Though I, myself, am not a teenage mother, I am the daughter of one, grandchild of one, and best friend to many. I have seen firsthand what teenage pregnancy can do to someone. I have been by my friends' side when they first figured out they were pregnant, I have held their hands during doctors appointments, been there through the heart break of arguments with the baby's father, and even there when they finally give birth. Pregnancy is difficult on anyone and motherhood is challenging, but I have never seen more loving mothers than I do in my friends. Although being a teen mom means you have your child sooner than expected, it mean you get to love them a little longer.
To those out there reading this who had a child younger than expected, I'd like to know, do you regret it?
If I asked my mother this question, she would immediately reply "Not for one second". One of my friends once told me that her baby did not take away her future, he gave her a new one. I have seen my best friend mold into an incredible woman, just by her son being brought into this world. She still graduated from high school, has a job, and is attending college to pursue her dreams, all with a child. If she can do it, why can't everyone else?
I truly believe that life is what you make of it.
The purpose of this article is not to glorify teenage pregnancy, but to applaud those woman that chose to be strong enough to nurture, love, and care for a child when it was less than ideal.
I would like to thank the teenage mothers in my life, and anywhere else, for being what a woman should be, strong. You were strong enough to look your past in the eyes, accept it and move on. You were strong enough to carry a child for nine months, give birth to your child, and love your child for the rest of your life. You were strong enough to learn from your past, and do everything in your power to make your child happy and healthy, even when it was not easy.
I have been judged and criticized for my decisions, but I have never seen someone take criticism in such a graceful way. When people tell teenage mothers they are "making a mistake", or their "life will be over", they just sit back and say "watch me." The attitude that young mothers have towards the judgement they receive, is something that I could only wish to have when I eventually have my first child. It is hard to look the other way when people are scolding you for your decisions, but it's even harder to do everything in your power to prove them wrong. I have seen my friends do this, and I have tried to defend their actions, but still nothing has done more justice for them than to prove their critics wrong.
My god son is two and a half years old, his mother, was 16 when she gave birth to him. She has grown so much over the past three years, and is one of the most responsible and loving teenagers/mothers I know. Seeing what having a baby has done to her life, and how much happiness her son has brought her, I could never judge a teenage mother again.
Are they teenage mothers, or super-women? The world may never know.
