I am 17 years old and my baby is 10 months old, I had him when I was 16. My father is a Minister in the church and I have had a sheltered life. Somewhere between growing up and my make believe dreams – I fell pregnant. My family forced us to get married due our religious background.
My partner is 17 too and we are struggling with the marriage thing and being committed in the eyes of God.
Whānau Ora is there to help me and I am grateful for that. I have been able to meet other young Mums through Whānau Ora and I now realise I am not alone.
I did a whānau plan and in that I said that I wanted a better relationship between me and my partner – we argue all the time. I want to support myself and my baby and I don’t want to go on the benefit. I want a job.
I have a supportive family but that doesn’t mean I don’t struggle or I still feel like I am doing it by myself.
My advice to researchers….
- Find out what you can about mothers like me. I’ll tell you the truth, if it means that people like me can help other young Mums.