Teenage Pregnancy

Five months had passed, and in this time my academic focus was at an all-time high. I was successfully balancing the juggling act which is life after so many years of failing to do so. I had found my goal; my aspirations had become clear. I knew where I wanted to be... but all at the same time there was a hidden truth, one that had been smothered to the bottom of my thoughts, yet also so very apparent.

The happiest time in a couple's lives had been brought upon me at a time in which most would think is devastating. And for the first five months, both my girlfriend and I shared that very same thought. We felt as if these supposedly happy nine months were going to be a complete downhill spiral in our lives. We were scared for our reputation, our sanity, our careers, our future, our family, and for our baby. We were deathly afraid of the normal sequence of events associated with a teen pregnancy. But there was only a single valiant aspect of our lives which we both knew would never change. And that was our relationship.

Tangled in the mass of a forever daunting situation, we found that brushing the thorns and persevering through the scrapes was the way to continue our journey towards a beatific, prospering life, one which I would define not by the normal teenage eye, but more by prophecy and entitlement to the values which I had held myself to throughout the entirety of my existence. It took time in order to face my circumstances and the realization that I should embrace my personal growth rather than fight, but when this became my final decision, I then broke the news to my parents.

It was this moment in time that I had been so grievously preparing for. I was open and ready to accept the sayings of disbelief, disappointment, and doubt in everything that they had so greatly instilled in me. At this time, I felt that it was only necessary to hollow myself of all feelings in order to cushion the blow. Perhaps this was my first lesson in parenting, that the unmeasurable and unwavering love that my parents had shown me will never allow the feelings of disbelief, disappointment, or doubt. So instead I felt a sense of utmost security, one of which will overrule any and every situation. Blindsided, my preparation had become absolutely irrelevant. And the hollowness that I was hoping to show had been filled by overwhelming emotions of happiness and tears.

Beyond that instant, I was greeted with nothing but an inclination of support from day to day—not only from my parents but in an exponential fashion from each and every person. This unanimous support was not only extended to my own circle but also beyond and into my girlfriend's life. The remainder of our pregnancy not only fulfilled the feelings that would be brought in by “normal pregnancy” but far surpassing any experience throughout the entirety of my life.

The moment which I was first introduced to the start of life had begun early morning. And it was a mere 19 hours that I was then holding the little life of my baby boy. The instant connection was bound by the heat pressed against me as our heartbeats played a symphony in perfect rhythm. I was oblivious to the chaos surrounding the three of us, but never did I forget the strength and passion that lay bare that day. I would call those first moments nothing but angelic, a description that I believe is no stretch of any truth. The passion shared between our new family of three was continuously on display as we went through the recovery process. There is something unexplainable that happens through the events that have given my life true reason. I have found a nearly irrational urge to drive, to carve, to create my own path in life. And now, rather than blindly cutting through the thorny foliage, I see fields of flowers.