As Nobel Prize winner Albert Camus once said, “Life is a sum of all your choices.” One choice that I made
that had a grand impact on my life was the one to become a mother. When I was seventeen years old I became
pregnant under less than ideal circumstances by a boy who was not inclined to be a father or a husband. Many of my
friends at the time had aborted babies, several had aborted more than once. When I shared the information that I
was newly expecting, I had far more than one person tell me they would be take me to the clinic and hold my hand
through the process of abortion. Before being pregnant, I did not realize the magnitude of the internal
conflict that is choosing to keep the baby or not.
On one hand, I was young and had not yet graduated from high school let alone have any solid
plans for the future. If I had the baby I knew I would not have the support of a father for him and would
need to bear the responsibility myself. Was it fair to myself to have that kind of pressure? Was it fair to
the child to be born to a single teenage mom?
On the other hand, what if this is my one opportunity to have a healthy child and I choose not
to? Will I be happier living with the knowledge that I aborted my own flesh and blood? Am I admitting
defeat in saying I cannot physically, emotionally, financially, rise to the challenge? Is it more important
to me that I live a stress free life to do what I want or to have the unconditional love of my child?
I knew that either decision was going to involve a sacrifice. Although I had always thought I was
going to have the “college experience” of living on campus and spend my twenties “finding myself” as
many do, the idea of giving the life of a child for that reality was heart wrenching. I decided that he was
to be my top priority going forward and every choice I made from that moment on would be in his best
interest. I defined being a good mother as doing the very best I can for my child. With that in mind, I
made plans for our future.
I immediately moved away from the friends and boy to get a fresh start for my new family. The
existence of this child gave my life immediate direction, meaning, and purpose. Nothing could be more
motivating. I went from being a wayward teen to an intensely driven adult during one conversation with
myself in the mirror. Now, I am exactly where I want to be, happily married with a beautiful family, a
college degree, a rewarding career, and financial security.