It is not easy to be a student and a mother at the same time.

It is not easy to be a student and a mother at the same time.

I became pregnant while I was at college. The long hours you have to spend taking care of your child while studying are not easy.

Once you are a mother there is no turning back. I still feel that I could have been more careful and cautious.

I am lucky I was not infected with HIV-Aids, but not all of us are that lucky. There are many opportunities out there for me, but I am no longer thinking of myself. In every decision I make, I have to think about my child.

My sisters, the government is trying to ruin your lives. The proposed maternity leave is not for serious pupils. Rather focus on something that will ensure a brighter future for yourself. So go to school and study if you want a better future.

The people sitting in parliament passing these laws listened to their parents and they were humble.

But unfortunately they are not encouraging us to walk in their footsteps.

The parliamentarians complain that the youth of today do not have respect for their elders. But how can we respect our elders when we are encouraged to have sex without a condom while at school and then get four months maternity leave?

Are you going to take care of the child with the R180 grant that leads to most teens falling pregnant?

Evodia Karedi, Kimberley