Pros, Cons, advice on living arrangements for child
Hello, I have accepted the fact that I will not be getting my boyfriend back. He is also the father of my unborn baby. I'm 16 and he's 17 years old. Recently he'd broken up with me over a fight we had in the relationship. He wants nothing to do with me or the baby, but at the same time does not want to pay child support and wants the baby to have his last name still if I decide to keep the baby. I am staying at this maternity home until my mom who I've had problems with in the past when it comes to arguments about her drinking habits, is settled down into her new apartment she recently got. My due date is in August and the maternity home is about an hour and a half away from where her apartment is.
I'm trying to decide on what is best for my baby. Right now, I don't think I could emotionally handle the baby being put up for adoption because in my family it's just never been acceptable. I however, have been trying to think about the pros and cons. The father of the baby would rather me put the baby up for adoption and with his words "be done with it." As much as that hurts, I wish I could be like the other women here and put the baby up for adoption but I still don't know ALL the pro's and con's. Selfishly about a week ago, I was thinking all about my ex and would do ANYTHING to get him back, I asked him if I was to put the baby up for adoption if there would be a chance of us getting back together. He told me no, so I realized that it was pointless to even ask. So now all I keep thinking about is my baby and what I'm going to decide is best for him.
I honestly think he would be better off with someone who can take care of him, but at the same time I don't. If that makes any sense. I want him so bad, but I know I am not capable right now. I still want to live life as a teenager.. My mom and me talked and she told me she understood that I still wanted to be a teenager and still wanted to go to college right after high school and that I didn't have time, patience, or the money for a baby right now. Originally my boyfriend and I were going to get a place for him, me and the baby because he'll be 18 soon and I'll be 17 soon. My whole family were going to help and pay for everything financially until him and I were financially capable on our own. But since he broke up with me, and decided he didn't want to be in mine or the baby's life anymore that's not going to happen.
My mom told me that she did not want me to put the baby up for adoption but will support me no matter what decision I make. She told me that because of how up and down the relationship with my boyfriend was the he would be back, but honestly I don't see it happening. She told me that she would take custody over the baby and it would be like having a little brother almost instead. Which at first I thought was a good idea because another girl here who is 16 and pregnant and already has a son is in that situation where her parents have custody over her son. She told me it was like having a little brother. I asked her if she ever just wanted to be the mommy or got envious over the way her parents took care of her son and she told me she didn't because she knew it was the right thing to do. So I was thinking, yeah okay maybe this would be better because I would still be able to see my baby and would get to watch him grow up with me as well.
Later on my mom told me that if I was to decide for her to take custody since she's more capable that the father (my ex) would NOT be allowed to see the baby and would not be allowed to come near her or the apartment. Even if we were to get back together. I felt uncomfortable about that and thought maybe temporary custody/guardianship would be better that way when I'm financially capable I would be able to take him. She told me that she is comfortable with having temporary custody over my son but the same rules apply for the father of the baby seeing him. If or if we weren't to get back together. I told her that I agreed to it.
I'm really unsettled about all of this and it's driving me insane. The father of the baby isn't talking to me at all, and I'm trying to get a hold of him to discuss some of these things with him. I'm not sure what I should do. Yes, I want what is best for the baby. Personally, I don't think I could mentally and emotionally handle giving my baby up for adoption. It's just a really hard decision for me because all of this has happened at once. If someone has any advice on what they would do or what they think I should do, that would be great. I would also like some Pros and Cons for adoption, temporary custody/guardianship and full custody/guardianship if I were to do that with my mom. Also, maybe some other options. I've thought about parenting long and hard and I don't think I'm ready. I thought I was because of how smoothly things were going once before but now everything is really picking up and the tables are turning. No I wasn't on birth control, and no I didn't use a condom. This is my responsibility, especially to decide what is best. I keep feeling guilty every day because I can't decide. My family has told me that if I were to consider adoption or even open adoption then they would never see the baby again and would be mad at my decision. But it's my decision.. it just would hurt so bad.. for my emotional wellbeing. I'm not even sure why. Please someone give me some advice, pros, cons, etc.
Thanks.