The most views went to my post about Logan Echolls, further proving the point that people love the guy. I was right, I'm just saying.
So, I've asked her to write another for me. There's a picture this time! It's totes adorbs, and it makes mine look good. ;) I'm just kidding. Except that it does.
Love you, sis.
Young, Pregnant, And Single
by Hayley the Mommy-To-Be
Last week I joined a prenatal water aerobics class.
I did this for 2 major reasons:
-I wanted to meet pregnant women like me.
-I wanted some organized, healthy exercise.
My first problem was that I didn’t know what to wear. Did they make special swimsuits for expectant mothers? If so, was this a necessary investment? As a single mother, I’ve tried to cut back on any expense possible. In the end I decided to wear my bikini (one of 9 that I already owned.). It couldn’t be that bad, right?
My second problem was that I forgot my flip flops. It doesn’t seem like a big deal all by itself, but I was already worried about my choice of attire.
More problems would come up, but I had to get there first. I got to the hospital that the class was held at and realized that I had no idea where I was supposed to be going. I looked around, but there wasn’t another pregnant woman in sight. Thanks to my one stroke of good luck all night, I ended up finding the pool with no problem.
I signed in and went to change. When I walked out to the pool and set my towel on a chair by the wall, I looked around nervously at the other women.
My initial observations:
-Everyone there was at least 25 years old.
-Most of the women were further along than me.
-All the women seemed to know each other.
-NOBODY was wearing a bikini.
As I got in the pool all the women seemed to be sending me either curious or judgmental looks. I realized at once that it was a bad idea to wear the bikini. I looked for the youngest looking person and found someone who looked almost as lost as me and hoped she was new too. She was. Together we figured out what we were supposed to do and got to know each other.
Basic pregnant woman questions:
-How far along are you?
-Are you married?
-Is this your first baby?
-Do you have family nearby?
-Is it a boy or a girl?
-How old are you?
-Did you have morning sickness in the first trimester?
As it turns out, the youngest girl in the class really was 25. I met a lot of other women that night, which was no easy task. I never thought that pregnant people had cliques. I wouldn’t be surprised if pregnant people altogether were a clique, but even these grown up women wouldn’t let me join their groups.
One thing I was sure of by the end of the night: I was the only under 25/unmarried woman.
Every time I told someone that I was 18 and unmarried (not to mention single), I moved further and further toward the deep end of the pool. It’s a good thing I’m tall.
Being single and pregnant is hard. Especially when we are young. None of our friends understand the position we are in. we need support more than ever. The last thing we need is to be judged and pushed away by people like us. Since that night I have made it my mission to find friends like me. Single, young moms who can understand how I feel and who wont judge me for doing things “the wrong way.”
I am just as capable of loving and raising a child as a 20-something married woman. Just watch me.
Hayley is a single mom-to-be, aspiring singer/song writer, innkeeper, and sister.
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