favorite place to listen to my podcast. Of course, I'd love if you gave me five stars. And be sure to share this podcast with a friend on Facebook or your preferred social media platform. Ben hadn't had a decent night's sleep in a month.

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