To all the teenage girls who think they are ready to be a mother:

Lately I have seen so so many young girls from ages 14-17 talking about wanting to try to conceive and have a child. And by all means, if that is the type of lifestyle that you think you can handle, be my guest. but do me one favor, set your alarm for every hour, maybe half hour, maybe even 20 minutes every single night for the next month staying up at least 20 minutes each time and tell me if you can handle it. If you can, that is great. Now tell me, for the next 18 years, are you ready to give your child everything they deserve, meaning their financial needs come over yours. That means when you are fresh out of foundation or eyeliner or you really want that new Beyonce album everyone is talking about, you cannot get it because your child needs diapers, or formula, or new school supplies. Are you emotionally ready to be attached to a young man who may or may not want to be a part of your childs life? Can you look a man in the face who has said he loves you time and time again, but now is saying he wants nothing to do with you because you are pregnant? Are you emotionally ready to deal with the immaturity that could come with him for not just the next 18 years, but longer. because that is your childs father and just because your child has reached adulthood, does not erase the fact that it is their father. or are you possibly ready to some day sit down and explain to your child where their daddy is and why they do not have one like the rest of the kids? i know this is not always the case, i know there are some amazing men who can coparent and be there for their children, but at the same time, some men are not like that. Again though, are you ready for your 18th birthday to come around or even your 21st and all your friends are celebrating and having a blast but you cannot because you have a screaming child at home who desperately needs all of your attention that night. There are no more easy days. you will always have to find a babysitter. and babysitters are sometimes unavailable or cancel. and that leaves you at home, once again cancelling on your friends. the friends you have left. because pregnancy and babies do not allow friendships like you have at this moment. there is no easy pick up and go at any moment to hangout. and that sadly chases alot of people away. Children are not baby dolls. you cannot click an "off" button for a night, or even a second. they are forever. every second of every day. you do not get breaks. its a 24 hour job 7 days a week. and ask any of us teenage mommies, we do desperately love our babies. but we miss out on the things that our friends get to do. we miss the things a teenager and young adult should experience. and sadly, more often than not do we do this alone because not every boy out there is ready to be a man. and it is a hard hard journey. it is one that will leave you a sobbing mess on the bathroom floor begging your mother to help so you can have just a few hours of sleep. it is rushing out of stores with nothing you needed because your child is hungry or has pooped out of their diaper and you dont have any onesies with you. it is not like playing house. it is hard, it is messy, it is exhausting. it is also beautiful. but if you are one of those teens out here trying to make this choice, please please think twice or two hundred times before you decide and make the choice that will benefit not just you, but your child.