Six Books Written by Teen Mothers You Should Read This Mother’s Day
May 11, 2018Mother’s Day offers the perfect opportunity for all of us to explore what motherhood means and looks like to different communities. One of the best ways to do this is to read books written by different parents, especially young women who had their children in their teens.
I gave birth to my child at 15 years old. Reading books written by my peers allows me to get something I rarely find in popular media: an affirmation and validation of a young mother’s experience from a young mother herself. So here are six books I recommend, all written by former teen mothers.
Hear from researchers, writers, and one doctor about how they overcame many challenges, with their children by their side, despite society telling them they were destined to fail. These books challenge readers to see young motherhood through a more honest and empowered light.
Beyond these books, I look forward to the day when there are even more stories reflecting other experiences not yet well-documented, including those from teen parents with disabilities, teen parents who do not identify as cisgender, and teen parents who didn’t take the traditional “college to success” route but still found their lives fulfilling and their relationship to motherhood an experience all their own.