Tannyr Venable looks across the room, hearing the sound of a horn – his favorite toy.  He then looks at the young girl holding the horn. The baby smiles, suddenly getting excited to see his mother. Katryna Venable smiles back, appreciating her son’s love for her.

“I was scared about what people would think, and I thought life was over,” Venable said.

On a slight feeling, Dawnetta Venable, took her daughter to the doctor finding out she was pregnant at fourteen years old. At that instant, she could have been upset and taken drastic measures, but according to Katryna, she didn’t.

“I was scared for her, and I was hurt.  But he is a blessing and I don’t know what I’d do without him [Tannyr],” Dawnetta said.

Before Tannyr, Venable was hanging around, as her mother would say, the wrong people.  According to her mother, Katryna was acting like a juvenile teenager.

“Having Tannyr made me mature up. I was going down a very bad road, and he helped me straighten my life up,” Venable said.

According to www.thewomenshealthchannel.com, there are health risks for the baby, and children born to teenage mothers are more likely to suffer health, social and emotional problems.

“My biggest fear was him not being healthy,” Venable said. “Also I was afraid I would have to have a caesarean section.”

An average day for Venable includes going to school, going directly home to feed Tannyr, she’ll play with him for awhile then give him a bath. She’ll play with him one last time before bed.  After Tannyr goes to sleep it is Venable’s time to herself, which only consists of homework.  Usually by the time she gets to sleep it’s the early hours of the morning.

“My days are busy,” Venable said. “I hardly ever have free time, and I do homework during that.”

Venable can compare her life to the character Amy on the TV show, The Secret Life of the American Teenager. According to Venable, she goes through the same things Amy is, except its real life for her.

“It’s really true, because you’re young and having choices about keeping the baby is overwhelming,” Venable said.

Venable lifts Tannyr up; he laughs a small baby giggle. Her mother then looks toward them and smiles, all of a sudden they all start laughing with Tannyr.

“I wouldn’t change anything,” Venable said. “I would’ve liked to wait longer, but he’s my world.”

“A Day in the Life of a Teen Mother”

5:30 a.m.: Katryna wakes up, gets dressed and ready for school.

6:15 a.m.: She makes a bottle and changes Tannyr’s diaper, then puts him in the car.

7:15 a.m. to 2:30 p.m.: She goes to school and Tannyr stays with his grandmother.

3:00 p.m.: Nap time

3:25 p.m.: Katryna picks up her cousin and brother

4:15-4:20 p.m.: Get home to feed Tannyr and play with him.

6:30 – 7:15 p.m.: Give him a bath.

8:00 p.m.: Feed Tannyr his cereal and give hime a bottle of milk, then play with him some more.

9:00 p.m.: Tannyr’s bedtime, homework time for Katryna until 11:30-12:00