I do however think it would have looked better if it wasn’t such a dark brown background…maybe a tan or skin color background.

I think these are great photos…at first I was like “what is that” because I didn’t see the larger photo. I think it’s pretty interesting…something I’ve never seen before.

People need to stop judging and get on with it. Age doesn’t matter…people mature at different ages. You can’t say she’d be a bad mother because of her age you don’t know her.

What is wrong with being a YOUNG mom? I am happily married with my 4th child, and I am only 24 yrs old. Age is not as important as LOVE and dedication. There is nothing wrong with choosing marriage and children over college and career. My husband and I own a beautiful house, have plenty of money, and are children have flourished. I constantly have older mom ask for advice on MY PARENTING style.

Why the judgements?

Making the decision to lay down and make a baby, to me, is a grownup decision. You have kids these days making this grownup decision, and not being able to handle the consequences. You can be young, old, whatever and have your baby. Sure it’s no one’s business. My only problem is that it becomes other people’s business when said persons cannot financially sustain themselves and their child, and therefore turn to governmental support, which is essentially coming from the tax payer’s pocket. Like it or not, that is when it becomes our business. It’s not a bad thing to have children at a young age, just as long as you can take care of them. It’s also not a bad thing to have kids at an older age. You know why no one is griping about having kids at an older age? Because in all likelyhood, the older parents will be more financially stable and better equipped and prepared to handle a child. I agree with Jaisa and Shannon, however rude their comments may come across. People don’t always like to hear the facts that are staring them right in the face. Teenage pregnancy (meaning young girls still in high school who can’t even afford a piece of gum, let alone to raise a child) is on the rise. It’s those situations that I think they’re referring to. Kudos to the young parents who are making it work. But from what I’ve seen, the opposite is happening more often than not.

I met my husband at the age of 17 (he was 20) and we married 6 months later. I got pregnant a month into our marriage and had our son in our 10th month of marriage. This coming June we will be happily married 26 years.

If I have offended anyone, I would like to apologize. I am not here (on the blog or in the world) to judge, that is not my place. I would like to explain my message. I really question the decision on ‘young’ motherhood, from my psychological background. There are many statistics that back up my idea that most woman of the age of 18 to let’s say 24 are not fully developed in a mental way and therefore can and most likely will face many difficulties along the way of parenthood (your identity will be stable around the age of 21, your forebrain grows until you are about 24 years old and therefore still makes new connections- one of the reasons scientists want young people in colleges, they are the most ‘vulnerable’ for information). Other challenges than every parent faces. I have to add that this counts for Western woman with an individualistic upbringing (as most of us receiving since the beginning of the eighties). They are more selfish and have all the luxury to be that way(again: no judgement). Adolescence takes about ten years anno 2008, where in 1958 it took a year or two. That brings our generation an enormous amount of different developmental consequences.
Finally I would like to add that marriage to me is not necessary to be around for the birth and upbringing of a child. I personally do not believe that the word or license of a marriage can give any foundation whatsoever. Also there statistics back me up, with a 50% divorce rate in the US. After divorce of course your world and that of your children will not end, but of course it brings a lot of instability in the child’s life.
Anyone who is happy with marriage and/or a child in whatever age: I sincerely hope you will continue to be! Please make sure that you as a parent (whether married, single, divorced or something else) always act in the best interest of your child(ren).
It is indeed about the combination heart, mind and spirit. I hope and think that as a woman you will be loving mom (no particular need to be great, since that is a subjective judgement because ‘great’ is different for everyone) at any age if you’ve got the love and social support!

I agree that you can be a great and responsible mother at any age be it early 20’s or late 30’s. The only position I have on the age debate is that you only experience your 20’s once and never again, and surely isn’t that the time to be selfish, have lots of fun without being tied down, see the world and further your career without anything holding you back. I have friends that have had kids young and said ‘yeah but I can do those things when the kids have grown up’. In their 40’s? Are you kidding me? If given the choice, enjoy your own youth first!

tati is one of my best friends.. She is such an amazing person and will make an outstanding mother. Im so proud of her.. I love you tati..

To Jaisa and Shannon, i find your statements very rude! i myself hate being stereotyped and i can imagine how furious others might be. I just turned 20 back in November and i am expecting. Me and my boyfriend are not engaged nor married, but we are so so happy! We have an excellent relationship and get compliments everyday on what a “BEAUTIFUL” couple we are! He plays and talks to my belly just about everyday! He makes sure to kiss it about 20 times a day! We dont plan on getting married anytime soon. We dont think having a baby is a good enough reason to get married! Yes, we would love to get married, but we wanna do so because we love each other, not because we’re bringing a miracle into this world. That all on its own is alot to handle. You say getting married first is better for the child. You wanna talk about statistics, what about the statistics of divorce? Couples who get married just because they are having a baby usually dont love each other or get along too well. So the relationship between them affects the child! Seeing verbal or even physical abuse is nothing a child should be seeing. And by you saying getting married first brings just that to mind. Divorce usually follows which i would think is worse for a child to experience!

I am 20, with a good job, i have an associates degree with more than 80 college hours, i own my own vehicle, i have my own place, and am continuing to further my education. My boyfriend has a great job too and fully supports me so that i can continue my education. He is going to help me with the baby so that i dont have to stop going to school. This baby will not slow me down in that area because i am driven to do better for me and my new family.

With all that said, I hope you are more careful with your words! Those statements were very unnecessary and I found them extremely rude!

I had my first child at 21 and my second at 23. I am 30 now with a college education, good job and am still with the father of my children. Motherhood is not for everyone and I know of good mothers who are young and good mothers who are older.

From my point of view I’m glad I had my children young because the generation gap is smaller and I understand and can relate to the cultural references they make. Also, children need lots of energy and I get tired enough at this age!

Also, instead of being so negative about young mothers (the majority of whom try their best in spite of being judged) what about the culture shock older mothers must have when they are so set in their ways and used to ‘me time’ and then suddenly the world doesn’t revolve around them anymore?

Luckily I was very able to put the needs of my child first and not lament the loss of my free time when I had them. It must be so hard and take a lot of getting used to when a baby comes along and you have established routines with work, leisure and spare time.

I think whatever age you have children, there are pros and cons. Each to their own and well done all the young mums out there who work hard and maybe harder because of the stereotypes! x