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My experience as a young parent

My experience as a young parent

Amplify Blog

QFCC Youth Advocate Piper-Marie shares her experience as a young parent. 

 

“Being a young parent means we met a little early, but it also means I get to love you a little longer.” - unknown

At sixteen years old, I become a mother to my beautiful little girl.

I’m eighteen now, that little girl is two and I’d like to reflect on my experiences navigating parenting and life as a young person.

When I had my daughter, I was still in high school with plans to further study at university. Luckily, I found a program for young parents where I could complete high school and take my daughter with me. It was difficult learning how to juggle studying whilst actively parenting but with time and support you learn how to manage things.

In 2022, at the age of seventeen I graduated high school with my grade twelve certificate, my daughter got to watch me walk the stage and share that moment with me and I couldn’t have been prouder of myself.

“You don’t have to be positive all the time, it’s okay to feel angry, upset or frustrated.”

Something that took me ages to believe as a young person and parent with mental illness was that I didn’t have to be perfect all the time. You are allowed to not be okay, you are allowed to seek help without fear of judgement. You are a human being, not a robot.

It’s okay to reach out for support and receive help for yourself. It doesn’t make you any less of a parent or a person.

“All parents will experience guilt, it’s normal, there’s nothing wrong with it, just don’t let it define you.”

I struggled with mum guilt for ages, I still do most days. I’m a working mum, I work in the childcare industry and as a youth advocate. It’s hard to find that balance, but with time you learn how to fit everything in.

If I could give any young person or young parent one piece of advice it would be this.

No matter what happens in your journey, you are doing an incredible job. I believe in you, and know you will do great things and raise an amazing little one/s. You can do anything you set your mind to as long as you have that motivation.

My motivation is creating the life I want for my little girl, it got me through school, study and work.

Despite the challenges I’ve faced along my journey as a young mum, I don’t regret any of it. She’s my greatest blessing and she’s given my life purpose when I thought I couldn’t live anymore.