Thirteen year old boys becoming fathers, is not big news around where I live. The difference is the attitude. Many teenage boys think it's "cool" to become a father and a status symbol, and since they are living on welfare and grew up with it, they know that the baby will get benefits too. According to this article the boy did not plan the pregnancy with the girl and none of the quotes from the boy seem to indicate he is proud of this. I think this story made the news because the boy in this situation looks so young. Some boys that age are 6' tall and shave. I'm sure someone at the hospital tipped off the newspaper for a story with photos that is packed with all the shock value needed to sell those extra newspapers.

Wow, some of those statistics are so suprising! My DH's ex is a little wacky, but she certainly deserved, and needed, every penny that my DH ever paid. Keeping another human being is expensive. I've had friends and family end up being in a situation where they were single parents. Just the childcare can be crippling, mother or father being responsible.

Firemans wife, I wish you all the best. I am really debating on whether or not to make a web page with all this crap that's gone on for 7yrs now. See, I wasn't in the picture in 1995 when the kids were removed and my spouse was very lax about the CS thing. When I came in the picture in 1999 and they started taking out money AGAIN from his check (they'd stop and start CS over and over) we went to the office and he signed an affidavit so I could have access to his case. It wasn't until then that things started getting done. I like to think that if I had been around in 1995 this wouldn't have gone on for so long...but the fact remains that they (attorney general) had access to any and all court documents that were issued out of Montgomery county. They've had this all along but didn't bother to look into it. His file is literally 6inches thick. The attorney that represented the state of texas didn't even bother to crack the folder. Each time we went to court (4 times since Jan) there was a different attorney. I hope everything goes well for you but be prepared for anything to happen. We thought it was all over and done with...then the judge gave his ruling. I was suprised to say the least and so angry that when I got home I called all the newspapers and television stations. I've received 4 phone calls back from different different news stations that want to do investigative work. Oh...did I mention that I taped conversations when we went into the AG's office? Yup, got them talking in circles...saying one thing and doing another. We're still debating on whether or not to go with the television stations. I'm to the point where I'm so exhausted of living in the middle of all that mess and I really shouldn't even be posting about it because it just gets me all worked up again. The more I think about it, the more I think I'll scan our court documents and transcribe the recordings, make a web page and be done with it...that way it'll be out of my system for good and I can tell the entire world at one time without having to go back into that 'mode' I was in for so long when we were dealing with these incompetent morons.

I did this rather fast. My thought was he's graduating on to a big boy bed, but I personally would not want to over do this stage as you will need to add/eliminate in a handful of years vs. change it completely. The, "planets" in the corner are from Party City (11.00) and are named BLAST OFF PLANET LANTERNS. I would buy two sets and make them a pinch closer together than what I captured from their site using a fine clear like fishing line and if the ceiling is white a clear or white thumb tack. Vary the heights and as I recall the largest is 16" in diameter so if you purchase 2 sets you can use another couple to make it nice in the corner of the room where maybe a bean bag and a storage area with things he might want to play with are beneath them. Either way I think hanging them in the room is very fun and colorful and plays well with the comforter even if there is not room to add a piece with some storage as shown and a bean bag below in the corner. A child size bean bag is easy to find and little kids love them. I do like the stripe black out curtains... you may thing they are busy? As for sheets... I'd just do a solid using a color from the comforter as more stars or galaxy type things would be too much. The decal on the wall above the bed is very nice for his graduating to the big bed. You can pick your colors and it's from Etsy. I was leaning toward yellow things due to the gray walls. I jotted down the name of the maker if you are interested. The little rocket next to the bed is a lava lamp...no, not a lot of light, but not sure how he is with the dark and one can easily sleep with it on and so thought of that...there are other ones with shades with a motif similar to space out there though. I'm not sure if there is a ceiling light in the room? All in all, I think with the planets at varying heights and a pinch closer together and maybe 7 of them (?) depending on the size of the room... either way, putting them a pinch closer together varying heights you might want another 2 if you like them and the corner can accommodate or maybe a large single 16" in a different spot. I didn't select a rug for under the bed as I didn't know if you needed such. Just some thoughts for you to consider and all very reasonably done too. Apologies it's not to scale, but it was for you to see them all together. Talk later and if you hate something, that's ok... just say what you might prefer... Best, Porter