At 16 I got pregnant, and had my daughter shortly after I turned 17. I really had no idea what kind of struggles I was going to go thru. I thought "I got this, me and my bf will be together forever and be happy"

I had no idea what kind of person I was with, being young also comes w being inexperienced in life. Even tho I had been thru a lot already, there's so much you can't know until you grow up. At 13 I was on my own, my mother left the city to move 4 hrs away and my dad and sister were the only two I had left in the city. They are both alcoholics . So I lived wherever I could until I met my bf, and we moved in w his uncle and aunt ..

Long story short I became pregnant and when they found out they kicked us out. We stayed at friends houses until he could save the Money for our own apt . . And a car. Little did I know, he was a cheater and soon to be abusive. As soon as we moved in by ourselves the abuse started in every way possible. He also got hooked on prescription drugs and fell into crime.. I spent many days and nights alone crying w no one to turn to. My daughter was born and I felt complete, like everything would be okay. I had no idea what I was doing hit I tried my hardest and read a lot of books lol. He didn't help me and was pretty much disconnected from us, he did whatever he wanted . .

Fast forward to my daughter being almost 2, we moved into a house and two days later he told me that he may have another child w someone else. After finding out the details this kid was only a few weeks younger than my daughter. I was devastated but still tried to make it work. The abuse just got worse and worse. Hitting choking throwing me around slapping me anything he could do...

One day when he was passed out on drugs I packed all his shit into the only car we had and told him to leave. He did...

After that my life was HARD ...I started to go to college and eventually got a job. I paid for the house and bills and everything for my daughter alone. I almost never saw her because I had to work sooooo much to support her alone. I was miserable. I dropped out of college and got another job. She would come to my night job and sleep on the couch. I cried every night after work ...I was trying my absolute best to get by. . And we did. But just barely. there was no "me" no going out no time for friends or dating ...just time to be a mother and a woman.

There were so many bumps in the road but I don't regret anything . I ended up moving to a small apt to save money, and continued to work as much as I could. I bought a car. . I still haven't returned to college and now have more kids.

But if this helps anyone understand that teen pregnancy and parenting isn't what it may seem ...you may not be w your high school sweetheart forever, you may not have the same views forever, and you will DEFINITELY struggle whether your 16 or 25 when you have your baby. . Be prepared for anything and understand fully that YOU WILL BE PUSHED TO THE LIMIT, YOU WILL BE TIRED, AND GOD WILL TEST YOUR FAITH. BE STRONG LADIES !!! you can do anything you set out to accomplish , just have a realistic view on life. Don't live in a fairy tale like I tried...life isn't peaches and cream ...it's LIFE and it's a battlefield...

BTW I'm now 25 having my third child and have one step son. 😊😊