I was 17, and I was pregnant.

I've been a bit nervous about writing this, will people judge me, what will my son think about things I haven't said to him. But when I received a call today from my son saying he loved the idea about my blog and told me to make sure I wrote about how we are so close, I felt justified in putting my story out there. I asked him to please not hold anything against me from  my writings and he assured me he knew it could not have been easy. When so many of my friends said they couldn't wait to hear my story, I felt reassured.

I was 17, and I was pregnant. I was only dating my boyfriend for 3 months but of course I thought he was amazing and the man of my dreams. He was 2 years older than me and everyone in school thought he was so cool. Anyone who has been in love at a young age knows how naive we are.
I was able to finish my senior year of high school before having my son but I never made it to college afterward. Well, I attempted to when he was around 1 or 2 years old, but at 18 I was not strong enough to handle a child, college full time and working nights at a restaurant. I kick myself in the butt frequently about that, I had a full ride to college, I still lived at home with my parents and yet I still was not able to handle it.  Oh well, fast forward 16 years and I started college again. It may take me along time to finish but I am here, I am doing it! I used to get mad that my child's father was able to move away, pursue his dreams and finish college. But when I look back, I wouldn't change a thing for what I got in return. Life really turned out good for me, which makes me question sometimes if I should really tell my story. I never want to promote teenagers having sex or wanting to be a teen parent. Life was not easy, I endured much heartache and had to become a different person over night at a young age.  I wanted to be someone my son would be proud of, and I believe I accomplished that.

If you are not a teen mom you have no idea how it feels to have to grow up while raising your child. I literally grew up with him, which I am sure caused me to make a lot of mistakes but it also gave me my best friend. I know many parents are saying "you can't be friends with your child you need to be there parent" I honestly felt I was both. I am much more fortunate then a lot of other teen moms. I had a great support system right from the beginning. Don't get me wrong, my parents were pissed!!!!  I hid my pregnancy from my family and friends for 4 1/2 months, I have no clue how I did that...but I did. I always said if I could raise my son and he does not become a teen dad I have done my job. Which is odd, because as much as I thought that, I never once blamed my parents for my irresponsibility's. My parents are great, I grew up in a wonderful household, we were open about a lot of things, but I don't recall talking to them about sex and protection. I am sure I started talking to my son way before I should have about sex and the consequences but I never wanted to hide anything from him and I never wanted him to be ashamed of me. You as a parent must be that person talking to them about abstinence, birth control, sex and the consequences of unprotected sex.

and it gets better!

Please follow me as I start my journey on telling my story. This is my first time blogging so bare with me. I am hoping to tell my story as a teen mom in hopes of it helping other young mothers or even mothers with teenage children. I have a story and I want to tell it. Please continue to follow me, there will be many stories of my challenges, my joys, my heartbreaks and my life.