teen mums

[wee_angel]

Hi what do you think of teen mums?

[mimififi]

I was a teen mother. I fell pregnant in my upper sixth year. Father was abusive and violent and so therefore absent by my choice. My daughter was born 6 weeks prem (common for teens) 4 days before my first Alevel exam. I came out of hospital on the sunday evening and had a 9am English Lit exam the following morning. It was the first time I had left my brand new baby on DAY 5. I sat all my exams with the rest of my class mates, didn't have my own room or anything. I then lived by myself aged 18 1/2 by now as I had been staying with a friend as I couldn't stay at home. I took a year out before then going to University to do a degree in English Literature, which I passed with a 2:1. I the took another year out then did my PGCE. My daughter is now 11 and I have 4 other children too. I am married (now for nearly 10 years).

I think I did O.K.

If you are a good parent you'll be a good parent whether you are 17 or 47. If you are going to have issues as a parent then you'll have issues whether you are 17 or 47.

If you are a teen parent. Don't worry about other people's opinions. If you want to make your life work, you will. And what a legacy you will leave your child. This concept isn't new, just read "A woman of substance". The only 'new' part is the council housing and frankly if it hadn't have been for the council housing, I wouldn't have had a choice other than to stay in a violent and abusive situation. I feel vindicated now when I think of the 40% tax my husband pays. I also don't begrudge it at all and think of all the young mums our tax is potentially supporting.

Girl Power.

[mimififi]

sorry to have repeated so much of what others have said, but you know how I love to talk, and well, this is a passionate subject.

All the best to you wee_angel. You are streets ahead of your peers.

[lisamoocow]

I cannot believe some people are so narrow minded!

What gives people the right to assume that having a child in your 20's/30's/40's automatically makes you a better parent?

For your information, i was 19 when i had my first daughter. I had been with my partner for 3 years. Both of us had good jobs and earned good money. We had a car each, and our own house.

We're still together, very happy and now expecting our 3rd child. We've never lived in a council house, or claimed any benefits. Oh and by the way i'm a bloody good mum.

Even if i had no money and lived in a council property, what business is it of snotty nosed, land rover driving mums?? I'm quite sure there are plenty of older parents who have children while on benefits.

People should be entitled to have children when they're good and ready. Whether the're 17 or 40, it's not their age which defines if they're a good parent or not.

[nellie54]

hi im a teenage mum, i am 19 with three under 3. I work full time and live with my partner in a private letting. I think teenage parents are fine as long as they are mature enough to look after themselves and a child, and they continue to make a life for themselves and dont use being a teenage parent as an excuse. I didnt have any support other than from my partner and i managed so others should be able to do it if they are determined. We just have a bad reputation because most teenagers are selfish and this is what others see, good teenage mums are never praised in public so no-one acknowledges them.