I’d be happy if my girl became a mum at 12 too
Wednesday 11 July 2012
Schoolgirl Amy Crowhurst made headlines in 2002 when she fell pregnant with son Alfie aged just 12. She raised him with the help of her mum, but at 16 left home, had a brief reunion with Alfie’s dad, and fell pregnant again unexpectedly with her daughter Destiny.
Alone with two kids, Amy was no stranger to controversy as she struggled to cope – getting convicted for growing cannabis, and evicted from her council home for throwing “wild drug-fuelled parties.” When Closer spoke to her in April 2011, she was back home with mum Rose, 54, and coping well – and now Amy reveals she’s living independently in a three-bed council house and is returning to college to get her GCSEs.
She’s so happy, the 22 year old insists being a mum at 12 has its advantages – and, shockingly, she’d be happy if Destiny, now seven, fell pregnant at 12 too.
She says: “Having kids young was the smartest thing I ever did. I’ve had lots of energy for them and life’s beginning for me now at an age when I can enjoy myself – I have the freedom to meet mates and go clubbing when my mum babysits.”
“Having sex at 12 is fine if you feel ready and aren’t pressured."
Worryingly, she adds: “Having sex at 12 is fine if you feel ready and aren’t pressured. I wouldn’t encourage Destiny to plan pregnancy at 12, but if she did have a baby I’d be happy – it’d be fun being a gran at 27!”
Single Amy, from Crawley, West Sussex, fell pregnant after having sex for the first time with an unnamed boy she met at a local leisure centre. She says: “We didn’t use protection – I didn’t know much about sex. Mum wasn’t happy I was pregnant, but I didn’t agree with abortion and felt I could handle parenting.”
Amy, who has eight siblings aged 10 to 25, gave birth in March 2003 aged 13. Explaining she was home-schooled initially, but couldn’t keep up the commitment, she reveals: “My mates were having sleepovers and I was at home changing nappies. But being young helped me cope with the sleepless nights.”
Aged 16, craving independence, she moved into a council home and fell pregnant again, after a brief reunion with Alfie’s dad. She explains: “It was a one-off – we didn’t use contraception. I went through with the pregnancy as I wanted Alfie to have a sibling.”
Amy, who is no longer in contact with the father of Alfie, now nine, and Destiny, admits she struggled as a single mum and went off the rails. But last May, she moved into her new home and says she’s now back on track. Amy – who hasn’t had a serious relationship since being with her children’s dad – admits: “I’ve made mistakes, but I’ve always been a good mum.
"I’ve got lots of energy for the kids and can relate to them because I’m young."
“Whatever I’ve done wrong, I’ve got lots of energy for the kids and can relate to them because I’m young. Me and Destiny both love The X Factor, MTV and go shopping for clothes like sisters.”
Revealing she’s going to enrol at college to gain qualifications in maths and English, she adds: “When I see girls I went to school with having babies now, I’m so glad I got it out of the way. They’ll be at home and up in the night for the next 10 years. Plus they’re fat and I’m a size 6! I missed school, but I can catch up – and I’ll appreciate it more.”
And Amy – who claims benefits, but wants to become a healthcare worker – adds: “Destiny will get sex education at school, although if she asks me questions, I’ll do my best to answer them. If she had a baby at 12, I know she’d cope and I’d be happy for her. Women shouldn’t put off having kids young – it makes you a better mum.”
Child psychologist Margaret McAllister says: “A 12 year old may be physically capable of having a baby, but is not
emotionally ready to bring up a child. A parent draws on their own life experience to guide their child and, at 12, you are only a child yourself.”
By Sally Windsor
Read more shocking showbiz news here!
Posted by burgerking
RE: I’d be happy if my girl became a mum at 12 too
Her attitude just shows she is still very immature. I am 26 gone out and enjoyed my life went clubbing and stayed thin. I can still have children i didnt need to have them at 12 to do everything i want. Also her mum is looking after her children as she goes out and gets drunk she isnt raising her children she is offloading them and drinking on money our taxes are paying for. Rant over
Posted 12/07/2012 14:43:26
Posted by encourager
RE: I’d be happy if my girl became a mum at 12 too
I have recently met Amy and can vouch for the fact that she has worked hard to be entered for a qualification in English. I hope she will carry on studying and I wish her the best of luck with everything. Rather than always focusing on the negative it would be great to encourage everyone to be the best that they can be in whatever it is they want to get out of their life.
Posted 12/07/2012 18:54:52
Posted by encourager
RE: I’d be happy if my girl became a mum at 12 too
I have recently met Amy and can vouch for the fact that she has worked hard to be entered for a qualification in English. I hope she will carry on studying and I wish her the best of luck with everything. Rather than always focusing on the negative it would be great to encourage everyone to be the best that they can be in whatever it is they want to get out of their life.
Posted 12/07/2012 18:54:55
Posted by encourager
RE: I’d be happy if my girl became a mum at 12 too
I have recently met Amy and can vouch for the fact that she has worked hard to be entered for a qualification in English. I hope she will carry on studying and I wish her the best of luck with everything. Rather than always focusing on the negative it would be great to encourage everyone to be the best that they can be in whatever it is they want to get out of their life.
Posted 12/07/2012 18:55:00
Posted by pwincessjane
RE: I’d be happy if my girl became a mum at 12 too
Scrounging from the decent hard working tax payers. She would'nt be recommending it without our money to support her. All for encouraging people who strive, or make the odd 'mistake' repeat offenders should 'nt receive any help. How about if they had to repay the debt, like University students.
Posted 14/07/2012 15:04:13
Posted by Fashionladyrocks
RE: I’d be happy if my girl became a mum at 12 too
A report out today states that there is a sharp increase of women having children in their 40's this is apparently down to the fact they want to live their lives have careers and lovers before they commit to such a large responsibility.
Another reason these women are having their children at that age is 'Life experiences' you can have someone tell you but until you have experienced things for yourself you have not learned.
The con's outweigh the benefits in my opinion. Having a child at 12 years old, yes you may have a sister but you will always have to be there for your children at the end of the day I believe Amy has a lot to learn and as I stated in the beginning this will only come with experience.
I would like to wish Amy all the very best for the future and good luck getting a job as healthcare worker her life expirinces will stand her in good stead.
Posted 16/07/2012 23:32:59
Posted by pipi
RE: I’d be happy if my girl became a mum at 12 too
I THINKS GIRLS LIKE HER GIVE WOMEN A BAD NAME IF SHE WAS MATURE ENOUGH TO HAVE SEX SHE SHOULD HAVE WORN PROTECTION. SILLY GIRL, WHAT IS THE WORLD COMING TO CHILDREN HAVING CHILDREN TUT TUT -_-
Posted 17/01/2013 12:08:47