Albany, GA — Patrina Flood wasn't planning to have a child without a husband when she discovered she was pregnant at 21. A senior biology major
at Albany State College, she was planning to be a pediatrician.
Flood considered abortion. She had long talks with the baby's father, a 29-year-old Albany firefighter, and then with her mother.
Then Flood decided against abortion and gave birth to her son, Alexander Dawson, who is now 2.
“I just didn't want to have an abortion,” said Flood, 24. “And I'm glad now that I didn't, because now that he's here he gives me a boost.”
Like many of the other unwed mothers, Flood is young but not a teenager. She's probably better off than most. She has a bachelor's degree, is attending classes to earn a certification in medical assistance and works in the biology lab at Albany State.
Flood, who lives alone with her son, says she has to work closely with an extended network of family to juggle school, work and parenting. She gets baby-sitting help, for example, from her mother and grandmother.
She also shares parenting duties with her son's father, who picks his son up from day care and keeps him several times a week. Though the two no longer are dating, Flood says she wants her son to have a close relationship with his dad.
“My mother always says, 'You keep that father-son relationship going,'” she said.
Flood had hoped to marry Alexander's father, but she broke off the engagement after six months because, she said, “We weren't ready.” She believes she made the right decision, but sees drawbacks to single motherhood.
“I feel like in the same household he would see more discipline in the home,” said Flood. “Right now he knows that when he's with daddy, daddy is going to let him get away with more.”
Flood expects to go on to medical school if she decides it really is the right path for her.
She had to drop out of college her last semester, but returned later to graduate. “Having Alexander just put me back some,” said Flood. “But it hasn't offset my goals.”
(This article courtesy of Steven Ertelt and the Pro-Life Infonet email newsletter. For more information or to subscribe go to www.prolifeinfo.org or email infonet@prolifeinfo.org.)
