Mom Shares How She Reacted To Her Teen Daughter’s Pregnancy And People Are Praising Her Parenting Skills
Storytelling on TikTok is an art form in and of itself. One of the more popular trends on the platform right now is re-enacting events through a song from Teen Beach Movie called I Can’t Stop Singing.
But few have used it as brilliantly as Nicole Hennessy. The mom-of-three and photographer from Maryland recently filmed a video to the tune to speak about the way she and her 17-year-old daughter Angelina handled the teen getting pregnant.
With permission from Angelina, Nicole showed how the two of them battled emotions in search of the best course of action. It becomes clear pretty soon in the clip that the 35-year-old mother simply wants what’s best for her daughter, without being angry or judgemental.
So far, Nicole’s calm and educational reaction has been applauded by over 14 million people who watched the video, and something tells me she’s gonna be just as cool of a grandma as she’s a parent.
More info: nicolehennessyphotography.com | Instagram | Facebook | TikTok
@nicolehennessy2By popular demand story time ##teenmom ##storytime ##reaction ##fyp♬ I am at ur moms house – elizabeth_chetwynd
“Angelina is a soul from the ’80s, I would say,” Nicole introduced her daughter to Bored Panda. “She is incredibly artistic, she paints and works with ceramics — her talent blows me away. She is a lover of all types of music, an awesome cook, and the type of person whose heart feels for everyone. She is not afraid to be true to herself but she also lifts up others. With a dash of sarcasm and humor for good measure.”
The moment Nicole saw the pregnancy test wrapper, she knew it was Angelina’s. Her initial reaction was ‘Angelina needs me, so don’t react!’ The mom hugged her daughter tight and told her she would help her figure this out.
“Our relationship is ever-changing. At the start of teens, it was typical; we loved each other but she’d much rather be out with friends,” Nicole said. “Now, with the pregnancy and the pandemic, we spend our days together.”
Nicole admitted it was quite the transition, looking at her little girl become a young woman and then a mother. “We have a mother-daughter relationship that is strong, respectful, and also like a partnership, we help each other out. I’m so proud of her and her maturity and strength!”
So when she sat down with her daughter helping her to make a rational, informed decision, Nicole understood that it was Angelina’s next chapter, not hers. Her job was simply to educate the 17-year-old as much as she could. “I told her that she has 3 options: abortion, adoption, or keeping and raising the baby,” Nicole said. “My husband and I sat down with her and talked in length about all 3 and the pros and cons to each one. He and I agreed in advance that we would not voice our opinion to her because it is her life to choose and we did not want to pressure her to make a choice.”
After going over the facts, Nicole found Angelina a therapist so she could not only make the decision but fully accept and live with it as well. “We talked to my Reverends at church (who are open-minded and loving) and we also went to the women’s center and Ob-Gyn. Also, her primary called her to check in.”
Angelina took a long while to process her options. “She at one point considered each of them (I made a ‘part 2’ video about that) but at the end, she felt keeping and raising the baby is what her heart wanted,” Nicole said. “So here we are, 7 weeks away from meeting her little boy. She will stay living at home so she can finish school and college and try to save money. She has our full support. It takes a village.”
Nicole’s TikTok immediately went viral
So she posted an update
@nicolehennessy2Story time By request here is part 2 ##teenmom ##storytime ##reaction ##part2 ##fyp♬ I am at ur moms house – elizabeth_chetwynd
After going through this journey as a parent, Nicole highlighted that no matter the issue, it’s important for moms and dads to constantly strengthen the bond with their kids so they feel safe coming to them. “Yes, they are young but they are a person with feelings and they need to not feel scared and alone.”
“If I did anything right as a mom, it was creating a space where my kids know they can come to me and my love won’t ever go away,” she said. “Also, because she was given space to make her own choice, she will thrive, she will not feel like a victim of the choice pushed on her. She chose her path on her own and that means she is willing to sacrifice to be successful with that choice.”
Nicole added that things happen in life that seem scary and bad, but she personally believes it all has a purpose. “Try and stay positive and look at what positivity can come from each bad thing.”
Angelina will be welcoming a baby boy this September
Image credits: Nicole Hennessy
Image credits: Nicole Hennessy
Image credits: Nicole Hennessy
Here’s what people said after hearing their story
Her mother handled that wonderfully, but I cannot stress enough how important birth control is to prevent this kind of situations. I wish all the best to the young mother and her child.
