Pregnant at 17, I dropped out of school

I am 17 and I have a one month old baby. When I met the man who got me pregnant I didn't know him well but my mother has eight of us and I am the oldest. After meeting him he took me to his house and we had sex and I got pregnant. I did not finish school. I stayed with him after I got pregnant but he started to ill-treat me. He has another woman. He does not give me anything at all for the baby. I left his house and took the baby to show my grandmother and he told me not to come back to live with him. My grandmother tries her best to help me with food. I took the child to the father and he promised to give me money to buy diapers but I did not get a cent from him.

I don't know if this man will come around and help me. He is 28 years old.

Teenage Mother

Dear Teenage Mother,

I publish this letter not to embarrass you but to appeal for help for you. I do so considering that your mother has been unfortunate. She has eight children and you are the eldest. She is not in a position to help you. Grandma is poor and you have told me certain things that I will not divulge.

I know you need help. The child's father is a wicked and irresponsible man. We cannot allow your child to suffer. I know that some folks reading this letter would like to respond but many times when a letter of this kind is published folks want me to give them the writer's name and numbers and I am reluctant in doing so. It is not a wise thing for me to do. If anybody is willing to help you with food items or clothes I would prefer if they would bring them to my office at the First Baptist Church, 28 Sandringham Avenue Kingston 10 and hand them to my personal assistant who would get them to you. I assure you that we would do our very best to help you and I must encourage you to take this man to court for child support. I hope that he would come to his senses and begin to support his child. And I would implore you to think about going back to school to continue your education as soon as the baby gets older.

Pastor