Desiree Amador, twenty-three, with her son Marcus.
Desiree Hi my name is Desiree Amador and I am twenty-three years old and my son’s name is Marcus Carlo and he is four going to be five.
Amanda What was that moment like when you found out you were pregnant?
Desiree Well, mines was a bit crazy because I had missed my period a lot of times, not a lot of times, but I missed my period and I didn’t go to the doctors to get myself checked. So when I was about five and a half months pregnant I finally went in. I asked my doctor if I could get a pregnancy test and she just laughed at me and said that I don’t need a pregnancy test. She went and got the prenatal lady and got the machine so you can hear the babies heart beat. Yeah, so that’s how I found out.
Amanda For how long do you think you realized that you were pregnant and just weren’t really dealing with it?
Desiree Well, for the first month I was like maybe it’s late. And then the second month went by and I was just hoping it was really late. Then the third month I was like, “Maybe I am,” and then I was just in denial I guess—scared and nervous about what I was going to hear.
Amanda Do you remember how you felt when she told you that you really were 5 and a half months pregnant?
Desiree Damn. I was just like, “Oh my god.” It was just crazy. Some mixed feelings I guess.
When I was about five and a half months pregnant I finally went in. I asked my doctor if I could get a pregnancy test and she just laughed at me and said that I don’t need a pregnancy test. She went and got the prenatal lady and got the machine so you can hear the babies heart beat. Yeah, so that’s how I found out.
Amanda And do you remember the first moment you held Marcus?
Desiree Yeah, I just felt, I couldn’t really believe. I knew he was mines, but it’s still just a shock—like he’s really my kid and stuff. It’s a pretty cool feeling.
Amanda How were the first few months with him?
Desiree Well, my mom had quit her morning job so I could keep going to school. So I was going to school and she would stay with the baby. So I was living with my mom but on the weekends I would stay at his (her boyfriend Marcus’) family’s house. So we were kind of living in both you could say.
Amanda So how involved was Marcus in helping out?
Desiree Yeah, he was involved.
Amanda Did your relationship change? How is it now?
Desiree Well, He’s a good dad. It actually didn’t change during my pregnancy. Everything was fine and now everything is Ok, I guess. He’s a good Dad. He takes him out and stuff. Yeah, he’s a good Dad. Yeah, we’re um fine. We’re just hanging in there I guess. He’s living with me.
Amanda Can you describe little Marcus today?
Desiree He is funny. He is crazy. He says too much stuff and um yeah he’s a happy kid. But when he gets mad he hates the world sometimes.
Amanda If you could do your life over again would you change the age at which you first got pregnant?
Desiree Yeah, I definitely would have wanted him when I was older but um I’m actually happy with where I’m at right now. I’m happy with everything. Everything has been going really well. I have family support too and stuff. So it’s pretty cool. I don’t regret a moment of it.
other one,” but then I think, “Hmm, maybe not.” Like, am I really ready for it. I don’t know.
Amanda And where do you see yourself in five years?
Desiree I’m going to be at Harvard University. (laughs.) No um, hopefully at a good stable job. Happy. I don’t know where I want to be in five years. In five years so much can happen. I just hope I’m in a good stable job, have my car and just be happy. I just live.
