The truth about being a young mom, is that it's not easy. But you probably already knew that much.
The truth is, you often find yourself in auto-pilot. You're constantly in a routine and without the routine you feel like your head is going to explode.
You'll also cry a lot. You'll feel worthless, you'll feel sentimental, you'll feel overwhelmed. It's uncontrollable.
On the flip side, you'll also laugh a lot. You'll see your child doing crazy things and you'll wonder how they got so big, so fast. You're still a baby yourself.
When you have a child at a young age you miss out on a lot of experiences. You don't live in a dorm at college, you don't go to parties every weekend with your friends. Your focus is on providing for your child. You find yourself wearing six year old clothes while buying your child fifteen new outfits they really probably don't need.
You also get to experience things sooner than most your age. You get to know what it's like to love something more than anything else in the world. You get to be a role model for your child and watch them learn and grow.
To be honest, I wouldn't trade my life for anything. Sure, I didn't make the greatest choices. The first few months of knowing I was going to be a "statistic" and looked at differently among my peers, parents, and teachers scared the living crap out of me.
The emotional ride it is to be a young mom is unlike any other experience. It's occasionally hard to believe a small human is depending on you, when just a few years ago you were concerned with whether you were "popular" or not.
You juggle family life, work life, and school life - but if you think of it as the "norm", it's way easier than it sounds. Don't get me wrong, it takes effort and motivation, but when you look into that child's eyes you'll want to give them the world.
If you're a young mom, finish school. Go to college for whatever you initially planned. You CAN do it, if you're determined. Work a part time or full time job if you can - just get through school.
Have an incredible support system, and whoever doesn't support you - ditch them. Negativity will eat at you and only bring you down.
Take care of YOURSELF. If you're worn out, stressed, or frustrated - your baby will know. And it only goes downhill from there. Take some time for yourself each week. Take a bath. Do your nails. Go shopping. Just make yourself feel human - because you are.
Lastly, do what's best for you and your baby. Breastfeed if you want. Formula feed if you'd rather (I did. No regrets.) Co-sleep or don't. Let them cry it out or rock them til they're asleep. Vaccinate or not. Just do what works for you.
I promise, you'll do fine.