The instant I gave birth and held my daughter it's like I just knew that when the change came for her we would talk, and talk and talk. And she would be well educated and decide if birth control was right and what type and when she needed it, or thought about needing it she would know what to do and where to go. I think that's the biggest part. Kids fear asking for it because it's sitting they either are having sex or want to. Too much taboo around sex, when it should be around unprotected, irresponsible sex.
The answer to prevent this: sex ed, total transparency with your folks to buy you condoms or other contraceptive method (in my country is illegal unless you are 18), and never take nothing for for granted: mistakes can happen. Either way, A+ for supporting her daughter.
I cannot agree more... But of course I have a very long winded story for you lol. My mother (the youngest of 5) got pregnant with me the begining of her senior year of high school (at 17, her birthday is may 18) my dad and her fell in love over the summer before the school year, they were new neighbors... My Grandmother was an alcoholic, my Grandfather a very strong supportive family man, Navy Vet, quit drinking to be a father and mother to the kids as my Grandmother couldn't, yet. My mother graduated high school, and I was there to see it (my birthday is June 3, graduation is around the middle of June) .... My mother told my grandmother when I was born that she would not touch me if she were drinking (that was new years Eve while pregnant) and my grandmother woke the next morning, took a sip of her warm beer, and never touch another drink again. My parents married and had my brother (born a few weeks early may 28, almost 5 years after me). When I was 7 parents divorced. Fast fwd. I vowed not to get pregnant on high school as I saw how much my mom struggled raising us... She has several college degrees now, but we lived on welfare and she worked 2 jobs and went to college while raising us.... That couldn't have been a walk in the park... Tho she made it look like one. So I vowed just not to have sex. And didn't. Until I had graduated high school. I didn't have my kids (a girl then 14 months later a boy) until I was 28. But once I had my daughter It all came full circle and into instant perspective and i
This comment is hidden. Click here to view.
Girl yes that was a long story but interesting. If we look at all the unwed women with kids birth control isn’t being used. Having kids before marriage almost guarantees “no husband “anytime soon.
I don't want to be judgmental, but didn't mother "handled" it too late? Especially when she got pregnant as a teen?
i'll will be glad to be the person who told to you: i'm not an uterus and the abortion saved me from slavery. i'm really glad to offer you that, besides your small opinions
This comment is hidden. Click here to view.
Mom had her at 18 so these are lessons that have never been learned.
Are you dumb or fake dumb? Starbelly Eleven your nickname says it all, but i hope that you get out drugs
Starbelly Eleven follower
This is a perfect example of pro choice does not necessarily mean pro abortion. People say to me 'if you're pro choice, you must be willing to get an abortion.' Absolutely not. I, personally, never could. But I 100% support anyone who feels they need to. This mom needs to to write a book on the proper way to deal with a teen pregnancy. Also I love how she used pictures of herself to illustrate her daughter's side of the interaction. This is so much better than photograping her daughter when she was vulnerable and then posting then all over the internet like so many of those awful Instamoms are known to do.
This comment is hidden. Click here to view.
More important is putting your 16 kid on birth control. Especially if her mama got pregnant to early. The Apple doesn’t fall far from the tree.
