Brian/TouLouse, I did see the tongue-in-cheek, meant to put a **BG** after my posting and forget. Sorry 'bout that; well written for a chauvenist.**BG**

Giok, I think you will find that there are more women of older ages, who are also having babies without marriage and/or a partner. My daughter happens to be one of them and let me tell you, she was damn careful. Birth control measures failed her the one time in a year in which she had relations; seeing my grandson it is obvious why...he needed to be in this world. She is a mature 28 and doing a fine job of raising him with the help of Grandma and Granddad and I am very proud of her. Her pediatrician told her a child needs three key people from birth if they are to get a good start on life. The doctor went on to say, it didn't matter what the combo was, i.e. mom+dad+grandparent; grandparents+dad; uncle/aunt+mom/dad, etc. My grandson is one of the brightest, most confident two year olds around. I know it is not always possible for moms to have grandparents to live with, but those older women who are having babies are providing, I am sure,much stabler environments than other circumstances may dictate.

Sometiimes it is much worse for the kids to stay in a family which has parents fighting all of the time. My other daughter, who married, waited to have kids, then had twins seven years ago, is now looking into divorce because it would be healthier for everyone involved if she and her husband didn't live together.

And, there are exceptions with teen moms. I know from experience. Marriage didn't make any difference in how my kids turned out, in fact I am positive they turned out to be the fine people they are precisely because I got out of two very bad marriages when they were little. Finding my Rog, marrying him and him adopting all three has had a very good effect on how they turned out, too, BUT I insisted on living together, FIRST, as one never knows another person well until they've lived with them. Didn't have to teach me that more than twice!

Off my soapbox, now. I just don't like generalisations on this subject.:-)

kat