“It was a Friday night and the first football game of the year. Not only was I a freshman, I was new-ish to the area. One of my friends talked me into going to the game and the dance afterwards. Little did I know, that dance would change my life.
I ran into my new neighbor and his friend, Chad. We talked. We laughed. We danced. We had a great time. By the end of the night I put my number in Chad’s phone and we talked all night long. Saturday was my mom’s birthday and I invited him to hang out. By Sunday, Chad asked me to be his girlfriend. We talked nonstop, hung out anytime we got the chance, and had a lot of firsts together.
A few months later, I was asking my friend to buy me a pregnancy test. I got my first positive test in my high school bathroom. I was 15. I wanted to be excited, but I was terrified. What would our parents think? Would Chad stick around? How would I (we) afford a baby?!
I ended up sending a picture text message to both Chad and my mom saying, ‘Looks like you’re going to be a dad/grandma’ and that was that. I don’t remember how Chad reacted, but I know he wasn’t angry. Obviously, we knew how it happened. My mom on the other hand…was disappointed. We were best friends and went almost 3 days without speaking.
Spring time came and my belly started to grow quick. We had told our family and friends. The biggest worry was how we planned to pay for baby items. Chad had a job at a pizza joint and I didn’t have a job. So he made a life changing decision at 17 years old.
He joined the Navy.
The school year ended and summer flew by. Now I’m a sophomore and due in a few short weeks, so my belly was B I G. The show ‘Teen Mom’ hadn’t starting airing yet, so being pregnant young was very taboo. I remember talking to my teachers and guidance counselor about my maternity leave plan. Thankfully, most were supportive and hoped to see me succeed. Which made it easier.
I never heard negative comments but I certainly got looks and questions. I remember trying to squeeze my 38-39 week belly into a school desk and going to the bathroom a ridiculous amount of times per class. My due date came and went and I was still going to school.
A few days past my due date I was having steady contractions. I remember sitting on the bathroom floor outside math class telling myself that these couldn’t be ‘real contractions… real contractions will be way worse,’ and went on with classes.
My mom got home that night and we start to talk about how I’m feeling and time the contractions together. I remember her being shocked at how close they are and saying, ‘This is real Morgan. Get your bag and text Chad!’
After a few hours at the hospital and lots of drama, our baby girl was born 7 pounds and 15 ounces at 3:46 a.m. and absolutely perfect! We named her Annalyse Nichol.
Months go by and we soak up the newborn phase. It’s nothing like I’ve ever experienced. Chad graduated high school early and kept Annalyse during the day while I had classes and then he would work at night.
Chad had to leave for basic training before her 1st birthday but before he left, I found out I was pregnant again. The entire time I was pregnant (with a boy!) Chad was gone for the military. Since we weren’t married, he couldn’t come home for anything including the birth.
In January of 2011 I had my second baby, at 17 years old. He was born 8 pounds 8 ounces and we named him Cabryn Wesley. At 3 months old he went on his first road trip to Florida, where he got to meet his dad for the first time and Chad and I got married.
A few months later Annalyse, Cabryn and myself moved to Virginia with Chad. We loved living by the beach, meeting new friends, and exploring a new state.
Over the years I’ve learned and grown as a wife and mom. Chad and I will celebrate being married for 9 years next year. We have added two more baby girls, traveled cross country and have moved to Florida.
Annalyse is now 10 years old and just finished up her 2nd season of softball and has decided to try out basketball. Cabryn is almost nine and is playing soccer and loves it. Delylah just turned four and does gymnastics weekly but loves anything with music and dance. Then our youngest baby bear, Lykken, is 1.5 and loves anything her older siblings are doing!
Having two kids before I turned 18 wasn’t what I had planned for my life, but I wouldn’t change a thing!”
This story was submitted to Love What Matters by Morgan Fuller of Pensacola, Florida. You can follow her journey on Instagram. Do you have a similar experience? We’d like to hear your important journey. Submit your own story here. Be sure to subscribe to our free email newsletter for our best stories, and YouTube for our best videos.
Read more inspiring stories from teen moms:
‘At 18, I hid an entire pregnancy all the way up to delivery. I refused to tell anyone. I was ashamed and afraid.’: Teen birth mom’s candid lessons learned after choosing adoption for her daughter, reuniting with her 18 years later
Provide beauty and strength for others. SHARE this story on Facebook with your friends and family.