I have the best mum in the world. She had me far too youngjust sixteen years old. All my relatives were scandalised, except for my grandparents, who stood by her. Because of that, I grew up to be the calmest, easiest child you could imagine.
My whole family had a hand in raising me, but my grandparents focused on Mums education, so we never struggled for money. Thanks to Mums hard work, we never had to penny-pinch, so there were no bitter arguments over bills, no drama.
Eventually, I grew up. At sixteen I found out I was pregnant. Only my boyfriend behaved as he shouldhe took responsibility and married me. I became a mum at seventeen. My mother was a grandmother at thirty-three. She didnt despairshe was over the moon. We raised our child together as a family. I managed to finish school and eventually found a great job.
Today, my own child is twelve, and Im expecting my second. Life felt settleduntil recently.
Not long ago, Mum told me she wanted another child. I asked her why. It turned out shed fallen for a man, except he was already married and wouldnt leave his family. I was stunned. Talking to her was uselessshed already fallen pregnant. She had no intention of ending it; she was determined to keep the baby.
So we sat together and sobbed. I cried because her man would never marry her, never claim the baby or offer any financial support. If she goes ahead, its all on herand he has plenty of children of his own.
Mum was devastated. I could have comforted her, but truly, I was helpless. Shes in love, alone, expecting, and left behindhow much more can someone take?
What haunts me is that once shes had the baby, even neighbours and acquaintances in our tiny town will jeer and judge her. Shell be a single mother in her late fortiespeople will talk. In a place like ours, word travels fast.
I try to support her however I can. If I let her see my own worry or hurt, shell break. Grandma and Grandad dont know yettheyve no idea theyll be grandparents again. Mum begged me to keep it secret for now.
I suspect shes considering ending the pregnancy. I honestly dont know if I should urge her either way. Im scaredfor her, for myselfbut my heart aches for her. Shes hurting, but what can she do? Everyone is against the idea of her having this baby. I think she already loves the tiny life inside her. So what do we doend it, or make a go of raising another child? Its her choice, not mine.
I told my husbandhe supports our whole family. To my surprise, he took it in stride. Hes not daunted by hardship: If we can manage two, we can manage three, he said. Yet I cant help but worry. For nothing?
