There was no decision. I had a baby and it was my job to take care of her. I found it ironic that unwed mothers were encouraged to give up their babies when they were in virtually the same circumstance as I was (or usually in better circumstances since I was homeless at the time). The person who said I needed to give her up was shortsighted and could not see how I could provide for her. I couldn't see it either but giving her up simply wasn't an option my mind could seriously consider. Fortunately, I discovered that the Lord has provided for us both.butterfly wrote: ↑April 22nd, 2017, 10:38 pmMeili I appreciate your input, I really don't know much about your personal life, and I didn't realize that you'd been so directly affected by decisions like this. I hope I'm not being too callous about things that hit close to home.Meili wrote: ↑April 22nd, 2017, 10:08 pm
You make a good point. I've noticed that too, that even if a woman is divorced before the baby is born, it's not generally suggested that she give up her baby. Incidentally, my husband left before my baby was born and I was told by one person that I ought to give up the baby. Just one person, though. Generally, people expected me to keep my baby.
If you don't mind sharing, what made you decide to keep your baby after your husband left?
You haven't seemed callous. No one has. But some have seemed shortsighted as my friend was. There is so much more available to us if we would only exercise faith in the Lord. If the LDS community cannot support a young mother to raise her own child if that's what she wants, and help her overcome the inner struggles that led to her predicament, not to mention help the young man involved, and help them become responsible adults, then that is a demonstration of lack of faith in the Lord. It is a demonstration of a lack of charity. It would be better to focus on the lack of faith that is causing us to not support unwed mothers so they don't have to work two jobs to provide for their child and is causing us to suggest she won't be able to find a righteous spouse, than to focus on the errors of the mother.