It was the last day of school my freshman year of high school. My mom was a teacher so we had the whole house to ourselves for half of the day. My boyfriend and I had been together since the 8th grade and had always had it bad for each other.In our second grade year books, we profess our love to one another and I have a rather attractive picture of us being in K4 together. We had a very physical relationship from the start. We only had intercourse twice. The second time, I got pregnant.
I was the good kid. I was an honor student, in the national honor society, beta club, show choir, church youth group-you name it. Once I found out I was pregnant, none of that mattered to anyone anymore. It was the outward expression of this act we had committed that clouded everyone’s opinion of me. We weren’t doing anything everyone else wasn’t doing, we just got caught.
I stayed in school for my entire pregnancy. I left 4 days before I had my daughter. Bailey Madison was born on March the 15th, 1996. I was able to stay on home bound the remainder of the school year and went back to complete high school, with honors, might I add, my junior and senior year.
Bailey’s father and I went through some definite ups and downs, mostly downs at this point. He wasn’t ready to fully grow-up and I wasn’t ready or willing to put up with his games. Having Bailey changed us, we had to learn to be parents together and then work on the relationship with time.
Fast-forward to the present -we have now been married for 5 years. We have two more children, Rylee Morgan who is four and Jace Thomas who is 2. I do not pretend that it has been easy, but we love each other dearly and are both 100% committed to not letting our family fall into the stereotypical patterns that so often happen with young families.
Being a teen mom is the hardest thing I have ever done and am now convinced ,at almost 25, that it is the hardest thing I will ever have to do. It changed me in so many ways, I would not be who I am today if not for the journey. I think in some ways just as an alcoholic will always be considered an alcoholic, I will always consider myself a teen mom.
There are two things I must do on a daily, sometimes hourly, basis. Number 1, as you so wonderfully put it, I need to Stand Up. I have to make the best out of every situation that is handed to me. That includes every negative comment, sideways stare,or harsh word. I am proud of where I am, of my children and my choices. Second, I must Look Up. I know that God has a plan for my life and my family. He doesn’t make mistakes. I lean on Him to guide me and lead me where He wants me to be. I want for Him to be as proud of me as I am of my own children.
luv-Erin
Dear Erin — Thanks for your story, Erin. I like it because it is very real. You don’t try and sugar coat stuff… you tell it like it is. I, like you, depend on God so much. Without Him, I am nothing.
It is so good to hear that there are other young couples out there trying to do the same thing we are. It isn’t easy…but, contrary to popular opinion, it IS possible! God bless you and your beautiful family.
Luv,
