To All The Teenage Moms,

First off, congratulations! You are now the mother of a BEAUTIFUL new baby. Now, for the most part, i'm sure becoming pregnant was not part of your plan. BUT THAT'S OKAY. Plans change, accept that. Becoming pregnant as a teenager makes you miss A LOT of the “normal” teenage things. You may have missed prom, a concert, or a few parties. You may think of this and have an overwhelming feeling of nostalgia for when you use to go out and have fun. Sometimes, it's really upsetting remembering the things you may have missed and the friends you lost. You may have lost a lot, but i promise you, you gained so much more.

Aside from the new, perfect baby you gained, you also revealed an incredible strength you never knew before. Becoming a pregnant teenager comes with more hardships than imaginable. People constantly talk about you, stare at you, and question your abilities to raise a child. You learn to look past this. You learn that when someone tells you "you can't", you look at them and say “watch me”. There are times you have probably questioned yourself as well. How will you finish high school, attend college, work, care for a baby, and still try to have a life yourself? Well, I am here, living teen-mom proof that it can be done. It's very hard, there is no denying that, but it is possible. The hardships won't last forever.

When you become pregnant as a teenager, this does not mean your life is over. This does not mean you will amount to nothing but “the girl who was pregnant in high school.” It means you're practically Super Women. You overcame the catty girls in school, who VERY easily could have become pregnant themselves. You overcame all the drama with the baby's father. You overcame breaking the news to your family, who still loves you. You graduated, you are or will attend college, and you WILL get your dream job. Having a baby at a young age does not make you any less of a mom or women than the lady who waited until her thirties and was married. Becoming a teen mom means you have longer to love your baby, you can grow with your baby, and you are in a generation that will relate better to your baby as he/she grows. Be proud of yourself young mom. Do not condemn your actions. Your baby will love you no matter what your age is, how you became pregnant, or the mistakes you will make. Focus on your future and the future of your baby. But remember to ENJOY IT. The toughest battles are given to the strongest soldiers. You are a soldier mom. EMBRACE IT.

Love,