15 People Who Became Fathers As Teenagers, Share Their Reactions When They Found Out

#1

A user on Reddit asked the community, "Teen fathers, what did you do when you found out she was pregnant and how did you deal with it?"

Here are the teenage dad's answers...

#2 Best Thing That Could Have Happened

No longer a teen but we were both 16 at the time, I was terrified but told her I'd be there for her and support her decision. We've been together 15 years now and have 2 boys, hasn't been easy but we manage.

In all honesty, it was probably the best thing that could have happened to me; I was not exactly a focused student in high school and had no plans to go to college but it was really the kick in the ass that I needed in order to get my shit together. (so_very_bored)

#3 Aw, Heck!

I was 17, she was 18. It was the summer of my junior year, she had just graduated. Anyway, once we realized after a late period and several tests we knew we had to tell our parents. We told hers first. Her Dad stormed off, we heard a few "aw, heck!" And then he came back and gave her a hug and said we could all work through this. Later that night, I told my parents. my Dad stormed off and I heard a bunch of "aw, FUCK!" And things being broken, then he came back and gave me a hug and said we could all work through this. Funny how the two dads had very similar reactions.

Anyway, we waited until two months in this after the kid came to get married just to make sure it was what we really wanted to do. I managed to graduate early so when our daughter came, I was already out of school. Originally, I had intentions of going to USMA for college and then a career in the Army. With this happening it threw a wrench in that plan so I secured a full scholarship to The Univ of TN at Knoxville through AFROTC so I could commute from home and attend college. My wife worked a series of low-paying jobs for the next five years to keep food on the table while I finished my degree in electrical engineering.

Upon graduating, I was sent to Randolph AFB as a second lieutenant and eventually received my Aeronautical Rating as a Combat Systems Officer.

Our daughter is now 12, our younger daughter is now 6 and currently, my wife and I are enjoying some champagne on this fine Mother's Day morning.

It was a LOT of hard work and took a lot of perseverance on both of our parts. Having a kid while you are still a kid yourself, and going to college and living on your own for the first time is extremely stressful, and there were many a time I did not think we would make it through those first years as a couple. You have to really assess what you want from life, what is the right thing to do and how to make the two coincide with each other. It was not an easy endeavor but my wife is truly my best friend, my kids are pretty awesome and I can't picture my life any different than it is currently. (dz1087)

#4 Bright Future

I was 17, she [my girlfriend] was a couple of years older at the time, her period was late and we both sort of suspected it but we both kept telling each other not to be silly. We finally came to our senses and she took a test. Came back positive, but we were both in denial and bought literally 20-30 more tests in the next few days, all coming back positive.

Obviously, we were both pretty fucking worried and didn't have a clue what to do, so we made a doctors appointment behind put parents backs to get something done about it, scared of what our parents would say, knowing they would surely flip some shit.

We woke up on the morning and decided this definitely wasn't the right thing to do, and she decided to tell her mom, by text. Her reactions nowhere nearly as bad as we thought it would be. She came and picked my girlfriend up and they went home. Got a text half an hour later to come up, and I went and we spoke. Decided we both want to have this child. I was absolutely shitting my self at the thought of telling my mom, but it had to be done.

Couldn't bring myself to do it, so I sent her a text and that was it. Same as SO's parents, mines were nowhere nearly as bad as I thought it would be.

Fast forward a while and she's just turned 7 months pregnant yesterday, due in August. Both still together and happier than ever! I've got a job and a place at college now, and the futures looking bright! (cm757)

#5 Calculated Decisions

My wife got pregnant while we were dating as teens. We sat down and went over my income as well as my projected income over the next 5, 10, and 20 years. We determined that in the best case scenario we could barely manage to provide for a child. She decided on an abortion and I agreed. While we were more mature than most, we were in no position to care for a child. I have since outpaced my projected 10 and 20-year income and we're in a much better place should we choose to try for reproduction. [deleted user]

#6 Dad Joke

Father of a teenager here. We tried for a month after out wedding night and it happened fairly quickly. We're very lucky. We've also got a 10-year-old and another on the way! (ngtstkr)

He is a "teen father" in the sense that he is the father of a teen

Classic Dad (CallMeLargeFather)

#7 Didn’t really panic

Didn't really panic, I'm good at handling my cool. Admittedly there's no possible way to handle how hard it is to have a baby, but I was in it for the long haul.

I felt like we were destined to be together for life and was ready for it. I handled the news pretty well, with a bit of shock. "Well, guess I better enjoy the next 7 months to the best of my ability then."

Fast forward to today and our kid is 7 1/2 months old. We are still together and live together and I'm working my way through college and work at the same time. I have had 5 different jobs since we found out. finally got a decent one as a network administrator and got my foot in the door for my career.

The hardest part was when he was a newborn and kept us up all night. We had a few huge arguments during that time period that almost ended in her leaving and going back 1200 miles away to New York but now we're doing better and better every day and we love our son very much. We are blessed to have him in our lives. (Egoignaxio)

*Photo above is Egoignaxio and family.

#8 Do Not Recommend

My daughter was born the Summer after I graduated High School. So my senior year was spent prepping and trying to come to terms with my plans for moving back to California and going to college were on hold.

