Recently, I had the opportunity to watch my six-month-old nephew overnight. He stayed with me and my fiancé for about 24 hours. During this visit with him, I realized that I am not even remotely close to wanting kids. I can’t imagine what it would be like to be a mom at 20. But I have gained much more respect for moms, especially young moms. They have more strength and courage than I currently possess when dealing with children.

Young mothers have to have a certain kind of strength. To be able to “give up” any partying or any life that 20-year-olds usually partake in has to be difficult. You have probably been told that you have made a mistake by having a baby this early, but you don’t have to view it as a mistake. God has a reason behind everything that happens. And more than that, you ultimately did choose to have this baby by not aborting them or putting them up for adoption. So in that aspect, your baby is not a mistake. So don’t let anyone tell you otherwise.

Not only will people tell you that you’ve made a mistake, but you will also get so many looks from people. People who don’t understand, but their opinions don’t matter. You understand perfectly fine what is going on, even if you are scared as hell. You know that you will be just as good of a mother as those who wait five to 10 years (or more) than you. Age doesn’t determine whether or not you will be a good mother for your child. Your love for them and your motivation to give them a good life determines how good of a mother you are.

You have to grow up fast. I know this probably scared you when you first found out that you are pregnant, maybe even now as you approach your due date, but that isn’t a bad thing. This just helps you show people that you are mature enough to have a child and to care for her. Growing up faster than your peers has never seemed like a weakness to me. It’s always been a kind of strength because you don’t buckle under the pressure. You thrive.

Working mothers, or especially those mothers who still go to school, are amazing. As I mentioned, I had my little nephew overnight. He, of course, woke me up in the middle of the night, as most babies do. I knew this was going to happen, so it wasn’t a surprise. But I found I could barely make it to my eight o’clock class the next morning. I can’t even imagine doing this every night. So, for those soon-to-be moms who are going to continue working or attending classes, kudos. It will be rough, but I know you will be able to do it. You will do it not only because you have to, but also because you want to—to give your baby a good life.

Bottom line, I know you will be a great mother, so don’t stress too much. Just be sure to put your baby as a top priority for care and love. And know you have endless amount of support from so many of us around you.