You don’t know how I much needed this. I’m 18 a teen mom my son has special needs I’m married and next month I was supposed to be walking the stage getting my diploma but instead I gave up everything to make sure my son catches up to his age. I have been feeling horrible these past couple months hearing about prom, people getting their graduation stuff, people getting accepted to colleges, people just enjoying there teen life. And honestly I would never regret my son but I do wish that for his good I had waited and finished school, college and had a career for him to have all the things he needs. My life since I was 15 has been nicu, hospitals, therapist (OT, speach, physical, child development ) cardiologist, tomorrow a cleft plate clinic, and now autism specialist. I wouldn’t give anything thing up because I love my sweet boy, his hugs his kisses his beautiful laugh, his huge fangs *his my little vampire* everything! But it is exhausting, while 16 years olds were getting their first car I was *proudly* breastfeeding my first (5lb) baby. And seeing this especially at this time of the year makes me feel better because it means it’s not too late for me to make someone of myself. My story has a tough and struggling yet happy beginning but I'm happy to think that this is all I am. I still have a chance of being someone in my future, and that’s alot to me because around the age of 5 my thoughts were I’m not going to amount to anything at all! I would often find myself playing house with my friend and then later laying in bed thinking who would even want to be with me. I’ve struggled with self-esteem my entire life but thinking that a suicidal single mom made it? Why can’t I? I have a amazing husband! I have his amazing family that has helped me alot to get through the toughest parts of my life with my son.I have so much now that I shouldn’t feel like I’m nothing, I try hard and even though I’m criticised by people because of my age I’m doing everything I can! I've got my life finally in control and I have a 2 year old autistic child who counts to 3, knows his animals, speaks a little, knows sign language, is really smart loving and shows alot of affection what else do I need to be proud of right now? Most autistic kids don’t say their first words till 3-4 years of age. Most of them have slow or little social skills and have a really hard time showing affection. I might just seem like a mom right now but I am much more and that is just the begging of me, im just 18 and I've accomplished the biggest legacy of a human being i can do a lot more especially if these great people were carpenters, flipping burgers, doing odd jobs in there late 20s to their almost 40s I got so much more if I have already accomplished bringing a beautiful boy into this world! *And I know he will do great things!!!* why do I put myself to think that I'm never going to be something!