Being a Young Mother

Today’s topic is about being a young mother. I speak from the heart and based on my conversations with friends, acquaintances, as well as my research. Being a mother is a tough job regardless of whether your child is a boy, a girl, twins, triplets, and with or without special needs. Of course, they each have their own set of challenges, some harder and bigger than others, but at the end of the day, is being a young mother tougher than being a mother who is older?

First, let me clarify that these are just my thoughts and my opinions, if any, are based simply on whatever experiences I’ve had and the materials that I’ve gone through. If you have different opinions and would like to share them with me, I’m all ears.

The Why

So, here’s a little background. I had my first child at the age of 26 and I was definitely not ready to take on the role of being the main caregiver of a crying bundle of human flesh. I love kids but being a new mother wasn’t on the cards for me. Suffice to say, it wasn’t on the cards for my then-husband either. We went in winging it.

I am now a mother of two grown men who adore the ground that I walk on…or at least…that’s what I would like to think.

I had a helper at home when my boys were little. She was from Indonesia and when she came over to Malaysia, she was barely 16. She was here for quite a number of years and sometimes we talk about things. She shared with me that women back home had kids even when they were teenagers. By the time she finally left home for good, she just turned 20; to her, that was already too late. Her culture and tradition dictates that women who are into their 20s should already be moms. To her, barely 20, time was running out.

Honestly, I was a little baffled but I didn’t question her, of course. But yes, it was intriguing.

Apparently, however, this is not uncommon. Based on research, 35% of sexually active female teens become pregnant before the age of 19 and nearly 60% of them continue on with their pregnancies.