"MY 12 year old is pregnant. FOR REAL."...

[wickerwoman]

185. She's 12

but the fact is she's facing a decision that has the potential for long term psychological trauma no matter what she chooses. The likelihood and severity of that trauma becomes much greater in situations where she feels like she has no control or that someone else is pressuring her or making the choice for her.

She may not be mature enough to make "the best" choice but she is the one who has to live with it for the rest of her life. And the truth is there is no "best" choice here but the strong probability is that your daughter will survive and cope and grow no matter what she chooses.

I'm sure it's frustrating to have to sit back and watch your child make choices you don't agree with, but that's part of the parenting deal too. The truth is that many 12 years in the Third World and historically have been able to have children. It's higher risk, but it's not a death sentence or even likely to cause serious injury. It's scary to go into the doctor and hear all these complicated scary sounding medical terms floating around, but the odds aren't that likely.

What is far more likely is that if you pressure your daughter, it becomes your choice, not hers and she can turn around a blame you when grieving over the loss either or her child or her childhood.