Ashley Salazar, who recently released a very honest, well-written book accounting her decision to give up her baby for adoption to her aunt and uncle, and had the experience documented on MTV’s 16 & Pregnant, is now dating her baby’s father again!
Ashley was kind enough to speak to us about the new development in her life. She started dating Justin Lane again about two weeks ago, already there are rumors stirring that now Ashley and Justin are going to try to get custody of Callie back. That’s also the number one rumor they want to shoot down.
Ashley told us: “I think the only thing that I want to make clear is that I am not with Justin to regain custody of Callie. I and WE would never, ever do that. No way! She is so well taken care of.”
Whoever started this rumor must not be familiar with Catelynn and Tyler, who have stayed together throughout their adoption experience, and also fully understand all the wonderful and heartbreaking truths of what adoption means for them. Just because Ashley and Justin haven’t been together the whole time doesn’t mean that the don’t understand what Catelyn and Tyler understand.
As for the recent romance with Justin (who is a talented artist, BTW; he draws a mean Marilyn Monroe, and has been working on a portrait of Callie. Callie has writing AND drawing in her genes,) Ashley said:
“Justin and I started out talking just as friends for a while. We’ve only been officially together for about 2 weeks or so. It’s so new.”
Because Justin wasn’t supportive when Ashley was pregnant (according to her book, Bittersweet Blessing, Justin told people at school that Ashley was lying that she was pregnant, and even that she got pregnant on purpose.) Ashley’s family isn’t exactly ecstatic about Ashley rekindling her romance with Justin.
“My family is having trouble because they don’t really approve of what happened in the past, so they are honestly really disappointed in me. It’s hard on both of us, but he’s trying to prove to them with time that it won’t be the same. I pray that it will get better with time.”
Ashley says that “it definitely helps to be able to talk to someone ‘sort of’ on my page,” about her experience with and feelings about Callie.
Justin had broken up with Ashley a month before she found out she was pregnant, and the baby was conceived after they broke up (they had only been “officially” together for about two months.) As she states in the book “It was one of those things that just kind of happens after you break up, but leaves you feeling even worse.” The night she found out she was pregnant Ashley’s mom convinced her to call Justin and let him know. Despite her fears, Justin was supportive and told her “everything would be okay.” However, by the next day he had distinctly cooled to Ashley and basically got as far out of her life as possible. He was 18, and Ashley was 17, and though it wasn’t excusable, that’s not an uncommon reaction for teen dads to have. He graduated from high school before Ashley, and eventually got kicked out of his house. Before Ashley gave birth, he met with Ashley and asked for her forgiveness. MTV even filmed Justin going to sign the adoption papers, but it didn’t make Ashley’s 16 & Pregnant episode.
Even though they went through an incredibly rough patch while Ashley was pregnant, Justin is deeply sorry now, and only wants to treat Ashley with love and respect. Here’s the touching statement he made to Starcasm:
I do feel bad for the things I said a few years ago while she was pregnant. It took me the things I went through in the last couple years to realize the immaturity I had and I wish I could take it back and be there for her while she was pregnant.
All I can do now is be there for her now and give her all the love I possibly can and we love each other so much. And we’ve grown from the things in the past. All we can do is move forward and hope for the best. And I feel good about the future with us.
Looks like Justin’s has made quite a change, and as long as he treats Ashley right, we’re happy for them.
Life is often not just one thing or another, it’s complicated. And it’s often bittersweet.
For more info buy Ashley Salazar’s book Bittersweet Blessings, and visit her blog. Follow her on Twitter @ashleyslzr
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