Confessions Of A Teenage Mother

Sixteen years and 9 months ago, I was seventeen years old and a brand new senior at Skyline High School. I was thin to the wind, blonde and a bit on the wild side. It was going on my third year working at Hardee’s and hanging out with the older crowd that worked there. I drove a little, black, soft top Suzuki Samurai that I had bought myself. Freedom from home and high school were just a school year away. I looked into going to college in Rhode Island, but didn’t take the necessary steps to make it a goal, it was just a dream.

In October my mother begged me to go to the doctor… I couldn’t, for the life of me, think of why she wanted me to go. She made an appointment, telling me that she thought that I was pregnant. I denied it. Matter of fact, I felt great! I didn’t even consider the idea.

Well, the doctor confirmed it. I was pregnant.

Graduation became a priority.

As the semester wore on, my body started changing. Thank goodness that big shirts and stretch pants were in style, because hiding it those first few months would have been interesting. I was exhausted and getting up and ready for school was challenging, even more difficult after I was married in December.

Because of being pregnant, married and commuting from West Jordan to Skyline each morning, I asked my counselor if the school would allow me graduate with my class if I received the second semester’s credits from Bingham High School’s Program for Young Mothers. It was approved by the school board and I was relieved.

At Bingham’s Young Mothers Program, I met other girls who were expecting and some who already had their babies. I met girls who were married, and some that were not. Some girls were keeping their babies and some were facing adoption.

I learned from them and their experiences, listened to what they went through during delivery and how hard their pregnancies had been for them. I am grateful to them.

I marched with my class in June, nine months pregnant. Two weeks later, I delivered the most beautiful girl I’ve ever met.

I’m not able to have any more children, so she is my miracle. It just happened at a weird time in my life! I was lucky to have an easy pregnancy, and an even easier labor and delivery, but I’m so blessed to have this wonderful daughter!

Happy Sweet Sixteen, my Princess!