Until a good friend suggested that we try it. I had to admit, I was curious, but wasn’t online dating for hideous losers and people who had something to hide? Wasn’t it only for those who couldn’t get a date ‘old fashioned’ way?

I let my friend talk me into browsing some pictures on one of more popular dating sites. I had to say, there were some pretty decent looking men on there. Their profiles made them sound like fairly mentally stable human beings. I had to admit that single thing was getting really tedious. I had done bar scene (as we all have), had friends try to ‘hook me up’ with some other dateless, picky single person (though, why some of them figured they had right to be picky, I have no idea), with no success.

Online dating, here I come. I figured “What do I have to lose?” At absolute worst, I’d meet more of same type of losers that I’d been meeting. At best, I’d meet someone that I was actually compatible with who could also relate to me.

I had another dilemma with regard to dating thing. I had been divorced for about a year at time, and I have 2 children. Now, I know that you ladies who are divorced with kids can completely relate to what I’m saying here. Finding a decent man is difficult enough, add to that fact that I’m looking for a decent man whom I can trust to be around my children. Finding a man anywhere on this planet, that I wouldn’t mind having my son emulate, is like trying to find a pair of Manolos on sale at Sears.

Anyway, I signed up with my friend on one of ‘bigger’ dating sites. I met one dude, who said in his profile that he was 5’10”, with an athletic build. He had an attractive face, he was divorced, and he had 3 children who were presently in his custody. He sent me an email. We corresponded via email for about 2 weeks, after which time, we decided to meet for lunch at a local restaurant.

According to studies, teenage pregnancies in United States have decreased steadily over years. In 1991, there were 60 out of 1000 young women who gave birth and in 1998, 51 out of 1000 gave birth. This decrease may be due to effective use of birth control and decreased sexual activity among teens.

Yet teen pregnancy rates remain high. According to Women’s Health Channel, in United States alone, approximately 1 million teenage girls experience pregnancy every year. At least 5% of young girls give birth and in 1997, at least 13% of births in US are of teenage girls. ?? Health risks to baby and children out of teen pregnancy are more likely to experience health, social, and emotional problems. An increased risk for complications such as premature labor in teen pregnancy and socioeconomic consequences are present.