Ask Crystal- 18,pregnant and confuse

Dear Crystal,
Am 18 year old that has a secret… I am pregnant. From since I’ve known myself, I grew up in church, my family has always been very involved in the church. They don’t even know I have a boyfriend, they think I am perfect ( a goody two shoes). Sometimes when they think, I’m going to youth meeting or with a friend, I was actually meeting up with my boyfriend. He is a good person, 20 years old with a decent job but not in the church and I know my family especially my father will not approve of him. This pregnancy was very much unexpected, but I want to keep the baby, I want to be with him, I want us to be a family, but now he’s demanding that we meet with my parents and tell them the truth, but I am scared that my family will disown me.

Plz help me Ms. Crystal.
18 and pregnant

Dear 18 and pregnant,

Congratulations on your pregnancy, babies are a blessing. I can’t imagine the stress you must be under, but the reality of it is you will have to tell your family eventually, not just for the physical aspect, but for the support. I understand you’re afraid of being disowned, but somehow, babies have a way of bringing families together. You just never know what their reaction would be. I know the thought of presenting your boyfriend to your family is terrifying, but it is the right step in building a community for your child.
I think, the first step is having a sit down with your family and telling them the truth, also your boyfriend would be there with you as support. The mere fact that he wants you to be honest, forthcoming with your family, and wants to assume responsibility as a father, speaks volumes. I know this is a stressful situation for you because everything you do moving forward, impacts both yours and the baby’s health and wellbeing. Prepare what you’re going to say before telling you tell your family. You can practice in the mirror, make notes if need be, find the right time and place and in the moment, get straight to the point, don’t beat around the bush, just tell them. Be prepared for any reaction and questions, listen and try not to be offended as it is a surprise. At this point, the baby is already on board, it’s time to start preparing. I personally have close friends and family members who have become pregnant at a young age, and believe it or not, most of them are successful professionals in various fields and industries around the world. This surely isn’t the end of the line for you.
Best wishes,

Crystal Clear

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