You friend has done the right thing by bringing it out into the open. She should not have to live a lie and it would of been extremely hard for her.  Be there for her and offer whatever support you can.  

It's always hard when we are disillusioned, when people we had on pedestals fall off them. And the fall hurts them as much as us.

To me, you can point out her strengths. She had the strength to admit her lie. She had the strength to come clean with the truth.

As for why she did it, it's one of the problems with domestic violence- women are made to feel that no one will believe them. They feel ashamed of the abuse, especially if the abuser has convinced them they deserve it. As a freind of mine would say, its a mind F%^&. excuse my language, but it just doesn't have the full power when you clean it up.

What she did isn't really any different than the woman who covers her black eye with make up and sun glasses... and wears long sleeves, and keeps her hair down and her turtle necks up... there are many forms of abuse and many ways of dealing with it.

And there are some really good, loving, caring tean parents and couples out there. Most of those will be the ones we look up to when he opens the door for her when they are old and gray. (and we're sitting in our rocking chairs and commenting on how sweet it is to see youn'ens who have manners!) So, chin up, and be the role model you are, and just continue tobe your genuine self. It's all you can do.

All the best. Your doing great. I Am's child.

SO sad!  It is not just teen mums who are struggling with painful marriages, violence and unfaithfulness - so don't feel bad.  I know you want to prove to the world that you can do it and do it well - and I think you and Thuy are!  It is so hard - and I think a lot of it comes down to how mature you are - not how old you are - and making good decisions in the first place.

I was really sad to watch a show yesterday where they followed up couples they had done a wedding show on ten years ago - and most of them were now separated.  It is so sad.  I started going out with my husband in my teens and we married at 21 - and in January we have been married 13 years!  It is not easy always but it is worth sticking at it and working at it.

I hope your friend is ok - and her little man (that is something he should not have to see) and baby.  I hope they can move on from this and make a new life for themselves - that would be a great example!