Teenage Pregnancy: Defying Expectations.

We're living in the 21st century, yet teenage pregnancy is still frowned upon. I know this better than anyone, walking around the street with a pram and getting disapproving looks. Well, I shall have to prove you all wrong. 
 For me, growing up was tough. I have impaired hearing, which made my school years difficult. School work was not as hard as facing pupils who called me names and didn't understand that I could talk even though I was merely deaf. Being treated differently was the hardest part. My mum was an alcoholic and she passed away when I was fifteen, just before my GCSE's and just before my pregnancy. Just before I really needed her. 
 I was sixteen when I fell pregnant. I was in a strong relationship with my eighteen-year-old boyfriend, Dale. We were young and in love, but life wasn't easy. We were teenagers about to become parents, living under his grandmother's roof. We were excited but terrified. Then, our son was born. Leo. He was a miracle, gazing into my baby's eyes during that first cuddle. It was breath taking. To have a life in your hands which is so delicate and completely dependable on you is mind-blowing. He was perfect. He was so perfect that we knew he deserved the best. We did all that we could. Dale worked hard for a recruitment apprenticeship. We decided to get married. It was a beautiful wedding, with my father giving me away and Leo in a suit and all our family and friends surrounding us. But, due to current laws, the council disowned us simply because we were married. We had no choice but to save up all the money we had. We were on our own. 
 We struggled with money and jobs and having enough time to ourselves and for our son, but we proved that we were not dependent on the council. By my son's first birthday, we had enough money for a lovely two-bedroom flat. Dale became a senior consultant and I managed to complete a health & social care course at college, which meant that I could work as a community carer. Despite long hours, my job was rewarding and made me happy. As a family, we were happy. 
 We worked hard to be where we are now. If people knew the truth, we wouldn't receive judgmental glares in the street. We went through ups and downs but came out the other side with smiles on our faces. We're expecting our second child now. Our Second Miracle.