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Although it may not be the best option in the world to become a parent as a teenager, but some of us who did it turned out to be better adults because of it. I was 17 years old when I found out that I was pregnant. Barely into my senior year of high school, my boyfriend and I were scared of coarse, but we both agreed that we would make it work. My family, especially my mother...was totally against it. I was given an ultimatum of either having an abortion or moving out...and I left. I moved in with my boyfriend and his family. My mother was of coarse being worried and concerned that I had no idea what I was getting into, I wasn't ready, I wasn't going to finish high school, and my boyfriend would likely leave me. I was upset because I really didn't think she or anyone else in my family had any faith in me that I would be strong. They also kept stressing the fact that with having a baby, you never know if they may have any medical problems and what would I do if my baby turned out to have special needs. Of coarse i didn't know...but I was gonna try. Fast forward a bit. I finished high school, in fact my son was born the day of my graduation, I even went on to finish college..and my boyfriend became my husband. So I ended up proving them all wrong. But, they were right about one thing. My son was born with special needs and has birth defects that have been difficult to get treated. But what my family did not expect was for me to crack down and study to learn what was going on with my baby. I taught myself as much as I could while I was pregnant so that both his father and I knew what to expect (Lord knows it still wasn't enough). I learned so much that I went on to study medicine in College and I am now actively involved in helping other families get assistance with medical care for their children affected with similar conditions. At the age of 19, I was telling the doctors what to look for...how cool is that! My mother apologized for all the criticism that she gave me back then and even tells me everyday now that she is so proud that I have accomplished what I have, and we are the best of friends now. I don't have any ill feelings towards how our relationship went back then and I love her for saying some of the things she did say to me because it helped me to push and make sure that I did do what I was supposed to do. I am 24 years old now, and I have 3 children. No, it has not been easy...but I know that my mother had reason to be concerned because I was very naive at 17. Something about becoming a mother changed me. My son needed me, and I needed him...to grow up. Even with everything that he has to go through now at 6 years old he is so strong...he's my little hero and I would not trade what I experienced for anything in this world. He and his little brothers are my inspiration. I am a young mother, and I am PROUD of it!

Learn more about this author, Sharon Freeman.
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