I was 21 years old when I fell pregnant. Until then, my life was pretty easy and stress free. But from the moment I discovered I was pregnant, everything changed.
It felt like a constant uphill battle. What didn’t help was that the father of the child wasn’t around to support me.
ALL ON MY OWN
There was no one to advise me during my pregnancy . I didn’t know what I should do, how to prepare to have a baby, how to be a mother. At the time, I stayed with my brother who only came home at the end of the month for a few days.
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He worked far from where we lived. My mother was in hospital with an illness. My partner, the father of my child, abandoned me. I was often confused and scared. I even considered having an abortion. I wasn’t working. I only had Matric and couldn’t study further.
I decided to put my faith entirely in my heavenly father. I prayed and prayed until I accepted that what is done is done.
BABY ON THE WAY
I was alone when I went into labour and alone in the ambulance that took me to the nearest hospital. The next day, I had a baby girl. I was so excited, I forgot about the pain and worry from the previous day and the previous months.
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I called the father of the child to tell him she had been born but he wasn’t happy. All he said was ‘ok’ and dropped the call while I was still talking to him.
LOOKING UP
Our heavenly father helped me to stay strong. I let go of the negative things and what I couldn’t control and focussed on my precious gift – my baby girl. Shortly after her birth, my mother was discharged from hospital. She healed well and looked after my daughter while I looked for a job.
I was lucky to find one within a few weeks, at a restaurant. I worked hard and even though it the hours were long and gruelling, it meant I could send my child to private school.
ACCEPTANCE
Looking back, I don’t hate my baby’s father for abandoning us. I’ve learnt to accept that life will always have challenges. But it keeps going. I promised to always try to be the best mother I can possibly be. That’s what matters. No matter what life throws at me.
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