i was 14 when i started “dating” my 18 year old boyfriend. i knew next to nothing about birth control and wouldn’t have thought to ask about condoms even if i did know how to use them. after i fainted at school, it occurred to me that i’d missed my period. the day i told my parents i thought i might be pregnant remains the worst day of my life. i had been raised catholic and my mother was very observant. nonetheless, she was the one who insisted that i was not going to ruin my life over an error of judgment made at age 14. she arranged for me to see her ob, who was kind and non-judgmental. he recommended a clinic and both my parents drove me the 2 hours to get there. she held my hand, even as the nurses in the clinic scolded about being more careful. i cried after the procedure, for the pain and disappointment i had caused. but my mother knew it was the right choice then and, as a mother of two beautiful children that i am mature enough to raise, i know it was too.