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Natasha
is 22. She fell pregnant at the age of 16 whilst studying for
her GCSEs in the final two months of school. Jasmine - her oldest
- is now five, and her son Michael is 21 months. |
It
wasn't really planned. When you're that age you don't really know.
I was doing my exams when I fell pregnant. It was mixed emotions.
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| "I
was doing my exams when I fell pregnant" |
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I was
happy but kind of scared as well. I was scared because I didn't
have the father there. He'd gone as soon as I was pregnant. He is
around but he doesn't really have anything to do with my little
girl.
It
didn't really bother me at first because he was never really there,
but now she's getting older she's 'oh daddy this and daddy that!'
He
was 16 or 17 at the time. From my point of view I don't think he
cares. He will see her in the street and not acknowledge her. It's
not very nice.
On
my own
I moved
out of my parent's house when I was 17 when my little girl was one.
It's a struggle to get by financially. With benefits it is enough
to live on basically, but you can't live comfortably.
When
I had my first child I thought I wished I'd have had her later in
life. I still wanted to go out, all my friends went out, but then
when I had my second one, I'm more settled now.
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| "It's
a struggle to get by financially" |
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I feel
like I missed out. It is hard sometimes though. It's not all easy!
Sometimes I think: 'Jasmine's had a really bad week' and I just
think: 'God I hope next week's going to be better' and it does.
It goes up and down.
When
I was living with my mum she used to have Jasmine quite a lot so
that I could go out, but as soon as I moved into my flat it was
my house, my children, and I had them from then on. I have baby
sitters as and when I need them now.
It
would be nice when they're a bit older to be able to do something
for yourself. I did want to do childcare, but then I got pregnant,
had kids and ended up looking after my own!
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