A Mother's Perspective

As I am writing this I sit here and watch my daughters sleep. They look so peaceful, just taken away by dreamland it seems. Finally peace and quiet after a long day's work.

Things are not always this nice and quiet, though I wish it was! There are days where I encounter runny noses, diarrhea diapers, tantrums, jealousy, nonstop eating or no appetite at all, but most importantly everyday I encounter their love and they encounter mine.

I am a single mother of two girls: Aleah who is 2, and Julissia who is almost 1. I go to school, then straight to work. Then I get my kids and take care of them. This is a daily routine for us. Sometimes it is very hard, frustrating, and exhausting!! I still wouldn’t trade being a mother for the world.

It is not easy. It is not easy becoming a mother at any age or time. Single, married, 16, 35, whatever your situation may be, there are always going to be hardships. It is all worth it in the end!

Aleah just had a colonoscopy today and boy has it been rough. The “liquid diet" the day before, the day of the surgery, the recovery process. Man, oh man is it hard for a two year old to go through! Then there is me, her mother, who is there by her side supporting her through everything. Hearing her scream “Mommy" while they took her back to the OR and when she first woke up from the anesthesia. All of this while also dealing with a cranky teething infant. I still wouldn’t give any of this up.

There are times where I am so exhausted in the morning and want to turn my alarm off and just stay in bed all day! Then I roll over and look at who I do it for each and every day. My inspirations, the ones who call me Mommy.

See, I had my first daughter at 16 going on 17. I was a junior in high school. I finished my junior year and got pregnant again over the summer with my now almost one year old daughter. I had not one, but two kids at 17 years old. Yes 17 years old. I did not turn 18 until a month after having Julissia.

I got shamed for it by most family and friends. A lot of people wanted me to get an abortion and told me I was just throwing my life away. I did believe them at a point in time and considered it, but I came to the realization they were wrong. I beat the stereotype and proved everyone wrong.

I did not drop out like “every other teen mom" (which is not true). I did take a year off of school. I was supposed to graduate class of 2017. I did not. I am set to graduate a month and a half from today with 6 college credits that stick with me FOR LIFE.

My kids pushed me to do better. My kids are the reason I worked so hard to get where I am now. They are the reason I’m continuing to go even further. They motivated me as they do each and every day. Even with all the struggles we face I will never give up. Not on myself or on them. Sometimes I feel like my life is ruined as some people say, but then I look at my girls and think that really my life has just begun. I give them as much as I can now but one day I will be able to give them the world.

To my daughters, never give up. To my fellow single moms out there, never give up. To the single dads out there, never give up. To anyone reading this, NEVER GIVE UP. We go through things in life for a reason and I’ve come to realize that as I’ve gotten older.

I never imagined my life to be this way. I know this is how it was meant to plan out or it wouldn’t have. My journey is not over. Neither is yours or my daughters. So again to my daughters thank you. Thank you for shaping me into the amazing young woman I’ve become today. Thank you for showering me with hugs and kisses whenever I walk in the door. The “night night mommy love you" means so much when it comes from such a soft, angelic voice. I promise to continue to do right by you girls and shape you into an even better woman than I am.