Hello,

I am 17 and I found out I was pregnant on August 23. I am 7 weeks. I have never been pregnant before and I am extremely frightened. When I told the father, he asked me to get an abortion. I told him I couldn’t do that and that if he didn’t want the baby, then to leave me alone. He came around that night and told me that he would be there for me and the baby and that we were going to do this together. It really scares me because we have not had a great relationship. This last year, we have fought constantly and I’m worried that we’re going to start arguing again. I don’t want to put my baby through that. I know I’m too young to have a baby and I know I’m going to be judged by a lot of people but this is what happens and I will not punish the baby for my mistakes. I do not believe in abortion and I could not live with myself, knowing that I have a baby somewhere in the world that I gave up. I really really wish that this was not happening right now but I will get through this.

To all you young mothers out there, I now understand what you went through or are going through and I just want to say I am so impressed that we can go through with this. We are a lot stronger than we think and a lot of people prefer to take the easy way out. But if a 4′ 11” 17 year old high school drop out who had really REALLY bad morning sickness on her first day at work at her first job ever can get through this, so can you. And I know a lot of you don’t know me but if anyone needs someone to talk to, I’m here. Thank you for taking the time to read this

Always,