Amy, don't worry hun. I wouldn't have thought anyone would see an issue with someone who is married, and in a stable home and 20 having kids.

You know, since being on here I have had a big change of heart about younger Mums. There are good younger mums and bad ones, just as there as some pretty crap older mothers and of course some fabulous ones too.

I wanted children in my early twenties and probably would have had them if my long term relationship had worked out, but it didn't, and lo and behold here I am at 30 and WTT!

At any age there are pros and cons and I really think that as long as you are in a long term, stable (there's that word again!) relationship and able to support your child both financially and emotionally then that should be your biggest consideration.

Most of my friends that have children are married and in their early thirties and to be quite honest, from what they tell me, NOTHING can prepare you for parenthood!!

(although I still think that 18/19 is a tad young though (sorry!) but I guess with a really good family support network it can be done - after all, in other countries that's the norm!).

couldn't agree more hun x

Exactly. So stick that in your pipe and smoke it!

I completely agree. There is never an ideal time to have a baby and I think that in many ways those of you who have your babies younger have more challenges to face than those of us who, for whatever reason, have waited. I would never have had the guts to have a baby young, it still scares the crap out of me now! Like you said, I think young mum's get a bad press from the few who do take the p*ss out of the system.

I agree Polo.

Aria, it seems like you always say things like "oh you think you are more mature than everyone your age, but really your not-I think you are basing your own experiences on what you think everyone else is like-Everyone is different. I started ttc when I was 19, got pregnant at 19 and had Alexa at 20. Everyone around me knows I am more mature than most people my age-Michael and I didn't even start ttc until we talked it out with his parents to make sure it was the right decision-his parents will be the first people to say I am more mature than most people my age, and they never class me with anyone in my age group-like I said everyone is different, and no one knows what they are like, and capable of, except themselves and their family and friends (to an extent). It just seems like you have a lot of opinions, that you can't even back up with your own experience-like you didn't have a child young-you say you have friends and seen what they went through raising kids young-well that may be true, and I do not know your friends, but I am almost positive that those same friends will say that all the good things about having their LO in their lives overrides the bad things. I am not going to say about how a bad mother can be any age, and a good mother can be any age, because we all know that already, but one should not be judged based on their decisions that they have made-after reading some pages of your blog, I would think that you, would understand that!
As for your many references to tax money and people on assistance, Aria, I have no idea why you are so ignorant towards that topic! Obviously you have never had to be on social assistance before, so you have no idea what it's like. I, myself, have never had to go on assistance, thankfully, and hopefully never will *knock on wood* but there are people out there who need it, and that does not make them bad people, or bad parents at all. Life changes, and even with the most stable job, these days, that stability is not even guarenteed. I pay taxes, you pay taxes, everyone pays taxes-as far as I am concerned, I don't care where the taxes go, the same gets taken out of our income regardless how many people live on assistance, or don't live on assistance. Yes, we all know a couple of people who scrounge of benefits because they are lazy asses who think they shouldn't have to work, and have no intention of ever looking for work, but I don't think most people are like that. You do what you have to do to get by in this world, and if it isn't hurting someone else, then why is that anyone elses business?

Anyway, I think that is all I have to say for now, sorry if I have offended anyone with this reply, that was not my intention, I merely had an opinion that I had to get out.

I also think that teenagers in the US that are 18/19 are a few years behind the 18/19yrolds in the uk,(sorry if i have affended anyone).
In the us they dont start propper school till 7, cant leave till 18 and then cant drink intill your 21.
In the uk you start school at 5, leave at 16 and can drink at 18. So by the time your 21 you have had 3 years of going out and partying and if your anthing like me, are bored of it, dont get me wrong i still enjoy the odd night out but i couldent go out 3 night a week like i did when i was younger, infact i started going out at 15.

I also noticed that in the how old is to old post, if you read it ,she has had to go one better with everything iv said, not im not saying that those things havent happend to her but it dose look a bit petty

We will be TTC when im 18 nearly 19 and honestly life experiences through school bullying everything have made me a stronger person and i now think differently to how i thought even 2/3 years ago.
I know i will be a good parent regardless of my age because i have thought it through and its something i want to do after getting a full time job.
There are alot of young mums on here that do an amazing job yet there are some in their 30s that dont do a very good job. Age has nothing to do with it.

Now, someone very old here,42.
I would never encourage anyone under 18 to ttc. I think from then onwards is ok. Its hard work financially, physically, mentally whatever your age and the more stable you are in your relationship the better.
Some of the younger Mums on here seem to be doing a wonderful job and think Aria should avoid tarring everyone with the same brush. You can be a crap mum at 18 as well as you can at 38.

Lozzy, I think you are misguided with your information about the age that children start school in the states, because I am pretty sure they are the same as Canadian's and start school at the age of 4-5 depending on the month they were born-yes, we do not graduate usually until we are 17-18-19, but I can tell you that just because North Americans are still in school at that age certainly does not mean they do not go out party, and live a little, because they certainly do! I don't know how the highschool aged teens are in your area, but in North America, high school parties, and organized international trips, are very common. I have no idea why in North America we graduate a few years later than you, perhaps you guys have shorter school years or less years to complete school, but I can say positively, that just because we are older when we graduate, it doesnt make us "behind" you guys, in the UK.