My Life is Built On Happy Accidents!: Two Pink Lines

     I was always a good child. I was scared to do anything wrong, because I didn't like disappointing my mom. I was always harder on myself than others were. I remember getting in trouble in elementary school once for not writing my name on my paper, and I about had a mental breakdown. I was an A student, and was upset at myself if I got B's. I knew by September of my senior year where I was going to college, and already had a full ride. It was my goal to graduate in the top 10 of my class. How many teenagers do you know with that goal instead of being popular?
     Jared was a nerdy band geek just like me. He was extremely smart, and he was in every club and group in high school. We were good kids. But like other teenagers we had sex. We were safe and smart, and used condoms. I should have got on birth control, but I was too scared of disappointing my mother so I never asked her about it.
     One day, I was late. I was so scared, and Jared was away at college, so we decided to wait and take a test when he came in that weekend. I had him pick up a test, because if any of you know about life in a small town, if I had bought one, it would have been the town news by that afternoon.
     We waited until the morning he had to leave to go back to school to take the test. That three minutes waiting was the longest three minutes of my life! Of course in my head, I already knew what it was going to say. We slowly went and looked... two pink lines!!! We started bawling in each others arms. I had never felt such a scared feeling in my life.My life changed in an instant, and we grew up in that moment. We were no longer kids anymore. We were parents.
     We just sat there and stared at each other. What were we going to do? How had this happened? We were both smart, how could we have let this happen? And yes kids, if you don't think it can happen to you, guess again. I went to work that day and started brainstorming ideas. That is what kind of person I am. I have an initial freak out moment, but then I brainstorm and usually come up with a good plan. I never even considered abortion, that is just something I could never make myself do. And I am so emotional that I knew that I would never be able to carry this tiny person for 9 months, and then just give her to someone else. That would scar me for life. So we would have her and raise her ourselves. I thought about it, and Jared was already in college, and I was going to the same college when I graduated, and I had a full ride, plus an additional stipend for living. So we would just get married and live in a cheap apartment while we finished school.
     Trying to find a way to tell my mom was the hardest thing. In the end, it wasn't me who told her, but the small town gossip that got back to her. I felt awful seeing the disappointment on her face. She was a teen mom, and although she wouldn't change that, she wanted better for me. She wanted me to get a good education and succeed in life. But she is supportive of me, and backed me 100%. Without her, I wouldn't have made it. Jared was away the whole year at college, and I felt so lonely, and missed him so much, but mom was always there for appointments and sonograms. For the labor and delivery. She was by my side the WHOLE time. I will never be able to thank her for having the strength for both of us.
     There were so many people who told me we couldn't do it. That I would never graduate with a baby, and that the majority of teen marriages end in divorce. But I was DETERMINED to make it work. I would succeed and show them all. Luckily, we have wonderful parents who helped us out. We both had financial aid, so not only did I have scholarship money, but financial aid left over each time too. And I was blessed to have a mature-for-his years partner (he was only 19 at the time). I know so many teen moms are not that lucky. But he stuck by us and was determined to be a great dad. And he has been.
     We now have three kids, and they are all wonderful, smart, healthy children. I thank God every day for all that he has blessed me with. These guys keep me going. They are why I push myself to finish my education.
     I have since graduated with a bachelors degree in early childhood education, and an LVN certificate as well. Jared graduated cum laude with a bachelors in graphic design. Don't let anyone ever tell you that you can't or won't succeed. It is possible. We are proof!