Since becoming a mother at 17, she's found her opportunities to hang out with friends has been superceded by quality time with her 11-month-old daughter, Stacie. But Saturday night, she'll be at one of the bigger parties in town, where her experience will be one of the featured presentations.
Seitz is among several young parents who've become leaders in the Futures Program at Women's Opportunity and Resource Development in Missoula. The program helps teens negotiate the challenges of school, employment, housing and parenthood.
And you also encounter a frustrating amount of judgment from strangers, Seitz said. She endures the long looks in the grocery store and the muttered comments that she's too young to be a competent mother. She also confronts the high costs of day care, the low wages of entry-level jobs and the time crunch of providing for a family and keeping up with school.
All those experiences have been built into a presentation that Seitz and fellow young parents have been delivering to peers throughout the Missoula area. As part of the Futures Program's Peer Education Panel, they've given 20 talks to 427 students in the past year.
“We're trying to convey to students the reality and responsibility of being a teen parent,” said Futures panel coordinator Krista Nelson. There are about 100 parents and 80 infants in the Futures program, although not all are on the presentation schedule like Seitz. But they do get together regularly to share tips, develop skills and commiserate about the challenges of early parenthood.
WORD fund development coordinator Maggie Engler said the program has been in existence almost as long as the Glitter Ball itself, which is WORD's biggest annual fundraising event. It helps pay for the room full of toys, computers and other resources young parents use when they stop by.
“We wanted to make a hangout spot for young parents and those who are going to be parents,” Engler said. “They know this is a safe place where they can come and talk with people who aren't going to judge them, get connected and find out about the realities of young adult parenting.”
Seitz said one of her best demonstrations was to have listeners make lists of their favorite three friends, possessions, pastimes and goals. Then she has them cross off two of each to demonstrate the impact parenthood has on one's life. Add in a baby with developmental difficulties or a fractured home support system, and that list of a dozen favorites collapses down to one.
“It makes you think, ‘What? It's not all about me?' ” Seitz said. “Before I had Stacie, I was big on the social scene. Now I make up for the partying with talking with my mom. I've always had a problem just sitting - it was the most boring thing. Now if I get to sit, I think it's heaven.”
Reporter Rob Chaney can be reached at 523-5382 or at rchaney@missoulian.com
Tonight's the night
WORD's Glitter Ball takes place Saturday at the Hilton Garden Inn from 8 p.m. to 1 a.m. Hors d'oeuvres and a no-host bar will be available, along with dancing to the Kalispell-area band The Good Wood. Tickets at the door cost $50.
|
 |
 |
Add your comment now! Write your comment in the form below.
(Email address is for verification only. If you'd like to email a story, look for the link above)