I remember the hardest part was telling my dad as he was on assignment working a case somewhere in North Carolina if I remember correctly. But the reaction from our parents were justnot what we were expecting. No one was happy, but there wasn't yelling or cursing. Her mother wasn't ideologically okay with an Abortion, so here I am.

I'm 31 now, still working through college and living in L.A. now, daughter and mother still in Texas. Our relationship is fantastic and she will be here in a few weeks for summer. She is a great kid, kind of a smart ass, but very loving and respectful. Life is hard on you that young trying to have a life and raising a kid, but it can be done. I just don't recommend anyone actually try it (marrowisyummy)

#9 Fear brushing.

I was 18. My hands were shaking so bad I decided to brush my teeth. So I was crying and brushing my teeth while I waited for my gf to tell me the results (570stunner)

#10 Forever Different

Two and a half years ago, my ex called me and told me she was at the hospital and that she was ok, didn't want me to hear through the grapevine. After prying and asking her to just tell me what was going on, she told me that she was unknowingly pregnant and she had lost the baby. Thinking this was a few weeks/months things with another guy I was sad but not overly concerned, but when she said it was 8 months My heart stopped. I rushed to the hospital after admitting to my parents that I might be the father (they weren't fully aware that we were having sex during our relationship). I held my stillborn son that night, crying, begging for him to just breathe, take one breath, and that I would give him the world if he would just be ok. His mother almost died with him that night, and though we never really worked out I still love her greatly. My father later told me that day he knew he had succeeded as a parent and that I was already the man he hoped I would be. Maybe my story isn't typical, but it is mine and it has made me who I am. I am forever different because of that little boy. (puppytimepower)

#11 Full of Regret

I wasn't a teen but 23 and was in my first real job out of college. The girl I got pregnant told me she was late, she was never late. So I told her to get a test and the following day I get a text that said "I'm pregnant." I smiled, I always wanted kids but I just called her and asked "what are you going to do?" I wasnt equipped financially to be a parent but I would be determined to make it work. She responded "I don't know." After a few days neither of us was committed outwardly to having a child so she had an abortion. My only protest was "being a dad wouldn't be so bad."

She went to PP, got a pill and she told me to give her $160 to cover it.

Guilt was eating me alive on the inside. I could have said more but I didn't. I am pro choice but I think if I would have been more vocal I would have been a parent earlier in my life.

11 years on and I still think about it every day.(metela)

#12 Happiest Day of My Life

I was 16; we had seen it coming but neither of us really accepted it. I was scared shitless and felt as though my life had been dissolved. She told her mom about it, took a test and it came out positive. Her parents weren't upset and they willingly supported us. It took me about 3 months to tell my mom and she reacted just how I imagined: she cried, she denied it, she broke down in front of me and it made me feel awful. I and my girlfriend stopped seeing each other as often. We talked about marriage and I've called off two different attempted engagements which only made her family hate me more. I slipped deeper into my depression that had been affecting me for a few years and it was rough. I often thought about leaving but I could never find it in me. I eventually got over my fear and started taking responsibility by making plans for the future which also helped me truly accept the situation I was in. Seeing my beautiful baby girl for the first time changed everything. The emotions were indescribable, and that was absolutely the happiest day of my life. Since then my relationship with my girlfriend has greatly improved, I've begun dealing with my depression and doing a better job with it. My daughter is now just older then a month and I am proud to call myself a father. (Sabo_of_Tyler)

*Pictured Above: Sabo_of_Tyler baby daughter*

#13 Happy Ending

I was just 14 when my girlfriend got pregnant. To be honest I was an ass. I couldn't handle it. Asked her to get an abortion. She refused. I hung around, barely she was basically own her own. Our daughter was born 9 days after my 15th birthday. 4 years later we moved in together and married shortly after. Happily married still, 32 years now. 2 daughters and 5 grandkids.(devlen62)

#14 High School Surprise

I was my parents "senior year of high school surprise".

So I have a bit of a different take on this. My father stood by my mom.

They were already planning on getting married anyway, so they just moved the wedding date up.

Both families (grandparents) stood by my parents and helped them out.

My dad was an inspiration to me on how to be a man and how to be a father and husband.

All of this occurred during the early 1960's..and it was a different world back then when it came to this kind of thing. (bowhunter_fta)

#15 On The Job Hunt

I was 19. It counts.

Anyhow, despite wanting to drink heavily, I went into a reserved panic mode.

I latched onto one idea: get a good job and get it fast.

It sounds responsible, but let me clarify: finding the job became my life. I would get call backs for interviews and I would decline them for some made-up reason because I was convinced that something better would come along. The hunt for something spectacular became my drug.

Eventually, I was slapped around verbally by too many parents and I took a good job while putting myself through school. (Mr_Wilcox)

#16 Statutory Rape

My sister was 14 when she got pregnant with my nephew. The dad was 26.

He's in jail still for another 7 years.

Wasn't the first girl he did that too.

Fucked up part.he made her want to have a baby. My nephew will be 7 in November and my mom has been raising him for 6 years because my sis would rather continue to fuck up.

Currently pregnant with child no 2 With a guy who refuses to believe it's his (and it really is his) and just continues to make terrible decisions. (MapleSuicide)

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