Being a Young Mum

good on you! as usual the minority ruins it for the majority! it is such a terrible assumption that young mothers are leaches of society, my first daughter ws born when i was 17 and i got the same crap, my second daughter i was 24 and one comment which offended me know end was that their fathers must be different! hello just because i was young with my first didnt mean i was a hussy! i had been married to their father since before the first was even born!

and one thing i will say for having children young is that you have way more energy and way more life to live once they are grown up, which also means way more energy for grandkids!

I know EXACTLY what you mean. I am also 21, my eldest turns 2 in january, and my second was born in july. People seem to look down on you even more for being young with TWO children. Anyone who knows me in the lsightest will know that the one thing in life i am truly passionate about is children. I  was working like you when i first feel pregnant, in a law firm and living below the poverty line. When I went on 'maternity leave' (also known as see ya later suckers, im not coming back!) I started studying childcare and education through university where I have been doing fantastically. I have done this because when my children are old enough to start school I will then be forced by the government to go back to work, and I couldnt not bear working at McDonalds for the rest of my life. I found a way that I can have a repsectable profession that I love and contribute to the family's income properly.  It is also the best profession i know with holidays the same time as my children.

My children have made me the person I am today, and it is so much better than the person I was before.

But people are so quick to judge. They dont take a minute to look and observe- are the children clean? are they bathed? are they clothed properly? do they look like they are starving? Do the parents look like they care or know what they are doing? I had over 10 years experience with very young children before my child was born as I have been babysitting my younger siblings since i was 8 years old, and was often left in charge of them for a week at a time. I was 15 years old and taking my 3 week old brother to school with me. But people dont stop to think about this before they judge someone.  

I have found significant trouble getting doctors to take me seriously... do you have the same issue?

great advice

good on you

Emz

Great advice,,, and well done for standing up and voicing your views...

it doesnt matter how old we are as parents its more on how we raise our children to do their best and love them no matter what.

xxx cazza

Age is nothing when being a mother, there are bad young mothers just as their are bad older mothers. Age doesn't matter.

Good luck and keep on being the best mother you can be

Thanks for sharing... And you are right. It doesn't matter how old you are as long as you give your child all the love and care you can.

My Sister was 17 when she had her little boy. He is 6 now and she is my role model!

Thanks so much for sharing your story . . ..  You are a GREAT role model for all the young mums out the in the community.

I remember being a young single mum. It was not my choice but sadly my relationship had ended and I struggled to raise my daughter. I had a battle daily to gain acceptance. I found it so very rude that people were so ready to see the bad and prejudge.

Good luck to you honey . . .

Cheers Kellz

You are a great role model for young moms out there.

It is hard work to be a parent, and to be a parent while in school is ever harder. Good for you for sticking at it!

you are so right!
I don't think it matters how old or young you are, so long as you can give your child love, care and the things they need in life then all is good!
I sometimes think the older mothers who have just had children (like late 30's, early 40's) and are judgemental towards young parents, are those who are jealous about how well some of us young mums deal with the everyday issues that parenting and life deal us!
But on the same token, i can see where people come from when it comes to having kids for the money, as here in australia, a baby bonus has been introduced, and now when you have a baby you get a large payment..... its been mostly young people getting pregnant and delivering...but not all are in it for the money!

I hate all the looks I get at the shop if i dont have my hubby there.
My kids saved my life, they stopped me ending it. I love my kids so much and wouldnt change a single thing about them or having them young.

Liz