Tricia Goyer - Teen Mom: Youre Stronger Than You Think

Tricia Goyer has walked the road of being a teen mom and is full of hope, comfort, and wisdom. This book not only will help teen moms but is a wonderful guide for grandparents, friends, and mentors of teen moms. Written with compassion, this book is practical, real, engaging, and encouraging. This book will bless the hearts of young moms and give them hope and strength.

Courtney Joseph, author and blogger at WomenLivingWell.org and GoodMorningGirls.org

Tricia Goyer has done it again! Teen Mom not only takes us on a rollercoaster ride of teen moms experiences, but she makes one point crystal clear: that the way you start has nothing to do with the way you end. This book encourages women of all ages, letting them know that its never too late to have a bright future.

Angelia White, CEO and founder, Hope for Women magazine

Teen Mom, your life is moving in a new direction now, a direction full of potential and purpose. Tricia Goyer has given you a beautiful gift between the covers of this book. I encourage you to unwrap it. All the inspiration and information you need is within these pages.

Tracy Steel, speaker and author of Images of His Beauty, www.onedegreeministries.com

What I love most about Teen Mom is its filled with wisdom and solid encouragement. I wish Id had this book when I was twenty-one, pregnant, unmarried, and scared to death. Tricias words are like a balm of reassurance for the young woman who cant see past the two lines on her pregnancy test.

Erin Bishop, founder and president of the Whatever Girls

Those who work with teen moms know how difficult it is to find good resources, so its great news to have this engaging, encouraging, challenging, and truthful book written about the issues that matter to young mothers. Finally, something just for them!

Crystal Kirgiss, teacher, speaker, writer, and author of many books, including More Than Skin Deep: A Guide to Self and Soul

Love this book. Inspiring, poignant, sympathetic, and challenging. Tricia understands all the issues teen moms face, and she empowers them to own their role as mothers with faith, hope, and courage. All teen moms and mothers of these teens need this book. Highly recommended.

Sally Clarkson, speaker, ministry leader, and author of numerous books, including Desperate: Hope for the Mom Who Needs to Breathe

ZONDERVAN

Teen Mom

Copyright 2015 by Tricia Goyer

Previously titled Life Interrupted

Requests for information should be addressed to:

Zondervan, 3900 Sparks Dr. SE, Grand Rapids, Michigan 49546

ePub Edition February 2015: ISBN 978-0-310-33906-9

Library of Congress Cataloging-in-Publication Data

Goyer, Tricia.

Life interrupted : the scoop on being a young mom / Tricia Goyer.

p. cm.

Includes bibliographical references.

ISBN-10: 0-310-25316-0

ISBN-13: 978-0-310-25316-7

1. Teenage mothers Religious life. 2. Unmarried mothers Religious life. I. Title.

BV4529.18.G69 2004

248.833 dc22

2004004686

All Scripture quotations, unless otherwise indicated, are taken from The Holy Bible, New International Version, NIV. Copyright 1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica, Inc. Used by permission. All rights reserved worldwide.

Any Internet addresses (websites, blogs, etc.) and telephone numbers in this book are offered as a resource. They are not intended in any way to be or imply an endorsement by Zondervan, nor does Zondervan vouch for the content of these sites and numbers for the life of this book.

Scripture quotations marked BBE are taken from the Bible In Basic English.

Scripture quotations marked GNT are taken from the Good News Translation, Second Edition. Copyright 1992 by American Bible Society. All rights reserved.

Scripture quotations marked TLB are taken from The Living Bible. Copyright 1971 by Tyndale House Publishers, Inc., Wheaton, Illinois. All rights reserved.

Scripture quotations marked MSG are taken from The Message. Copyright 1993, 1994, 1995, 1996, 2000, 2001, 2002. Used by permission of NavPress Publishing Group.

Scripture quotations marked NLT are taken from the Holy Bible,New Living Translation, copyright 1996, 2004. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers, Inc., Wheaton, Illinois. All rights reserved.

All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system, or transmitted in any form or by any means electronic, mechanical, photocopy, recording, or any other except for brief quotations in printed reviews, without the prior permission of the publisher.

Published in association with Janet Kobobel Grant, Books & Such, 4788 Carissa Ave., Santa Rosa, CA 95405

Cover design and illustration: Connie Gabbert

Cover photography: vovan / Shutterstock

Interior design and composition: Greg Johnson/Textbook Perfect

First printing January 2015

To every young mom who hopes for a good future. You can do it. You matter!

Whats Inside

Before I Was a Mom

Before I was a mom,
I spent every night with friends.
I texted for hours on the phone.
And I watched every decent Redbox movie.

Before I was a mom,
I stayed up all night.
Slept til noon on weekends.
Had my nails done.

Before I was a mom,
I did my homework... most of the time.
Knew all the Lady Gaga lyrics.
Watched TV that doesnt include puppets.

Before I was a mom,
I didnt realize the importance of nap time.
Didnt consider the danger of electrical outlets.
Spoke in complete sentences.

Before I was a mom,
I didnt wear spit-up on my shoulder.
Thought poop was disgusting.
Gagged at drool.
Never imagined sniffing a diaper.

Before I was a mom,
I had big plans for my future.
Looked into college.
Never considered the cost of day care.
Had no idea what effaced or epidural mean.

Before I was a mom,
I thought all babies look alike.
Didnt realize how exciting crawling can be.
Never thought to record someone walking.
Didnt know how beautiful mama sounds.

Before I was a mom,
I never watched a baby sleep.
Never appreciated a babys soft giggle.
Never knew how much love I have inside.
Never thought one small being could change me so completely.

Before I was a mom,
I never realized a feeling so great,
So wonderful,
So intimate,

As loving my own child.

Tricia Goyer

G rowing up, did you imagine yourself as a mom? Did you plan for it, dream about it? Did you like the idea of having kids? I did. I loved kids, and I always thought Id be a great mom, so why did I panic when I discovered my dream was coming true? Mostly because it was too soon. Way too soon. As a high schooler, I knew my life was about to change forever. And it did.

My Story

Each and every teen mom has her own story. Each and every teen mom has her own journey. My first child is twenty-five years old now, and I have a great, amazing life. But no matter what success I achieve, Ill never forget the moment that I found out I was going to have a baby.

Me? A mom? Id always wanted a baby but never imagined it would happen at age seventeen.

Like most little girls, I imagined marrying an amazing guy and becoming a mom. In bed at night, Id let my mind wander. I pictured my future family. I wanted lots of kids, and I thought Id be a good mom. Since I didnt know my biological dad growing up and my stepdad was distant and unconcerned about me I wanted a husband who really cared about me and my kids.