Hey everyone!
Sorry I have been so MIA, life has been crazy and I hit writers block but I have a plan for a weekly blog for the next year! To get things started I’m doing the teen/young mom tag!
1. How old were you when you got pregnant?
I was 17 when I got pregnant, 18 when I became a mother.
2. What were your career plans before you got pregnant?
Before I got pregnant I wanted to be a teacher; since having my son I’ve realised this is not a realistic goal because there are no teaching jobs right now.
3. What are your career plans now?
I’m looking into a career in accounting.
4. Were you/are you with the baby’s father?
I was with my son’s father when I got pregnant but we broke up shortly after. We agreed that he wasn’t capable of being who my son needed him to be, he knew that I would be an amazing mom and could handle things while he took the time to grow up. So I filed for and won sole custody when my son was a few weeks old and have been doing it solo ever since.
5. Do you live with your parents?
We did live with my mom for the first 2 years but we’ve mostly been on our own since then.
6. What is the hardest part of being a “teen mom” aside from financial struggles?
The hardest part about being a young mom by far is not getting the time to find yourself, your teens and young adult life should be all about experiences : travelling, concerts, plays, education, dating, friends, family etc… Trying to juggle raising another human especially alone while discovering who you are, is nearly impossible.
7. Do you work?
I do! I’ve been blessed enough to have a job 30 hours a week, it allows me to be there to put my son on the bus and pick him up off the bus after school every day. I always dreamed of being a stay at home mom and my current job allows me to experience the best of both worlds!
8. How many friends do you have now compared to before?
We moved 5 hours away when my son was 2.5, before that I had a lot of friends with kids the same age as my son, now I have a few great friends who are supportive but I mostly see them on nights my son goes to my moms.
9. Is your family closer now because of your situation?
We were fairly close to begin with, but we actively try not to argue anymore because my son deserves to have a family who supports each other.
10. Do you wish you have waited/want other girls to be more careful?
This is a really hard question for me, I wasn’t on the best path when I got pregnant and having my son made me grow up and put my life back on track. If I could have learned the lessons I did when I learned them, and be able to have the same little boy just older and in a more stable situation I would. I would definitely encourage other girls to wait until they are in a stable situation with a supportive family and partner, an education, a job, a house and a car or two.
11. Name one misconception people have of most teen mothers?
People often assume we are irresponsible, I made one irresponsible decision that has led me to a lifetime of being incredibly responsible!
12. Do you think Teen Mom and 16 and Pregnant glorifies teen parenthood?
I don’t think they glorify teen parenthood per say, but it is a television show and doesn’t portray life for all young parents. I certainly don’t have that much drama in my life.
13. How has your body changed from pregnancy?
Before I had my son I had a super metabolism, I could eat whatever I pleased and be super lazy and never gain a pound. That changed when I stopped breastfeeding, I’ve put on some weight but I just started working at getting my body back!
14. Do you plan to have more children? When?
I would love to, but only if I met the perfect guy and we were both ready for another child and I was sure my son wouldnt feel left out or replaced.
15. What is one thing you wish you knew before you got pregnant?
I wish I knew how hard being a single parent truly is, I wish I knew how hard I would struggle and that having a child the way I did has made my son miss out on things and it breaks my heart.
