Please or to access all these features

AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

AIBU for feeling devastated about my graduate daughter's pregnancy?

408 replies

Postmanpatri · 15/08/2026 13:40

Hi, my DD is 21, she will be 22 in January. She has just graduated from university, and got married last month. I’ll be honest I wasn’t thrilled about her getting married at 21, she’d been with her boyfriend since secondary school.
However today she has announced she is pregnant. She told me it wasn’t planned, but they are keeping the baby. She still lives at home with me but has committed to finding somewhere else to live, I’ve told her there is no hurry.
Im going to be honest I’m devastated, she was the first person in our family to go to university, she got straight As in her highers and advanced highers, she is due to start teacher training, but has said she might not start as she is due in February.
I am so worried she is throwing her life away, her husband is a lovely boy but he is only 22, he’s a joiner so he puts in a lot of hard work but it’s not high earning.

AIBU to feel like this? What do I do?

OP posts:
Loulou4022 · 15/08/2026 13:46

Devastated sounds rather an over reaction tbh!! I’d be devastated if someone had died or my home had burnt down!
It’s fine to be a bit disappointed than her future is going to look a little different but she’s an adult and has the right to decide her own future!

ginasevern · 15/08/2026 13:46

No advice but I completely understand OP. Just make sure they do get a place of their own otherwise you will end up as the default parent, if you don't anyway. I really hope it all works out for all of you.

Watchoutfortheslowaraf · 15/08/2026 13:45

FleurDeFleur · 15/08/2026 13:44

So the pair of them live with you and will be raising the baby there?

OP says they are looking to move out so will have their own place

Watchoutfortheslowaraf · 15/08/2026 13:44

She’ll be 22 when she has the baby, she’s married and in a happy long term relationship with a husband who is hard working. She finished her degree and can begin teacher training whenever she likes. It could be a hell of a lot worse OP- no reason here to be devastated that I can see.

FleurDeFleur · 15/08/2026 13:44

So the pair of them live with you and will be raising the baby there?

MoneyFunny · 15/08/2026 13:44

I can see why it’s a shock, and why it might derail her career a little. However that’s not a definite. I was surprised to find that I work with plenty of women who took time out to have kids 20/21 and now have full careers age 30/35. I also know a couple of friends who had kids age 16-18. I had my first a bit later 27 but wish I’d started sooner truthfully. You said yourself, she is bright and has good results. She just needs to keep her hand in at work and training, with support from her DH and family hopefully.

topcat2014 · 15/08/2026 13:43

University is done and dusted. I'm sure the DH is hard working - after all we are all told trade jobs are the future.

Good luck to them both..

Remember it wasn't that long ago when people got married after uni as a matter of course. 22 is properly adult - a long way on from "teen" pregnancy

LoyalAquaAnt · 15/08/2026 13:42

Her degree will keep. Twenty one isn't that young to be a mum and she sounds sensible.