April has made her official decision.
She has decided to parent her, daughter.
I’d be lying if I said I wasn’t OVER JOYED. I am truly happy she has chosen this path. I actually am crying right now. Yes, I know she has a ruff road ahead of her, and yes I know there will be many painful times for her. But, in the end she will be parenting and having all the joys that go along with it. Far too many of us know the pain of adoption. For too many of mother’s that relinguished wished they were parenting their child. Far too many REGRET that one decision to sign their name to those DAMN papers.
I have this strong desire to go through my knitting patterns and begin a cute lil dress. Oh, to knit a pretty pink dress, with a delicate lil girlie lace pattern!
I have already told Andrew to tell her I got a swing, a playmat and a bouncy seat for her. I will hand down anything else PooWee has grown too big for.
I believe she has parents that are supporting her. I believe Andrew will be a forever friend. I have already told Andrew I am will to help as much as I can. I find it important that she BE HER DAUGHTER”S MOTHER, but also be able to be somewhat of a teenager. Meaning, I could watch her daughter at times, so she can go to that football game.
I want to now gather info on local support for teen mothers. I know there is alot more support now then when I was her age.
Chad and her are in a tiff. I guess she has named her and Chad doesn’t like the name. Oh, how the two of them are going to have to learn to focus on their daughter. To communicate with their daughter’s best interest in mind. The two of them have alot of growing up to do! I pray that the will learn to be the best young parents they can be.
Heather.PNR said,
December 31, 2007 @ 3:46 pm
I’m really glad she has you and Andrew in her life.
Coco said,
December 31, 2007 @ 4:03 pm
Oh my goodness! I, too, would be lying if I didn’t say this is the choice I hoped she’d end up making. And a little daughter! How exciting.
Too bad most of my hand-me-downs are all boy-specific, but I’ll sort through my things and see if there’s some she can use.
I’m glad she will be on this journey with parents who are supporting her, and friends like you and Andrew by her side. Yes, there will be sacrifices and she will have to grow up faster than she would have. Yes, there will be difficulties ahead. But oh, just think! Ten years from now, when the senior prom is a distant memory and there are no more football games, she will have her daughter by her side. She will not have to navigate the sticky, muddy, often tearful world of adoption as a first parent. She will just be a young mother, and I hope to hear she is a resounding success.
This is good news, as far as I’m concerned! What a joyful start to the new year!
P.S. Your surprise for Eli is finally on its way, and should be there Friday! I’m sorry for the delay, my week just got away from me.
roni said,
December 31, 2007 @ 6:39 pm
Heather and Coco – I know I’m not doing anything the two of you wouldn’t be doing for her.
You know you didn’t have too!! Time sure flies with the holidays and all- I’m with ya, the past two weeks have been crazy here!
Coco-Eli’s excited, he’ll be pestering me all week I’m sure.
suz said,
January 1, 2008 @ 10:33 am
I have a side “business” of helping young moms who need support in terms of clothing, gift cards, food, etc. If she needs anything at all, please feel free to contact me. I know many moms like myself that would by happy to help.
Please be sure to hook her up with plenty of local support – other young moms, resources, friends, parenting classes, etc. We all know how hard it is to be a mother, particularly when you are young, we all know those days when the baby has been crying for hours and you just want to pull your hair our and dont think you can do it. It is at those times many young moms question their decision to parent. It is at those times often all they need is someone to give them a break, enable them to take a shower, or a nap and help them through their rough patch.
My best to April and her daughter.
All About April « Mommyhood and Life According to Coco said,
January 2, 2008 @ 2:06 pm
[...] April, the young lady who was struggling with whether to parent or relinquish her unborn baby, has made her decision. Go. Read. Spoiler: HOORAY, and it’s a [...]
Coco said,
January 2, 2008 @ 2:07 pm
Suz,
I read about your group with interest on your site. Could you contact me if you get a chance? I’d like to help if I can.
roni said,
January 2, 2008 @ 5:02 pm
Suz-
AWESOME! I will talk with April.
Thank you for the support.
Libby said,
January 3, 2008 @ 1:23 pm
YES! This is fantastic news, Roni! Thanks for keeping us updated. I would love to help out if I could – maybe she could register somewhere, like Babies R Us or Target or something, and we could send her things?
Oh this is such good news.
roni said,
January 5, 2008 @ 12:33 pm
Libby- What a nice offer!
You guys all TRULY ROCK!
I have some info gathered for her and I will make a copy of all these comments too. If she registers I will get her consent to get her real name and email it to anyone that requests.
Update on Chad- Took him out for supper with us the other day. Handed him an Baby Mag – he just smurked at me, but he checked it out too! He’s coming around. Did a lil whining about having to have a baby car seat in his car and how “uncool” that will look!
Wait till he’s walking around with unknown spit up on his shoulder.
He also told Andrew, he could not be Uncle Andrew, because Andrew was going to give PooWee an ice cube. I stopped him and Chad said, “No way are you going to watch MY kid!” (All in fun – of course!)
I think Chad is going to be a good dad.
Libby said,
January 7, 2008 @ 11:30 am
Roni, you can set up a registry with a fake name – I know someone else who did it. And you can also set it up so that gifts get sent to your address but your address is not shown on the registry. Anyway, I’d love to help out.
And great news that Chad is coming around! Yippee!
roni said,
January 8, 2008 @ 9:40 am
Libby- I never thought of that. GREAT!!
I was surprised she didn’t have a book to reference to yet. Glad to help her out with that. I wish I saw her more, verses everything going through Andrew. But, Andrew doesn’t seem to mind. Though the maternity pants and shirt I thought she may like have been sitting in his room for quite some time. Guess it may look “funny” him handing her clothes at school.
I sent some more info to school with Andrew today to give to April. It was on local parenting classes, birthing classes, and WIC. Do you think WIC will take her parent’s income? Anyways….I asked her if she would like me to have an “Online Baby Shower” for her? Doesn’t that sound kinda fun!!!
Last week Andrew took her a pregnancy book I had and he told me yesturday that she read the chapter on what month she was in and she was amazed that the book said EVERYTHING she was going through.
So anyways…What do you guys think, if she agrees, do I have a baby shower here on the blog?
Coco said,
January 8, 2008 @ 9:56 am
Yes, Roni, absolutely have the baby shower on your blog! Let me know what I can do to help out.
Baby Shower Anyone?? « Life and my boys said,
January 8, 2008 @ 10:03 am
[...] Libby commented on having her register. Which gave me a thought. (Scary, I know!) If April agrees I thought about holding a Baby Shower for her here on the blog. Could be kinda fun! Maybe I could even have a contest on guessing the baby’s weight. Prize awarded of course! [...]
roni said,
January 8, 2008 @ 12:26 pm
Coco- For some reason I knew you’d be on board!
Another way Coco can make a difference! You really do ROCK! 
((HUGS))