Lynne’s Story

When I was 15 I babysat regularly for a 4 year-old boy. Over time I became friends with the child’s parents. The child’s father coerced me into having sex with him. I had never had sex before – or even close! It was painful and embarrassing. Yet I didn’t tell anyone because I didn’t want to lose the friendship of that family. Soon I missed my period and realized that I must be pregnant. By that time I had started to date a very nice guy that I met through the babysitting family. He was much older than I was. When I told him about what had happened he offered to marry me. We went to my parents, but they insisted that I have an abortion. It was very hard emotionally. I was a lonely young person and loved the idea of a baby. Yet I was completely unprepared to be a parent. I had the abortion and was able to finish High School without interruption. The young man who had offered to marry me was my boyfriend for the next 3 years, but as I grew up I realized that I loved him because he took care of me in a parental way. It was time for me to take control of my life. We parted, but I will always be grateful that he was there for me at such a difficult time in my life. I went on to excel in college and graduate with honors. I have worked in Early Childhood Education for the past 22 years and am now the Executive Director of a culturally diverse childcare center that serves a majority of low-income families. I am also married to someone I love deeply and have 3 children, ages 20, 14 and 7. I often work with teen parents at the Center. Though some teen parents do a great job and are happy with their choice, I often see in my clients the road that I did not have to travel thanks to the foresight and love of my parents. I see what happens to children when someone who is unprepared and resentful is raising them. I am not sorry that abortion was safe and legal when I needed it. Let’s work to keep it that way.