Personally, I have a condition that treats chemical BC (pills, depo, shots) like it's either sugar pills or cyanide. I didn't realize that the pills I was on were effectively useless until I was having a miscarriage. Shots turned me into a raging psychotic asshole before I passed out due to toxic buildup. I finally found IUD's were mostly effective when combined with physical barriers, but that was in my late 20's. Not to mention that I wanted a tubal ligation at 21 but *my doctors* refused to give me one until I was 30 because 'what if I changed my mind/regretted getting it/married someone who wanted kids/etc etc. It literally took 6 months of petitioning, arguing, and being treated like a child to get 'permission' from a panel of male doctors. BC is a divisive topic, and if it took a grown adult woman with 2 children that much hassle to get a medically sensible BC option what chance does a 16yo have? Your comment is arrogant and vapid. (3/3)
... and discuss where I am in my cycle, if I've missed a day or taken it an hour late in the week or was my period on time down to the day.' You're thinking 'I'm hot, they're hot, we got condoms and I'm on BC, let's go!' It's all well and good to sit on your high horse and sneer at others, but you don't know the entire story. I highly doubt you were a paragon of purity and innocence until the day you got married yourself, so glass houses and all that. Not to mention that we don't know the girls entire medical history to be making simple arrogant judgements that it was a complete lack of BC that led to this happening. This Mom was honest and supportive, which is a lot more than a lot of teens get. If this girl ends up being a Mom like her Mom, that kid is going to be absolutely secure in the fact that they are loved and supported no matter what they do with their life. That alone is the best gift you can give to a child. Room to make mistakes, get up and try again knowing that you will have support no matter what. That's worth more than salt. (2/3)
Birth control fails. All. The. Time. Depending on your body chemistry, any genetic conditions you have, your diet and overall health, there are so many factors. Plus, BC pills are most effective if you take them at the exact same time every single day. I know very few teens that have the capacity to be awake to take a pill at 6:45am(for ex.) weekdays, weekends, month in and out. And if your period is late because of stress/diet/illness? That throws the pills entire purpose off sync. A lot of people react badly to shots. Some can't physically handle IUD's. It takes time to find the exact right BC, and only tubal ligations are fail proof. Condoms, cups, dams break, tear, develop pinhole tears, micro cracks. Accidents happen with physical BC methods. Plus, I assume you were a teen once. If you're deep in the grip of hormonal lust with your SO you don't always stop to think 'let's carefully inspect the condoms before we use them... (1/3)
A family member has this too. She did not know birth control was ineffective to her and she cant use condoms cause she will get something that sounds like an allergic reaction but its not allergies. She obviously also did not know this before having sex
Why are the pro lifers the ones who cut adoption and programs to help mothers?
hwo do you know that they do that?
History. Paying attention. Planned Parenthood is 98% healthcare for women and children, pregnant women, and low income families. They provide a lot of needed and necessary medical benefits to people who can't afford birth control, prenatal and post natal check ups, etc. And yet, people focus on the 2% that provides abortion and demonize them. The number of times I've seen abortion protestors harassing people outside of clinics that don't even provide abortions is ridiculous. These oh so vocal people are no where to be found once the baby is born and the mother needs help with food, daycare, medical issues, abusive households. They'd rather shut PP down completely because of the 2% abortion service than keep it open and funded because of the 98% help to women and children in need.
Ojberretta Berretta lol
Her mother handled that wonderfully, but I cannot stress enough how important birth control is to prevent this kind of situations. I wish all the best to the young mother and her child.
The instant I gave birth and held my daughter it's like I just knew that when the change came for her we would talk, and talk and talk. And she would be well educated and decide if birth control was right and what type and when she needed it, or thought about needing it she would know what to do and where to go. I think that's the biggest part. Kids fear asking for it because it's sitting they either are having sex or want to. Too much taboo around sex, when it should be around unprotected, irresponsible sex.
The answer to prevent this: sex ed, total transparency with your folks to buy you condoms or other contraceptive method (in my country is illegal unless you are 18), and never take nothing for for granted: mistakes can happen. Either way, A+ for supporting her daughter.
I cannot agree more... But of course I have a very long winded story for you lol. My mother (the youngest of 5) got pregnant with me the begining of her senior year of high school (at 17, her birthday is may 18) my dad and her fell in love over the summer before the school year, they were new neighbors... My Grandmother was an alcoholic, my Grandfather a very strong supportive family man, Navy Vet, quit drinking to be a father and mother to the kids as my Grandmother couldn't, yet. My mother graduated high school, and I was there to see it (my birthday is June 3, graduation is around the middle of June) .... My mother told my grandmother when I was born that she would not touch me if she were drinking (that was new years Eve while pregnant) and my grandmother woke the next morning, took a sip of her warm beer, and never touch another drink again. My parents married and had my brother (born a few weeks early may 28, almost 5 years after me). When I was 7 parents divorced. Fast fwd. I vowed not to get pregnant on high school as I saw how much my mom struggled raising us... She has several college degrees now, but we lived on welfare and she worked 2 jobs and went to college while raising us.... That couldn't have been a walk in the park... Tho she made it look like one. So I vowed just not to have sex. And didn't. Until I had graduated high school. I didn't have my kids (a girl then 14 months later a boy) until I was 28. But once I had my daughter It all came full circle and into instant perspective and i
This comment is hidden. Click here to view.
Girl yes that was a long story but interesting. If we look at all the unwed women with kids birth control isn’t being used. Having kids before marriage almost guarantees “no husband “anytime soon.
