“You’ve got to do it” my best friend Emma urged as she pushed the bag of pregnancy tests into my hand. She’d bought three, just to be sure. 

“I don’t think I can do it. I can’t be pregnant, my parents will kill me” I desperately replied even though I knew I had to take the test. We were in the public bathroom of our local mall.

There weren’t many people around, it was a rainy Tuesday afternoon. Most people were at work or still at school. We’d skipped the afternoon lessons to buy these pregnancy tests.

But that’s not where this story starts, let me take you back a few months. 

It was the summer of 2009 and I was 17 and enjoying the school holidays just like all my friends. We spent the long August days cooling off by the lake laughing and joking.

My boyfriend and I were more in love than ever. We’d been together 2 years but this summer, let’s just say our relationship went to the next level.

In September we’d all start our final year of school but we weren’t thinking about that yet, we were living in the moment and creating great memories.

I was young, carefree, and excited about life. I couldn’t wait to finish school and move to a new city for University.

I’d always felt like freedom was my middle name and in just a few months I’d finally have it, my first real taste of sweet freedom. Little did I know my whole life would change in a matter of weeks. 

At first, I was in complete denial. I knew I was late but I kept telling myself I had the dates wrong. After 3 weeks, I finally confided in Emma because the stress was too much to handle alone.

After another few days went by she told me we had to get some pregnancy tests. This was the first time I’d actually heard someone say ‘pregnancy’ out loud since all this had started, it filled me with dread. 

Waiting 3 minutes for the test result felt like an eternity, “Just tell me what it says, I can’t look”, I said to Emma but her worried expression told me everything I needed to know.

We did the other tests to be sure but you guessed it, they were all positive. The next few weeks went by in a blur, I told my boyfriend Nathan, but nobody else. I didn’t even go to the doctor.

I hid it for as long as I could with baggy clothes but my Mom knew something was up. 

I was 7 months pregnant when she sat me down and asked me if I was in trouble. I broke down and finally admitted what was going on. Everything got better from there.

My parents were incredibly supportive and made sure the baby and I had everything we needed, including scheduling my first doctor appointment.

A few weeks later, my beautiful baby girl, Kaitlyn was born, we loved her instantly and all the stress of my unplanned pregnancy melted away. She was perfect. 

Finding out I was pregnant and hiding it from everyone was the scariest thing I’ve ever experienced. One positive pregnancy test made me question everything. And it changed everything too, in the best way possible.

And I even learned some valuable life lessons that have stayed with me. 

Sometimes things don’t turn out how you planned and that’s ok

To say my life didn’t turn out the way I’d planned is the understatement of the century. 

I’d always been a good kid. I got good grades and did well at sports. I wasn’t perfect by any means but I wasn’t a typical teen Mom either.

I  was supposed to embrace my freedom, move to a new city, and start a new journey. Instead, I quit school weeks before graduating, didn’t even apply for University, and lived with my parents and my toddler until I was 25.

But guess what? It didn’t turn out the way I’d planned and that’s ok. It still turned out to be a great life filled with love, support, and understanding from my friends, family, and most of all my parents. 

I don’t know if there’s a much bigger curveball than being pregnant at 17, but I promise you, life is going to throw some curveballs at you.

And when it does, never forget that it’s great to have plans but it’s also absolutely fine for them to change. 

I did eventually complete my final exams and I went to a college close to home to get my degree in teaching. Sure, I graduated years behind my peers, but I graduated and that’s what counts.

I always planned to have children just not so soon, but that meant I found out how great it is to be a Mom earlier than I’d expected. 

These days when something unexpected happens I always remind myself of a quote I read in Life’s Little Instruction Book by H. Jackson Brown Jnr., “Remember, not getting what you want is sometimes a wonderful stroke of luck.” And I feel lucky to have the life I do now. 

Even the worst-case scenario can turn out to be a blessing

Think back to when you were 17, what was the worst thing that could’ve happened to you? 

I’m not afraid to admit, that at the time, getting pregnant would’ve been close to the top of my list. Facing that reality made me realize that even the worst-case scenario can turn out to be a blessing. 

Without a doubt, those first few months before I told my Mom were the most challenging I’ve ever faced. But I wouldn’t change them for the world now.

They made me who I am, they brought my family closer together, they showed me who my real friends were and they gave me my beautiful little girl. 

I didn’t recognize or properly appreciate all of the blessings that came from a difficult period in my life. I’m grateful for everything now, I just wish I’d been thankful sooner.

Next time you’re facing a tough situation in life, try to remember to be grateful for the hidden blessings. Expressing your gratitude, even in tough times will increase your happiness and resilience.

You’re stronger than you think

If I learned anything from my experience it’s that I’m stronger than I ever thought I was. And so are you. 

Although you might not believe it, if life throws a major curveball at you, you’ll find a way to handle it. It probably wouldn’t be easy, but you’d figure it out. 

If someone told me on my 17th birthday that I’d experience all I have in the following 15 years, I’d have laughed at them and told them I’d never be able to handle all that. But here I am. 

We’re all stronger than we think. We’ve got this weird ability to rise to the challenges we face and come out on top. And it’s not just me and my story. Look around you.

There are lots of examples of people showing they’re stronger than they ever thought possible. 

And the best part is: now that I’ve come out on top of everything that life has thrown at me, I feel like I can do anything. I’ve got this little voice in my head saying “If you can do that, you can do anything.”

Next time you’re facing a tough situation in life, try to remember that all challenges are growth opportunities. Embrace the challenge, give it your best shot, and be proud of yourself when you prove you’re strong enough to face anything. 

Final thoughts

So you might be wondering what became of Nathan and me through all of this.

I’m happy to share that our relationship has stood the test of time. Although we lived separately at home with our parents for the first five years of our daughter’s life, we stayed strong as a couple. 

When we both finished studying and saved up some money we moved into our own place as a family of 3.

Since then our family has grown to five, having welcomed two more little angels into the world and we’re engaged to be married next year. 

You could say we got our fairytale after all, it just looks a little different than most. 

I haven’t forgotten about the hopes and dreams of 17-year-old me. I like to think freedom is still my middle name.

And although I love them dearly, I look forward to the day my children are reared and responsibility is once again a foreign concept for me.

Until then, I’ll continue to be grateful for all the unexpected blessings in my life.