Being a young parent isn’t easy but it shouldn’t be frowned upon, I am now 25 years of age with a son who will be four this year. Whilst 21 isn’t exactly a really young age to be having children, it is still fairly young and I have encountered my fair share of comments over the years.
Steve is three years older than me so doesn’t really encounter any such experiences. They seem to be left for me. The stares, the glares, the muttering under the breath. Comments made about kids having kids and palming them off on the grandparents. I even had someone ask why I was sending my son to pre school shortly when I am at home all the time. I shouldn’t need to justify myself to them but so what if he is going there? I work from home – I need some time alone to get work and housework done. Just like he needs some time away from me to interact with people his own age and have some fun, learn some stuff, just generally be a toddler.
I get people thinking all younger people are uneducated. Not so. I may not have gone to university but that was my choice and was long before Jack came along! Not that university necessarily makes you more educated in general anyway – more educated in particular subjects, yes.I’ve definitely changed a lot since having Jack. I was never irresponsible per se but I am certainly a lot more responsible now. I barely drink, I barely visit the pub, everything I do is done with Jack in mind. My focus and attention has shifted to family life and why should being a fairly young parent make me incapable of that?
Judge all you like. Myself and other young parents out there are doing what we know best, bringing our children up in loving and caring homes. Age doesn’t mean anything – you can be a good mum at 15 but a rubbish one at 35.. its not the age of the person but the person themselves. Being a young parent isn’t a curse, far from it. I just wish more of society would see that.
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100% agree! I was 21 when I had Scarlett and people would look down on me. More so if I went into town without James (because he was at work) they'd look at me as if I was a young, single parent!!! X
Wow, that's just awful! I'm sorry people judge you like that, it's unbelievable!
i love this! i fell pregnant with caleb just before i turned 20 and i got the judgey looks. now that i'm 22 (will be 23 in march) but i think i look even younger, and have two children, the looks are even worse but i couldnt care less anymore!
The judgement thing is weird. I was 29 when I had my daughter, but I looked in my early 20s. I often used to get asked if I was her nanny …!
The judgement thing is weird. I was 29 when I had my daughter, but I looked in my early 20s. I often used to get asked if I was her nanny …!
Totally agree, you can be a good mum at a young age but a bad mum at an older age. I had my first at 24 so I wouldn't say that was young at all but lots of people liked to tell me it was! At least we'll be young mums when they're teenagers and not pensioners lol #MMWBH
I was 18 when I had my first and 21 when I had my second. It was hard to deal with the prejudice at the time. I am now 38 and have had my sixth baby and everyone thinks I'm old. Can't win!
I totally agree with you, your age does not determine your ability to be a good parent
xx
People can be so rude and I'm a young mother also I have heard it all before. Great post thanks for sharing!
You sound like a great ambassador for young parents, I've been both a young and old and it's harder being young as people have more of an opinion about you. great post ( found you via the #mmwbh
I was 18 when I had my eldest and 20 when I had my next. I'm going to be turning 24 soon and I wouldn't change for the world. I can't imagine what you went through with the looks and what not, I never got any of that. x
Kate | A British Sparkle
Couldn't agree more I was a mum at 18 and 21 and better than s lot of older mums you see in the media doing goodness knows what. As you say it's the person not the age x
I agree I don't think age matters I think it's the individual person when we become mothers and what we change for our beautiful children. Sounds like you are an amazing mother. Lovely photo too. Thank you ever so much for linking up to Share With Me. #sharewithme