Am I a bad mom?

I know that this probably is the stupidest thing to post ever, because there are some people who are so against teen parenting... But, I am 17 and have a 4 month old baby boy. When I got pregnant with Dawson, I was a cheerleader, rode horses, and always on the honor roll. Well I went back to school about a month ago and cheerleading tryouts were coming up. I decided to try out thinking that since practice was only once a week and I would already be going to all the games and so would Dawson, so why not just cheer? Well I made the squad and then I decided to go ahead and do competition cheerleading. The practices are from 6-8am during the summer and my grandma owns a daycare so Dawson already rides with her in the morning and comes home with her. And the only reason I decided to cheer and not just keep him home with me this summer is because he will lose his spot at the daycare if he misses more than a week. I just feel like a bad mom. Me being a teenager has absolutely NOTHING to do with this. I gave up everything for Dawson and I spend all of my time with him unless he is at daycare. I wouldnt have it any other way either.

I just feel kinda selfish for deciding to cheer my senior year. But then again, I want other girls my age to know that getting pregnant doesnt end your life. It seems like so many people I know these days are getting abortions and such because they say their baby would end their life.

Blah.. IDK. Sorry this was so long.

If he is already in daycare then I don't see any problem with it. It's your senior year, you only get one of those. I think it will be good for you. You can be a good mother and still enjoy your youth. Its better than going out and partying. Don't feel bad.

you are not a bad mother for cheering. you're still doing school and you have him in a good daycare while you're busy and you spend the rest of the time with him. that makes you a good mom. don't stress about it   congradulations on the baby and making squad.

You are NOT a bad mom... just because you have a baby doesnt mean you have to give up EVERYTHING, no matter what your age you can still have hobbies and activities, so dont feel bad... also it can be a good stress reliever for you so go for it!!

I did choir competition after i had my son. I was gone on weekends and had night practices too... I graduated when my son was 15 months old.

Well I know that I don't have any children, but I think if you wanted to do cheerleading and your son is being taken care of there isn't anything wrong. You are doing something that is good for you, it will keep you focus on something, and it's nice to have something for you. It sounds like your son is being taken care of and you have something for you. I don't think that means you are a bad mom! JMO!

No u are not a bad mom at all.. you still have to have a life too... the bad moms are the ones that go out every weekend to get drunk ( trust me i know a lot of them) its ur senior year and as long as ur taking care of your baby dont worry about it!

I think you're doing great!! I wish I could have done all of that when I was 17!! I had Logan when I was 18 and I felt fat, and ugly, and felt like it was the end of the world. Good for you for going out there and trying out. And anyways...you're not the ONLY mom out there putting there kid in daycare... so many kids are in daycare these days.... plus it's a family daycare.. so don't even think about feeling bad!

Your son is already in day care, right? If he's already in day care I don't see why you couldn't do cheerleading practise. He's taken care of and you said he has to be in day care either way so he'll keep his spot. I think you're just feeling guilty. That's normal no matter how old you are. So don't be so hard on yourself.

Honey I don't think you are a bad mom. You are not ditching your child to go out drinking or partying or whatever...you are trying to remain active in your school which is wonderful. You didn't just drop out and give up like so many other girls do and if he goes to daycare anyways, you are entitled to your time while he is there. Don't give up. You are the example of a teen mom who is really trying to keep her shit together and that is something to be praised.
Good luck  

Definitely not a bad mom, if you're taking care of him and giving him everything he needs when he isn't at daycare, you're doing great. Lots of moms have outside hobbies or activities they still participate in after their children are born. Don't feel guilty, although as a mom, you will feel guilty about a gazillion things during your child's life!

your definatly not a bad mother...dont let anyone tell you tht you are

I think you are a positive role model for other teen moms.  You can be a good mom and still do things YOU enjoy.  It's important to have your own hobbies and interests or else you'll go crazy!  Stay active, enjoy being young and keep being a great mother!

Wow. Hearing all you other moms made me feel a whole lot better about it. I just feel like some people in school and parents and such that know I have a baby are going to think that Im picking cheerleading over my son. Or that I should be spending time with my son and not cheering. And I guess it does make me feel a little guilty to think that he may be at home for an hour with my grandma(I live with her) taking care of him and not me. I made a commitment to Dawson the day I found out I was having him, which isa much bigger commitment than I will ever have to cheerleading. But thanks so much for all of your input!

Quoting mommy_2_dawson:“ I know that this probably is the stupidest thing to post ever, because there are some people who are ... [snip!] ... days are getting abortions and such because they say their baby would end their life. Blah.. IDK. Sorry this was so long.”

First let me say ur son is gorgeous.
Seriously sweeetie ur not a bad mom. He's in day care and besides u mentioned that u spend time with him, so what's the big deal?
U mentioned also that just bcuz u get preggers doesn't mean ur life ends, well let me add this neither do ur dreams dear. Besides u're still in school (which i commend u for).
It's ok for moms to spend sometime apart from their kids, it benefits u and ur child - so dnt feel guilty.

That doesn't make you a bad mother at all. Like everyone's said, it's your senior year. Older mothers have things they still want to do, so they get a babysitter. You're finishing school and an EXCELLENT role model for any teen mom. I was in your exact shoes at one point and let me just say if I had someone like you to look up to or go to for advice or just an encouraging word, that would have been amazing. And personally, I think daycare is a really good thing for children. It teaches them social skills and helps them to become independent. I think you're doing an amazing job as a mother and I dont even know you!