Fantastic article thanks for sharing your experiences just remember not everyone is judgemental probably less than you think.

hi every1 im 16 years old and expecting a baby boy in 4weeks. im soo excited!! reading all ur comments have made me feel less looked down upon. My baby was not an accident im in a good relationship with a 19yr old who does plastering and is able 2 support me and the baby and we made the decision 2gether. I didnt have a very good homelife when i was younger and i want 2 give my son all the love and care he needs,ive done my g.c.s.e's and currently waiting for my results...i have alot of support and want to go 2 college and make something of myself!! i believe that being a young mum doesnt mean u cant go far in life as u have proved!!

Thanks

I 'm glad  things worked out for you being a teen parent is not easy. You sound like a wonderful mother who has her head on straight. Keep doing a good job and proving them wrong. You have my  support. 

I was a month of my 19 b'day when I had my daughter. I had a lot of support. My mum was 17 when she had me in the 70's.

I will say that I was living with a single mum. She told me to get pregnant because I would be paid to have kids. ( Never wanted kids, but now that I have them I wouldn't be with out them) She now has 6 or 7 and has only had them to get the money. There not well looked after either. I stopped being friends with her because she told too many lies and her attitude just dragged me down. It's great that you have the maturity and the sense to do the right thing. I know adults who aren't all that!

this is really good My daughter was a teen mum and she was juged by lots of doctors so we kept trying to find one that wasn't a #%$@*.

REALLY GOOD ADVICE

Congratulations on your persistence and hard work, and all the best for you and your daughter.

I wasn't a teen mum (I was 26 and even married with my first), but people thought differently because I look very young.  I used to cop comments and looks all the time.  I remember two older women at the supermarket discussing how disgraceful it was to see me, obviously too young and unwed, with baby in tow.  What's weird is that I still feel a bit self-conscious when I go out with my kids now.  I'm 32, and pregnant with my fifth.  My self-consciousness now comes from the possibility that I will be judged for having too many kids (they're also pretty close together).  Sigh.  Why can't we all just get along?

There will always be people who make assumptions without knowing the facts.  The idea that most teen mums have babies to get money is laughable.

 Excellent advice and thanks for sharing, you sound like a great Mum with the best interest of your daughter at the fore-front.

No-one has the right to judge others.

Cheers Janice

great advice. I was looked down on for having a baby at 19 even though I was with the father. now I am a single mother of 2 and at 31 I am still looked down on.

Some good point's made. I was a single father at 18 before the baby bonus and had too fight just too get payment's as they all looked down upon me. Keep up the good work mate!

Great advice and good points made. 

Peace
EF.x

Life is tough. Keep your Chin up.

Absolutely brilliant article. You are obviously a well put together woman and are an asset to your daughter. Good luck with your HCS and your future!!!

Well written and I agree :)

Though you were lucky to get $3000 cos in 2004 when I had my child the baby bonus was only $800 LOL

I was just out of my teen years - I was 20 years old when I had my first. Still faced a lot of the negative attitudes and judgements.

Good luck with completing school

xx

Hey,

At 19 yrs old I got married and  had my son.  I'm proud mum to my little boy. Hes so cute and sweet! Now my son is 5 year old and everytime I bumped to anyone they think my son is my brother! I kept say, no he is my son. then they ask "How old are you" and "Are you young to be a mum?" heheeheh.  I never worry what they think! So Keep it up!

I'm trying to have my second child and I cant wait!

Congrats on ur daughter! U can do it!

SweetFairy

I am 16 years old turning 17 this yr and I have been diagnosed with polycystic ovarie syndrome. If I don't have children very soon I won't be able to. I would much rather have children young than not at all. Im not sure what my bf thinks. We have been together 13 months now but I don't feel as if hes ready. I don't know what to do because I don't want to go through life without children. Also for when I do try for children I need to take medication to help. I am very depressed over all this. I don't care if people look down at me because I believe i will be the best mum ever and my mum said that she would be there to support me every step of the way. Im very greatful she understands how this feels to me. I am already a very mature person. I am just not sure what to do.

It's good to see some positive response instead of depressing stories your story has made me feel a bit better. :)

fab article hun and i whole heartedly agree with you.

good luck with the HSC.

lol lisa xxxx.

Excellent article kayla!! I dont judge anyone no matter how old they are. I always feel what is important is that the parent is looking after their child/ren properly and the age of the parent  isnt the main issue. You are a great mum and Emily and your new bub are lucky they have you

The other thing that gets me is the baby bonus and peoples attitude towards that...the money is to help with the cost of getting essentials for the new bub and if the parent feels they would like to save it or use it towards bills than that is their decision and the money although a great help isnt that much when u look at how much children cost.

