Phew, so I'm not a freak!
See... mom and dad got married at 24. My parents are sticklers on "by the book" you do it right, you pay your taxes, you go to sleep, you retire and thats it.
They had Greg at 27 and myself at 30.
I'm unfathomable to my mother. My father, however, is ecstatic to get to be a grandpa already. I think his mom dying alerted him to how having kids at 27/30 cut down on his grandpa years. I think me being pregnant actually helped him get through my grandmother's funeral.. he was telling EVERYONE! and pointing to my belly all the time.
My dad, however, has always believed in me more than my mom. He doesn't doubt that Tom and I will make it, doesn't doubt that I can handle a baby, doesn't doubt that I'll get my degree, manage our finances, etc. My mom however will tell me not to buy something because we need to save.
She'd be shocked to know we have saved and I CAN afford it and unlike most people my age I've never overdrawn my bank account. Not even on accident!
My job is pretty great but it's because I love the people, because I have incredible benefits for a part-timer, a secure position, etc. It's not what I LOVE doing but I consider it a great job. I mean, good grief-- they're paying me FULL PAY for 3 months to be out of work and "bond" with my baby. How amazing is that?
I know I'll get my degree eventually but right now I'm doing alright and getting all the other wonderful extras life has to offer.
Not to sound cliche, but you'll find him.
I met Tom less than two years ago. Seriously. If you want to get technical, it hasn't even been a year and a half.
In that time we've gotten married, bought a house, built a life together and I'm halfway done making us a son.
It'll fly when you meet him and you won't notice the age thing so much anymore. You'll also probably be grateful to already have your degree. Neither of us do and it's stressful to put school with all the time we want to spend together, all the things we need to do and work. It makes it difficult!
And I know what you mean about the people having babies left and right out of wedlock. Not meaning to offend anyone who did but there are actually girls out there now that are like 16 and want a baby because they want the "unconditional love"... what?! It drives me nuts.
I have a friend who has a 1 year old. (Well, okay.. she's not a friend-- we went to high school together!) and she doesn't go to school, has NEVER had a job and I see her at the mall ALL THE TIME without her son. I asked her once and she said her MOM keeps the baby from Thursday-Monday.
She only actually has her son from Monday afternoon to Thursday morning...
WHY do parents do this? If she were working, going to school or SOMETHING I could understand... but just enabling your daughter to go to the mall and neglect her kid? WHY?! I just don't understand.
(BTW, this girl lives in a house her dad pays the rent and utilities on!)
I just don't get it.
Sorta drives me nuts with my sorta-SIL, too. They're not married, which.. whatever. It's their decision and I'm not going to judge them for it, to each their own.
BUT we know one of the biggest reasons they aren't getting married is because she gets WIC, Food Stamps, HUD and the medical card because she doesn't work and doesn't have to claim BIL's income, even though he takes care of her!
So her pregnancy will be 100% covered by my tax dollars while I struggle with having $100/paycheck deducted to go into a HealthCare Spending account so I can afford to have this baby.
How is that fair??