I don't want to be judgmental, but didn't mother "handled" it too late? Especially when she got pregnant as a teen?
i'll will be glad to be the person who told to you: i'm not an uterus and the abortion saved me from slavery. i'm really glad to offer you that, besides your small opinions
This comment is hidden. Click here to view.
Mom had her at 18 so these are lessons that have never been learned.
Are you dumb or fake dumb? Starbelly Eleven your nickname says it all, but i hope that you get out drugs
Starbelly Eleven follower
This is a perfect example of pro choice does not necessarily mean pro abortion. People say to me 'if you're pro choice, you must be willing to get an abortion.' Absolutely not. I, personally, never could. But I 100% support anyone who feels they need to. This mom needs to to write a book on the proper way to deal with a teen pregnancy. Also I love how she used pictures of herself to illustrate her daughter's side of the interaction. This is so much better than photograping her daughter when she was vulnerable and then posting then all over the internet like so many of those awful Instamoms are known to do.
This comment is hidden. Click here to view.
More important is putting your 16 kid on birth control. Especially if her mama got pregnant to early. The Apple doesn’t fall far from the tree.
Personally, I have a condition that treats chemical BC (pills, depo, shots) like it's either sugar pills or cyanide. I didn't realize that the pills I was on were effectively useless until I was having a miscarriage. Shots turned me into a raging psychotic asshole before I passed out due to toxic buildup. I finally found IUD's were mostly effective when combined with physical barriers, but that was in my late 20's. Not to mention that I wanted a tubal ligation at 21 but *my doctors* refused to give me one until I was 30 because 'what if I changed my mind/regretted getting it/married someone who wanted kids/etc etc. It literally took 6 months of petitioning, arguing, and being treated like a child to get 'permission' from a panel of male doctors. BC is a divisive topic, and if it took a grown adult woman with 2 children that much hassle to get a medically sensible BC option what chance does a 16yo have? Your comment is arrogant and vapid. (3/3)
... and discuss where I am in my cycle, if I've missed a day or taken it an hour late in the week or was my period on time down to the day.' You're thinking 'I'm hot, they're hot, we got condoms and I'm on BC, let's go!' It's all well and good to sit on your high horse and sneer at others, but you don't know the entire story. I highly doubt you were a paragon of purity and innocence until the day you got married yourself, so glass houses and all that. Not to mention that we don't know the girls entire medical history to be making simple arrogant judgements that it was a complete lack of BC that led to this happening. This Mom was honest and supportive, which is a lot more than a lot of teens get. If this girl ends up being a Mom like her Mom, that kid is going to be absolutely secure in the fact that they are loved and supported no matter what they do with their life. That alone is the best gift you can give to a child. Room to make mistakes, get up and try again knowing that you will have support no matter what. That's worth more than salt. (2/3)
Birth control fails. All. The. Time. Depending on your body chemistry, any genetic conditions you have, your diet and overall health, there are so many factors. Plus, BC pills are most effective if you take them at the exact same time every single day. I know very few teens that have the capacity to be awake to take a pill at 6:45am(for ex.) weekdays, weekends, month in and out. And if your period is late because of stress/diet/illness? That throws the pills entire purpose off sync. A lot of people react badly to shots. Some can't physically handle IUD's. It takes time to find the exact right BC, and only tubal ligations are fail proof. Condoms, cups, dams break, tear, develop pinhole tears, micro cracks. Accidents happen with physical BC methods. Plus, I assume you were a teen once. If you're deep in the grip of hormonal lust with your SO you don't always stop to think 'let's carefully inspect the condoms before we use them... (1/3)
A family member has this too. She did not know birth control was ineffective to her and she cant use condoms cause she will get something that sounds like an allergic reaction but its not allergies. She obviously also did not know this before having sex
Why are the pro lifers the ones who cut adoption and programs to help mothers?
hwo do you know that they do that?
History. Paying attention. Planned Parenthood is 98% healthcare for women and children, pregnant women, and low income families. They provide a lot of needed and necessary medical benefits to people who can't afford birth control, prenatal and post natal check ups, etc. And yet, people focus on the 2% that provides abortion and demonize them. The number of times I've seen abortion protestors harassing people outside of clinics that don't even provide abortions is ridiculous. These oh so vocal people are no where to be found once the baby is born and the mother needs help with food, daycare, medical issues, abusive households. They'd rather shut PP down completely because of the 2% abortion service than keep it open and funded because of the 98% help to women and children in need.
Ojberretta Berretta lol