I am a single Mum to a 17 year old Daughter, Today she told me she is pregnant.


 "I am a single Mum to a 17 year old Daughter, it's always been her and I since the day she was born. We have a solid strong relationship and she's such a great girl. Good head on her shoulders, starting Uni next year to do Early Childhood, so so extremely proud of her in every which way.

Today she told me she is pregnant.
I'm really struggling to deal with this information, I always thought I'd be so calm and loving and how I'd stand back and let her make this decision on her own and support her one hundred percent, which of course I'd do but I DO NOT want her going through with this pregnancy. I'm absolutely beside myself. I feel sick to my stomach and I really don't know how to handle this. I'm actually horrified.
Any advice would be greatly appreciated.
From a really stressed out Mum."

My Take: First of all, take a deep breath. You’re in shock, and that’s okay. This wasn’t part of the plan, and it’s completely normal to feel overwhelmed, even horrified. But let’s put this in perspective: you raised a smart, capable, and grounded young woman. You’ve done an amazing job, and while this news is a curveball, it doesn’t erase all of her qualities—or your love for her.

Now, let’s talk about next steps. She’s at a huge crossroads, and so are you. Your daughter will need your support and guidance, but this is her decision. That’s tough to accept when every fiber of your being is screaming, “This isn’t what I wanted for her!” But it’s also the moment to dig deep into that calm, loving support you’ve been planning for her whole life.

Approach this with a mix of honesty and empathy. Share your fears, but also listen to hers. Help her explore all her options—parenthood, adoption, or termination—with real-world, practical information. She might surprise you with her maturity and thoughtfulness in this situation. And remember, you’re not alone. Seek out counseling or support groups for yourself, too, because processing your emotions is just as important as supporting hers.

Helpful Resources:

  1. Planned Parenthood or Local Family Planning Clinics – For unbiased counseling and resources for exploring all pregnancy options.
  2. Relate – Offers family and relationship counseling to navigate sensitive conversations and emotions.

And remember: This is a chapter, not the whole book. You’ve raised a resilient daughter, and together, you can face this new challenge—even if the road looks different than you imagined.

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