Whatever the situation surrounding the conception of your child, if the mother chooses to keep the baby then you will become a parent. This is a very big deal at any age – and you will experience a range of different emotions.
The key to being a good dad is commitment – and the more you show commitment to taking on the responsibility, the more you are likely to find support from those around you, family and friends. People will respect your determination.
If you have a good relationship with the mother, then do your best to support her through pregnancy. Listen to her needs and offer to attend medical appointments and antenatal classes. During pregnancy she may become sick or moody – be patient and try to be understanding. Find out what’s happening to her, both physically and emotionally. Look at books, websites and blogs.
Even if you are no longer going out with the mother, try to be open and as supportive as possible – show her that you are committed to being a father, and so want to remain on friendly terms. Teenagers can make very good fathers. It’s your actions, not your age, which count.
Try not to be down on yourself, instead think positively about being a dad. You may not have planned to have a child, and it is easy to feel like you have made a mistake – or beat yourself up over ‘destroying’ your life and the lives of others. The child, however, is guiltless – and you should not think of them as a mistake. Parenthood is not easy, and shouldn’t be entered into lightly – but it also brings huge rewards. Many teenage dads believe it was the best thing to happen in their lives.