I have the best mum in the world! She had me far too earlyjust sixteen, in fact. My aunts and uncles were absolutely horrified, but my grandparents were staunchly on her side. And so, I arrived: the calmest, easiest child you could ever imagine.
My entire family had a hand in raising me, always looking out for me. Since my grandparents focused on my mums education, we managed to avoid the typical hardship tales. Thanks to my mums hard work, we never pinched pennies, so we dodged all those dramatic rows over bills.
Eventually, I grew up. At sixteen, history repeated itselfI found out I was pregnant. Only my boyfriend acted with any sense; he stepped up and proposed, bless him. I gave birth at seventeen, making my mother a grandmother at the ripe old age of thirty-three. She wasnt distraught thoughshe was thrilled. We raised the new baby as a proper team. I finished school and landed myself a cracking job, too.
Today, my child is twelve and, surprise, Im pregnant again. Everything was ticking along splendidly. The key word being was.
Not so long ago, Mum made the shocking decision to have another baby. Naturally, I asked her why on earth she was doing this. Turns out shes fallen in loveexcept the chap is married and has no intention of leaving his wife. I was gobsmacked. No amount of talking sense would change her mind. On top of that, she dropped the bombshell: shes already pregnant and flatly refused to consider not keeping the baby.
So there we were, having a cry together. We both knew her fellow wont marry her, or even acknowledge the baby, let alone offer a penny of child support. Shed have to manage all by herself, and hes already got a houseful of kids.
In the end, Mum grew rather cross. Id offer her comfort, but truth be told, Im at my wits end. Shes in love, expecting, and utterly alonehow much worse can it get?
I keep worrying, imagining all the nosey parkers in our little town tutting and sniggering about Mum, especially with her about to become a single mum again, this time well into her forties. And in a place like ours, gossip travels faster than the post.
Still, I support her as best as Im able. If I crumbled too, shed fall to pieces completely. Granny and Grandad are still in the dark about all this; Mums begged me to keep it under wraps a while longer.
I can tell shes waveringmaybe even considering not having the baby after all. And I dont know whether to encourage her or try to talk her out of it. Im scared, honestly, but my heart aches for her. Shes torn up with worry, but whats she meant to do? Everyone in the family thinks she shouldnt go through with it. But I suspect shes already fallen in love with this little one. So, what now? End the pregnancy, or try to raise the baby together? Only she can make that choice.
I told my husband, whos our rock and sole provider, and he took the whole thing in stride. Hes not put off by another mouth to feed. Says where theres room for two children, theres room for three. Still, I cant shake the nerves. For no good reason, perhaps?
