Do you feel teen moms are judged unfairly?

I am a teen mom and I do think teen moms are unfairly judged. What other people does not know is that babies even at their smallest and most innocent form can greatly affect one's life. I am speaking from experience. I remembered how spoiled I am before I got pregnant. It was only when it occurred to me that in the coming months another creature will be given a life and that his life will be my responsibility that I started living my life with a purpose and with maturity. What I am trying to say is, it does not really matter how old or young we get pregnant. What's important is how well we are willing to take the responsibility of being a parent.

My best friend had her daughter at 17, just after graduating high school. She is 25 and her daughter will be 8 this summer. She is my idol (I am 30 with 4 kids of my own). I look up to her so much. She is a great mom and a good person. She finished college (taking night courses for 3 years until her daughter was old enough for the school day care), babysat for her cousins' kids to earn money while she stayed home with her daughter. Managed to have a social life and a boyfriend (no the baby's father). She did it all. She is now a teacher and going back to school to get her Master's Degree. She takes great care of her daughter, who is one of the smartest, sweetest, most well adjusted little girls I have ever met. She is my oldest daughter's best friend (she was born the day after this little girl turned 1 so they pretty much share a birthday and celebrate together every year). I do think many teen moms are judged badly. My friend used to tell me about the looks she got when she took her daughter out. She looks young for her age and everyone assumed she was the older sister or babysitter. When we would take the kids to the park you could see they were trying to figure out what would possess me to have so many kids, lol. It is because of people like my husband's niece that give them a bad rap. She had her first at 18 (after dropping out of high school and marrying a 33 year old guy--who is actually a really nice guy). Then she had her 2nd the next year. She is 22 now and neither child lives with her because they were too much for her to handle. But she is getting re-married and is pregnant and all excited like it won't be the same as with her first 2. She is a nut job and I feel so bad for her kids because they are so sweet.

well i had my son at 17, everyone was very supportive, but even now, my son who is now 8 in 2 mos. i'm 25, i went to his parent teacher conference and his teacher said, u're his mom? u look like u're 13. I get that a lot where people think i'm younger than i actually am, but people do have their opinions on teen moms b/c i'm sure most don't take care of their kids well, don't finish school. We're just 2 of the few that turn out to be good parents. I bought my first home with my boyfriend (my kid's dad) at 18, we're both really stable with 3 kids, living in a 4 bed. 2 bath home. i have seen many teen moms not make it. they turn to the gov't system for help, their relationships don't last, and the fathers aren't around.

I wish teenage mums had respect. I have met many very good ones. They have accidently got pregnant but have made the best of things by becoming a good parent. Many young people are quite mature in their outlook and care for their children very well indeed. A mum might be as good parent at 18 as she would be at 21 or even 25.

As some have mentioned, it boils down to maturity. You know what you want, you've gotten married and you and your hubby are caring for your kid well. There are all sorts of thirty somethings, twenty somethings out there having children with no idea what kind of responsibility it entails. And sadly, it's the innocent children who suffer. Don't let the looks from others bother you sweetie. They are probably just jealous, cos when you have the 5 kids you want, you'll still be youthful and gorgeous! And they'll be the ones wishing they had children earlier! Personally, I'm still not sure where I stand on the issue of having kids myself. I've always seen myself as a mother. now that I'm married, we are wondering whether we are truly ready to bring a child into this world. But health-wise, it's always to have children earlier rather than later. And as a kid, I've always wanted to boast that my mummy was younger than other peoples', so your son will have the privilege of that! Take care!

I do think teen moms get looked down upon in society because people "think" they cant finish school or they cant work to support there kids which is BULLCRAP! My sister had a son when she was 16..yes it shocked the whole family but with the help of all of us she graduated school and is now 23 yrs old with a good job and she had another son a year ago. So people just need to mind there business when it comes to others people and their lives.

Don't worry about other people. I know it is difficult since I had my first at 19. I proved them all wrong and I think I'm a pretty good Mom (now 33) and still happily married to my husband of 14 years. As long as you know you are a good mother that is all that matters

I think many teen moms are unfairly judged. I have met some great teen moms and I have met some horrendous "older" (than teens) moms. Age is nothing compared to maturity.