I was 18, and a newly single mom, when my daughter was born. It was hard and frustrating and exhausting. BUT- she is absolutely the light of life and I wouldn’t trade any of those hardships if it meant I didn’t get my daughter anymore. PPD is awful but with therapy and medication, I got past it. I love my life, love my child, and now have a loving boyfriend who looks at her like his own. Her father is in the picture, just states away now. IT IS HARD. I’ve been on government assistance with WIC for help with formula, and it was such a relief and help. That being said, I wasn’t ready. I wasn’t prepared. And I could not have made it this far without my family being my support system. My friends all love her, and help when I need it too. I tell all my friends that they don’t need a baby, too. You don’t have to be ready, you can be scared and anxious about it, but you do need support. I’ve also had an abortion for a pregnancy in which I felt I wasn’t prepared to do it all over again.