My fiancée, Alice, and I are truly in love. Were both twenty years old. Weve been friends since we were in Year Four, and by Year Six, we were already together as a couple. We had a son when we were quite young.
Of course, that wasnt exactly what our parents had in mind for us. But it happened. Our little boy is absolutely precious to us! Today, he turns three. We have our own flat, and Ive decided to marry my beloved Alice.
We invited about a hundred people to our wedding. Most of them are relatives from various parts of England. We may not be terribly close to all of them, but an occasion like this is reason enough to bring everyone together.
As soon as we announced the wedding, my mum started urging us not to bring our son. She kept telling us it would be better to leave him with a childminder so we wouldnt have to worry about him during the day.
She thinks we should consider his wellbeing, his needs, and not burden anyone else. Everyone wants to relax and enjoy themselves. Looking after a small child is demanding, and shes convinced well be too busy. Hes still little and wont really understand whats going on.
But Alice and I are certain our son should be there for such an important moment in our lives. Nothing like this will happen again. My auntmy mums sisteroffered to keep an eye on our son during the ceremony, so theres nothing to worry about. This way the whole family can be calm and enjoy themselves.
Except for my mum. Shes acting strangely, going on and on about how our son shouldnt be at the wedding. After a while, I realised what was actually going on.
It turns out my parents had decided not to tell anyone in the family about our child. Now theyre nervous about how to explain everything. Theyre embarrassed that the truth will finally come out.
Mum says it would be mortifying for herif everyone found out we had a child before we got married. Not many people our age have children so young, and she thinks people will gossip and laugh about it. In her mind, its best to keep that part hidden.
Really, I think shes more worried about how the family will judge her. Theyve chatted with some of the relatives now and again, but nobody ever mentioned our son.
I was very hurt by it all. And she was upset with me as well.
Now I feel awkward, as though Alice and I did something wrong by becoming parents early. Weve talked the situation through with my parents several times. My decision standsI want our son at the weddingand they keep insisting on their position.
The people closest to us havent supported us at all. Mum keeps telling me that if I go against her wishes, Ill stop being her son. I never imagined Id ever find myself in such a situation.
