“On the one hand I can understand the schools feeling of not wanting to encourage teen pregnancy by allowing a pregnant teen into the high school. This would make it appear as if the school was in fact condoning it. However, teen pregnancy does happen. Nancy does have the right to an education too. What I might suggest is checking into a non-public form of education.” Amanda suggested.

“What is that?” Heather and Samantha asked in unison.

“Some friends of mine homeschool their kids because with their jobs they are on the road nine months out of the year. It works well for them. The kids still have similar schoolwork that is on grade level with what their peers are doing in public school. My friends keep up with the grades their kids receive using some software on the computer and print it out at the end of each school year as solid proof for their school files. They even add in subjects along the way that interest the kids personally.” Amanda emphasized.

“That might work for younger kids but Nancy is going into the ninth grade. She needs to have grades that will be recognized by colleges.” Heather pointed out.

“I understand your concern but my friends have a daughter in eleventh grade and a son who graduated this year. With his grades and SAT scores he was able to choose between two different colleges that he liked that had the degree program he was interested in. Homeschool is not a dirty word. Many colleges actually look forward to having homeschooled students enter their doors. They know that those kids have put the time in and worked hard to get there simply because of the perceived stigma that use to be connected with homeschool.” Amanda pointed out.

Heather mulled over this for a moment in silence. “ I could use parenting skills as one of her electives, I guess. It might not be so hard to teach her at home this year. By combining everyday life skills with her core subjects Nancy should have the credits she will need to move up with her peers after next year.” Heather thought aloud. “She will learn how to care for her baby, bond with it and become knowledgeable about the different stages it will go through.”

“That falls under the category of child development.” Amanda remarked. “You could use that as a half credit course. After all, with homeschool you decide what is important for your kids to know and how it will be taught,” commented Amanda.

“This way too, it will make a bigger impression on her, since Nancy will not be just passing her child off to someone else to care for while she goes to school or out with friends, once the baby is born,” Samantha broke in excitedly. “This year will bring plenty of changes so you might as well do what you can to shape the outcome into something positive.”

“No point in continuing to beat her over the head with how she messed up her life. She already knows that. Nancy needs to know that you still love her and want the best for her. You have to show Nancy that even though things have changed that does not mean that her future is ruined. Guide her through the steps that she’ll have to take to come out on the other side of this.”

Amanda smiled softly at her friend. “After all, you have to think of your daughter and the grandchild she is carrying.”

Heather nodded, not trusting herself to speak for a moment. “It’s hard to imagine. My baby is having a baby.”