Great article hunny! Great advise i hope alot of people get the info they need out of this. I wasnt a young mum but never judge any young mums. I could of been a young mum but things happen for a reason. Great work hunny and you are the bestest mum in the world!

Hugs Tee

I was a teenish mother first time round (19) and found the "old" ones the worst. They would give me this look..u know the kind...stern eyes, pursed lips..yep, thats the one! Second time round, I was 28 and it was even worse because of the baby bonus. After many "u only do it for the handout money", I was sick to death of it! One lady made the usual comment  and I couldnt help myself..i told her that every little bit of money helps but one day...one day, I will beat this coke addiction!! I just wish I had stayed long enought o see her reaction..silly old bitty!

Provided young parents do the right thing by the child then it makes no difference what age u are. U sound like u did a fantastic job and one that other young mums could be inspired by. Why not look into telling your story in schools to all the kids. I have a friend who did this and she found it so rewarding.

Again, great advice, u should be proud of yourself!

Joxx 

This is great writing and great advice

You should be really proud of yourself you are a great mother

xxx

great advice i never knew you where so young you should be proud of yourself you show alot of wisdom and courage

stace

I was a mum at 17. And I believe it was the best thing that ever happened to me. My daughter is now seven and I still get the occassional funny look when people find out how old I am, but the majority don't react at all. When my daughter was one I went back to my old high school and did some contraceptive and pregnancy talks for the school nurse. All the teens thought my daughter was so cute but they soon realised she wasn't all full of cuteness when I had to change a nappy! I think it was a great experience for them and regret not going back. Teens need to see the reality of pregnancy, not to deter them, but to prepare them for what may happen in the future. Thanks for sharing your story!

Thanks for a great article and sharing.  It is not how old or young you are but what sort of parent you are going to be.

Angie

Excellent Article and Advice for all to read.. As a Mum that helps all Types of parents out in our community it shows that it doesnt matter how old the parents are, their chidren are always well clothed and looked after... We often look after children that come from young mums and i take my hat of to them, as they do such a great Job....

I think you are  a great Mum and emily and the new bub are lucky to have such a great mum...

xxx cazza

Excellent article, very good. In the papers today in UK they were talking about whether teenage girls should be given contraceptive injections, effectively keeping them sterile for five years. I wish people wouldnt judge, my mum was very young when she had me... and I turned out ok, and have a great relationship with her. Em xxx

Great article i get such funny looks walking down the road with a nealy 5 yr old only 22 and the rude comments i dont think it mattters wat age you have kids as long as you taske care of them

Thaanks for sharing

Emz xx

Thanks for sharing.  There are 2 sets of young/ teen mums.  Those who are responsible and commited for life and those who are after the money.  Where I live, sadly it is the later, and our foster care system isn't coping here.  I was almost a mum at 18, but sadly lost the baby.  I think the damage I did to my body, and circumstance actually worked in my favour, because when I did have a baby, I was much more prepared.

Young mums who are able to keep a long term goal for themselves in mind are great mums.  I have met a few.  Those who think that parenting is just about them, and not their kids, don't cope so well.  I think that teens who get pregnant on purpose for the sake of not having to go to school/work or for the money are the ones who are bringing a bad name to those who do the right thing.

Accidental pregnancy, even if using contraception, happens, and all we can do is what is right for us, not what other people want from us.  Thanks for sharing this, and I hope that other young mums to be get strength from your experience.  Please don't think I am judging, 'cos I'm not, some teen mums do a great job, I just don't believe in choosing to have a baby when you are still a baby yourself, or barely an adult.  Finding more of who you are is also very important, but doing the study will certainly help you there.  Actually, if more teen mums followed your lead, there would be less stress on our Health and Welfare Services.

Hi Kayla,

What a great article . .  I was once a teenage mum and baby bonuses weren't around then . . . NO I am not old hehe . . But the comments etc were still around and they used to effect me too . .  But I learned to toughen up and get on with things. My eldest is now 16 nearly 17 and my youngest is 21months . . Comments are still made sometimes when I am out and about as my wedding ring no longer fits. All I do is smile and keep on walking . . ..  But you are right, people should learn NOT to be so judgemental . .

Cheers Kellz

great article,, thats the trouble now days people think young mothers are stupid,,, is sad young mums make the best mums,, and who are people to judge??? when they dont even know the person,, welldone and well said xxxshar