In 2016, the typical seventeen-year-old occupies his or her time with driving themselves in their own car, hanging out with friends as much as humanly possible, texting, snapping, social media of any kind, extracurricular activities and the like.

In 1984, my seventeen-year-old mother was raising a child. Me.

My mother never hesitated to give birth to me, even though at the time (much like now), it was quite the "scandal" to be pregnant in high school. She sacrificed herself and her future for me. My mom married my father in order to provide for me and give me the best environment to possibly be raised in. She dropped out of high school (and later obtained her GED) so that she could be available to care for me. At an age where society tends to see teens as selfish and egotistical, my mother was the complete opposite and displayed selflessness in order to supply my needs. She took on responsibility and faced the consequences of her life choices head on.

By the time she was nineteen, my mother had all three of her children; my sister, brother and myself. I cannot even imagine raising one child at nineteen, much less three. However, my mother did it gladly as if there was no other option, because to her, there was not. I have never heard my mom utter a word of regret or dissatisfaction with the way her life has gone, specifically having babies early on. She was a kid raising kids. She did not have the option to go to college or take the path that, she as an individual, would have easily succeeded from. My mother chose responsibility, even though the decision to raise her offspring was no doubt life altering. She saw it as her noble duty and treated it as such.

I guess you could say my mother and I have grown up together, in a sense. I relished the fact that my mom was "the cool mom". (I could do without the incessant, "Is that your sister?" question, but what can you do?) She was young enough to understand my friends and I, yet old enough to nurture and guide us. She never missed a basketball or volleyball game, choir concert, or awards banquet. She did everything she could to make sure I had the newest thing or sported the latest trend. She was my biggest advocate in sports and constantly pushed me to practice and improve my skill set. My mother never automatically believed me just because I said so, she found value in knowing all sides of a situation. She showed me the importance of being a peace maker and seeing the opposing point of view, something I absolutely loathed growing up, but truly admire now. My mother taught me to love deeply and not to be afraid to show that love. My mom would talk to anyone and everyone, and seemed to laugh at every single thing. Again, what I saw as annoying as a child, I have now come to appreciate. Moreover, I have most definitely inherited this characteristic from her, among others, and I am not the least bit upset about it.

Now that all of her children are grown and out of the house, my mother has been able to pursue some dreams of her own. She has had much success in running her own business using her creative talents. My mom was still able to "have a life", even if it did not happen in the order that society says it should. Mom has often said that she savors the fact that she had babies young and can live her life now, with us of course. It has really been amazing being able to support my mother in her endeavors, as an adult, just like she did me as a child.

I do not pretend to fully comprehend what all she has been through. I am quite sure it has not been an easy road to travel. However, as a child, I never suspected that my mother wanted anything else for her life other than her three children to love and care for. My mom has supported me, loved me unconditionally, challenged me, pushed me to be the best I can be and always do the right thing. We are two different people, yet connected at our very core. Sure, my life may be different with an aged mother with more life experience, but then, it would not be my life. As an adult, my mother and I do not communicate every single day. However, I know she is there, she always has been, and always will be.

Thank you, Mom, for choosing life for me. Even as a teen.

"Mothers, I believe, intoxicate us. We idolize them and take them for granted. We hate them and blame them and exalt them more thoroughly than anyone else in our lives. We sift through the evidence of love, reassure ourselves of their affection and its biological genesis. We can steal and lie and leave and they will love us." - Megan Mayhew Bergman