Another flower arranging therapy Reel, this time w Another flower arranging therapy Reel, this time with roses and a little Stevie Wonder. I could do this all day! 🌹 #traderjoes #flowers #roses #therapy #selfcare
Mimosas, beignets, and Benedicts, oh my! Brunch is Mimosas, beignets, and Benedicts, oh my! Brunch is my absolute favorite meal and @louieswinedive in Clayton treated us so well! I will definitely be back. 

#brunch #stl #stlouis #food #stlfoodie #hosted
Brunch vibes. #latergram #brunch #stl #stlouis Brunch vibes. #latergram #brunch #stl #stlouis
A generous heart is always open, always ready to r A generous heart is always open, always ready to receive our going and coming. In the midst of such love, we need never fear abandonment. This is the most precious gift true love offers – the experience of knowing we always belong.” — bell hooks
One more week before she goes back to school for h One more week before she goes back to school for her second semester. Reppin #stl and @seriessixcompany. 

#stlouis #collegekid #stlmade #mykid
Flower arranging has become the self-care I didn’t know I needed. It’s a tranquil and relaxing experience for me. Get into it. 💐 #traderjoes #flowers #therapy #selfcare
It was about a mellow mood & self-care for me toda It was about a mellow mood & self-care for me today as I spent the first day of the year taking care of my mind, body, and soul. It went something like this…. #newyear #selfcare #overforty #fortyish
We made it a family night at @stlouiswheelpark. A We made it a family night at @stlouiswheelpark. A time was had and memories were made. Grateful that I got some extra days with these guys (thanks Southwest—now run my son back his reimbursement 😂).
My family gifted me $250 worth of Sephora gift car My family gifted me $250 worth of Sephora gift cards as one of my Christmas surprises. Take a look at my haul which includes makeup for oily skin and a some faves! #sephora #haul #skin #oilyskin #beautyproducts #overforty #midlifewomen
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Family Ties, Holidays, On A Personal Note, Parent's Just Don't Understand, The 18 yr old · May 11, 2012

From Teen Mom to Dream Mom: Mother’s Day Has A Whole New Meaning To Me


I was 19 years old in this picture. My son was 7 months (1994)

Eighteen years ago this past April, I gave birth to my wonderful son, Codi. When I tell you that I was not prepared for motherhood, I couldn’t be realer. I was 17 when I got pregnant, and 18 when I gave birth. I was still wet behind the ears, I was a child myself. And here I was, now caring for someone else. I was frustrated. I was distraught. I was through. And yet, every time I saw his face, I knew that it was bigger than me.

I owed it to him to give him the best life I could, regardless of my age. We struggled a lot, but we always had a roof over our heads. I maintained steady jobs and later went to school. I wasn’t the June Cleaver that I felt I should’ve been, and yet, in each picture of my son when he was younger, he was always smiling and happy (don’t mind the picture to your left, LOL). God helped me so much during that time, and without him, I don’t know how I would’ve made it. My family was also supportive, especially my father who was instrumental in being a great dad and grandfather emotionally and financially.

Me, my daughter (age 4), and my son (14) his freshman year

I was a Teen Mom before the reality show, before the After School specials, and before the Lifetime movies. On one hand, I had no idea what I was doing. But on the other hand, I did what I had to do for me and my baby to survive. I was single with virtually no help from his father, and yet, we made it through. I kept following that light at the end of the tunnel until it was so brilliant, I had to squint my eyes.

Now that little boy is 18 and graduating high school in just a few days. It was me and him against the world for years. And now he is going on his own and making his own way.

When my son was 9 and a half, I gave birth to my daughter, The Chicklet. I got married and we became one big family. But the bond that my son and I had remained strong, despite him becoming and teen and sometimes rebelling. He gets that I haven’t been the best mom, but he also appreciates everything I have done for him despite the obstacles that were before me.

I was supposed to be the woman with a whole bunch of kids with several baby daddies, on welfare, living in public housing. This was what people told me I would amount to as a teen mom. I wasn’t told what I could do, what I could be. There were times that I didn’t think I was going to make it.

Here he is all grown up!

Faith is amazing. When you have it, you understand those can’ts, but you try anyway because you know that you can. Faith allows you to believe in something greater than you. And with that knowledge, there is no limit to what you can do.

So, I wasn’t (and I am still not) the perfect mom. But I love both of my kids more than anything. And despite being a statistic, I challenged it and made something happen.

Now my son is getting ready to soar on his own. And I am so freaking proud!

I went from Teen Mom to Dream Mom. There’s a lot of us out there that took a negative and made it a positive as it relates to being a parent. And to all of you, I salute you. If no one tells you how special you are, let the facts show that you are.

YOU ARE A GIFT.

Happy Mother’s Day to all the moms, no matter the circumstances, the consequences, the roadblocks, the bad days, the stress, the worry, the fear, the lack of appreciation, the heartaches, the letdowns, the tears. Being a mom is the best job on the earth. And you are a DREAM MOM.

Pass it on…


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In: Family Ties, Holidays, On A Personal Note, Parent's Just Don't Understand, The 18 yr old · Tagged: children, Happy Mother's Day, high school, high school graduation, kids, Mother's Day, parenthood, parenting, Teen Mom, teen moms

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Comments

  1. glamazini says

    May 15, 2012 at 6:48 pm

    Great post hun! Congratulations on raising your son well no matter what people told you in your past. You keep doing what you do and God will keep blessing it. 🙂

    Reply

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Another flower arranging therapy Reel, this time w Another flower arranging therapy Reel, this time with roses and a little Stevie Wonder. I could do this all day! 🌹 #traderjoes #flowers #roses #therapy #selfcare
Mimosas, beignets, and Benedicts, oh my! Brunch is Mimosas, beignets, and Benedicts, oh my! Brunch is my absolute favorite meal and @louieswinedive in Clayton treated us so well! I will definitely be back. 

#brunch #stl #stlouis #food #stlfoodie #hosted
Brunch vibes. #latergram #brunch #stl #stlouis Brunch vibes. #latergram #brunch #stl #stlouis
A generous heart is always open, always ready to r A generous heart is always open, always ready to receive our going and coming. In the midst of such love, we need never fear abandonment. This is the most precious gift true love offers – the experience of knowing we always belong.” — bell hooks
One more week before she goes back to school for h One more week before she goes back to school for her second semester. Reppin #stl and @seriessixcompany. 

#stlouis #collegekid #stlmade #mykid
Flower arranging has become the self-care I didn’t know I needed. It’s a tranquil and relaxing experience for me. Get into it. 💐 #traderjoes #flowers #therapy #selfcare
It was about a mellow mood & self-care for me toda It was about a mellow mood & self-care for me today as I spent the first day of the year taking care of my mind, body, and soul. It went something like this…. #newyear #selfcare #overforty #fortyish
We made it a family night at @stlouiswheelpark. A We made it a family night at @stlouiswheelpark. A time was had and memories were made. Grateful that I got some extra days with these guys (thanks Southwest—now run my son back his reimbursement 😂).
My family gifted me $250 worth of Sephora gift car My family gifted me $250 worth of Sephora gift cards as one of my Christmas surprises. Take a look at my haul which includes makeup for oily skin and a some faves! #sephora #haul #skin #oilyskin #beautyproducts #overforty #midlifewomen
It’s #giveaway time! Enter to win 2 silk pillowc It’s #giveaway time! Enter to win 2 silk pillowcases from @celestialsilk made of 100% mulberry silk. Sleep better in the new year and take care of you! Entry detail link in bio. #selfcare #sleeping #newyear #review
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