Being a teen mom, many of your friends are going off to college, not taking care of a baby. I never once regretting being where I was, or not being able to have the college experience (partying). I was never that person that thought I deserved to go out and party as I got older because I didn't have that experience. I choose to have a baby at 17, I put myself in this situation and I always knew it was meant to be my journey. Being 37 now, I look back and think I wish I had handled situations a bit differently though. When you are 20 with a 3 year old your maturity level is definitely not that of a 37 year old dealing with adult decisions. I have regrets for some of those decisions I made along my journey, but I have NO regrets for choosing to have my son at 17.
While my friends were off at college, I was having late night feedings. I really didn't keep in touch with any of my friends from high school after I had him. Not to blame them or to blame me, we were on totally different paths. Thank god I had family, they really were my life line and still are. If you are a teen mom that has had to raise your child without the support of your family, kudos to you! I do wish I had close friends at that those trying times, when you think life just can't go on. I am sure having a girlfriends shoulder to cry on at times would have been nice. Not having a group of close friends definitely brought me closer to my two sisters then I could have ever imagined, whether they liked it or not!
I was 22 years old when my son started kindergarten, I should have been in school myself.... And I have no doubt every other mother/father at the school felt the same way about me. I never really clicked with any other mothers, once again not blaming them. I didn't know how to fit in, I had very little confidence in myself to make friends with them, to afraid of being judged. That goes back to my maturity level and having to handle adult responsibilities at a young age. I now have a great group of friends that I often wonder how I made it through some days without them and their support. I envy watching them with their kids and the way they get them all together and have outings, I often tag along :) I wish they knew my son when he was younger, but at least they know him as the man he has become. I honestly think that is why my son connects much more with adults then people his own age. I always said he was an old soul in a young body.
#teenmom
Awww!! That's right life does go on and look at you now and look at him!!
ReplyDeleteI wish we lived closer during Cameron's baby years, I would have been your shoulder any day!!
I think it's really remarkable how you don't judge anyone for being a different path than you, your high school friends or the other mothers. It could have made you bitter to find yourself rather isolated but you handled it like a pro. I'm impressed.
ReplyDeleteThank you Janelle, such kind words!!! I know you would have had my back ;) and Thank you Kianna, it's funny I used to tell my son and we still say it till this day "Everyone is different". No reason to judge, we don't know the path anyone else has truly been on.
ReplyDeleteAs a child of a teen mom I am so grateful that you are blogging. I can definitely relate and I remember all the things that my mom sacrificed in having me at such a young age. I too, have always bonded well with people who are older than I. I don't know if that is just something that comes with the territory of being a child surrounded by mainly adults or what but there is so much truth there. Thank you for sharing Jenni! I can't wait to read more!
ReplyDelete