So, what happens when your parents just don’t like your boyfriend? And better yet, what happens when your parents don’t like your boyfriend…who also happens to be the father of your twin sons? Sounds like a recipe for disaster to me. Unfortunately, this is exactly what Jennifer experienced after she and boyfriend Joshua got pregnant with twin boys (Joshua Jr. and Noah).  And, yup, you guessed it: Jennifer’s parents aren’t exactly number one in the Joshua fan club.

Before we get into Jennifer and Josh's relationship, let’s first talk about how they got pregnant in the first place. Jennifer says she really didn’t know much about birth control before she got pregnant. She may have asked Joshua to use a condom once, but because he thought it was too awkward to go to a store and buy them, he simply lied and told Jennifer that he couldn’t afford them. Obviously, they continued to have sex but didn’t use birth control. 

It’s time for a reality check. First, condoms are one of the most accessible and inexpensive forms of contraception out there at only about $1 each (and free at some clinics!). Second, if talking about buying condoms or going on birth control is too awkward, you’re probably not ready for sex yet. Better yet, 2 in 3 guys say they would be happy in a relationship without sex. So, if your guy isn’t willing to use some kind of protection or wait to have sex till you’re ready to talk about protection, he might not be the one for you. Having sex means you have to be responsible enough to protect yourself.

OK, now that we have established the idea that Jennifer and Joshua could have been doing something to prevent their pregnancy, we can start talking about their relationship. In case you missed the episode, it turns out Joshua really isn’t a good boyfriend at all. For those of you that did see it though, did you notice any warning signs that this might happen? If being a bad boyfriend isn’t problem enough, it also seems like he might not be the best father either. After the babies are born, Jennifer and Josh’s relationship gets abusive—in face, he even hits her and then leaves her on the side of the road. 1 in 5 teens that have been in a serious relationship report abuse (meaning hitting, slapping, and pushing), behavior that is never ok.* Fortunately, Jennifer recognized the danger in this scenario and broke up with him. 

Jennifer is lucky enough to have supportive parents who are willing to stand behind her. Through the whole episode we very clearly see that her parents strongly dislike Joshua (they even avoided her baby shower!). They begged Jennifer to reconsider her relationship and advised her not to use Josh’s last name for the babies (even though she did anyways). At the end of the day though, Jennifer’s parents love her unconditionally, and were willing to support Jennifer. Unfortunately, not all girls are this lucky; in many cases, girls have to deal with this on their own.   

Put yourself in Jennifer’s shoes for a minute. Where do you think her courage finally came from and why did she put up with it for so long? Finally, we often see girls go back into abusive relationships. Do you think Jennifer will be able to stay away from Josh for good? What are ways that she could keep herself from going back? Tell us all your thoughts below!

* If you or someone you know is a victim of abuse, seek help. You are not alone and there are places you can turn to for help. Talk to your parents, a teacher, or another adult you can trust.  You can also contact the National Teen Dating Abuse Helpline at 1-866-331-9474 begin_of_the_skype_highlighting            1-866-331-9474      end_of_the_skype_highlighting (1-866-331-8453 begin_of_the_skype_highlighting            1-866-331-8453      end_of_the_skype_highlighting for the hearing impaired) or online at www.loveisrespect.org. They offer help 24/7 immediate, confidential assistance where you can find support as well as referrals to local resources in your hometown to provide you with the help that you need. Get more info on dating abuse here.

This post was written by Sarah Wilson, an intern for The National Campaign, and originally appeared on the Campaign's blog Pregnant Pause. Sarah is a senior at the University of South Carolina, studying public health. She has a golden retriever named Brady, named after none other than the Patriots quarterback, Tom Brady.