MTV's 16 and Pregnant

[DrPhil]

Even being 19 (legally an adult) is different than being a high schooler.

I don't think any parent is truly prepared for children and they all learn as they go through it. But, being more mature and having your life more in order definitely helps.

[KSUViolet06]

Originally Posted by DrPhil

Even being 19 (legally an adult) is different than being a high schooler.

Yeah, even still at 19, I was in no shape to be a parent.

Like, my #1 priority was what I was going to wear to the mixer that weekend or which flavor of ramen I was going to microwave.

Maybe whether I was going to class or whether I was going to skip and go have smoothies with my sisters.

It was definitely not being a mom.

I suppose when you have no choice but to grow up, you do.

[DrPhil]

Originally Posted by KSUViolet06

Yeah, even still at 19, I was in no shape to be a parent.

I say the same for when I was 30.

Still better than being a high schooler.

[ComradesTrue]

Originally Posted by DrPhil

I don't think any parent is truly prepared for children and they all learn as they go through it. But, being more mature and having your life more in order definitely helps.

Yep.

I turned 34 the week after my first kid was born. My life was in order, my finances were in order, and my marriage was in order. This was a child that we had wanted, planned for, and read everything we could prior to his arrival.

And then.... this helpless human being who expected me to feed him, change him, and figure out why he was crying ALL THE FRIGGIN TIME showed up. I turned into a complete mess. I have a master's degree and my husband is a physician, and we felt like the two stupidest people on the planet. Those advanced degrees and all that reading got us nowhere with knowing how to make that kid stop crying! It was hard as hell.

We often commented to each other that if life became that hard for the two of us, that it really put into perspective how difficult it would be for young parents who lack maturation, a helpful babydaddy, and enough money in the bank to not have to worry where the next meal will come from.