How do I know if I’m fit to be a mother?

Before you became a mother, did you feel confident?

I’m 24 and my boyfriend and I have all kinds of plans for our future. We want to have kids one day. But today I held a baby and I was absolutely terrified. I was the youngest in my family and I have no experience with kids. Sitting on the couch today next to my future husband with my friend’s baby in my arms, I couldn’t even imagine myself with my own. Ever since then my head has been filled with doubts. “I’m going to be an unfit mother.” “I won’t know what I’m doing.” “I’ll be ridiculed and humiliated by everyone with more experience than me.” But most of all, “I’ll never be the woman and mother that my boyfriend/future husband wants/deserves.” I’ll never be enough. I just don’t feel like I’ll ever fit the role, and I just don’t know how to cope with these feelings. I have so much sadness, guilt, and anxiety. I want to talk to him, but I’m embarrassed to admit my fears. He is about to enlist and I’ve been mentally preparing myself for his absence through much of our relationship, but motherhood is something I don’t think I could go through alone. I know nothing and I’m scared.