Hi IMs
I have just found out I am in the early stages of pregnancy, I am unsure how to feel my fiancé is ecstatic but I however am a little bit panicked. Firstly I'm only 20 years old I'll be close to turning 21 when I have the baby. I have recently changed degrees and will be finishing the first year and will have to miss the first semester of second year (to have the baby and look after it for the first couple of months) as there is a no mid entry start for this degree. Financially we should be okay with the help of Centrelink, however to add to the stress of what to do about uni I'm in a new city and our families are at least a days drive away, I'm also worried am that I won't have the support from my parents as I'm so young and I know it's not what they wanted for me at this age (my mum is very stubborn and can be quite a grudge holder) I'm just very unsure and need some advice/support on this little situation I have happening!
2 Replies
I had a baby at your age, totally on my own. No supportive partner. I was totally fine, and twenty years on I don't regret the decision.
I would never tell you what to do, do what is right for you, but none of those issues sound like big problems to me. Your partner is the one that should be supporting you through this anyway, your family sounds irrelevant. Good luck
A good friend of mine was in a similar situation to yours. She deferred her course for a year and worked when she could to support her family (no father on the scene). She didn't tell anyone except for one friend because she wasn't sure how others would react. Her mum stepped up and helped her as much as she could - it was never her first choice for my friend's life but she accepted the reality and did what she could to support.
My friend returned to uni when she was ready. She graduated later and now she has a very responsible job, married and her little boy is one of the most well mannered and best behaved kids I have ever met.
For you, I hope everything works out as well as it did my friend. Things are not going to your original plan but that doesn't mean you have failed or that you can't get to where you want to go. You can do this.