How beautiful. What a herculean journey. Your perseverance must be your super power, because you definitely have it. And your Paris pancake looked divine!!!! So glad for you. And best of luck w/ your memoir.
Of everything I read on this platform, THIS was probably the most relatable. I was every single one of those bullet points in your story except mine started at 18, not 17. I too, felt the judgey glances from randos at the shopping mall, over a 19 year old pushing a stroller. I felt my high school friends slip away because they were all clubbin' while I was motherin'. I only had one friend I could relate to...we met when we were both 19 and about to give birth. Our sons were born 3 months apart and we stayed friends for many years.
As you know, my story didn't turn out as happily as yours. He would be 32 today if he still existed but as you said, being a young, single mother made me into the woman I am and have been for all these years. And I wouldn't trade my "mom" years for anything. 😊
This is so beautiful! It’s a gift given not only to the young moms but to the children they gave birth to. I am one of the latter. Hearing and reading your extraordinary journey grabs my attention and resonates with my imagining of my own deceased birth mother’s thoughts and wishes. Thank you for writing! Thank you for your determination and strength to resist the negative that surrounded you. You are a wondrous gift to many.
Thanks for the comment, Kathy. Lately, it seems like a particularly important gift to be able to speak up for these moms - and as you mention, speak up for their kids by proxy. Just this week I've seen several posts on social media where the sentiment is essentially that teen moms should forever be ashamed of themselves. Really?? Really I should live in shame forever, about having sex and having a baby? About choosing to carry my child, even though I was young? Really, my child should also live in shame forever for being the product of this? That is ludicrous. My son, and you too Kathy, are evidence of the incredible humans that come from slightly messy beginnings. To me, this is something to celebrate, not something to hide in the closet out of shame. Thank you for the gift that you are Kathy! 💗
I enjoyed your post. I'm also very interested in the welfare of teen moms. My memoir is about teaching science at a campus designed to meet specific needs of pregnant and parenting teen girls. They were my heart ❤️
How beautiful. What a herculean journey. Your perseverance must be your super power, because you definitely have it. And your Paris pancake looked divine!!!! So glad for you. And best of luck w/ your memoir.
Thanks for your kind and encouraging words! 💗 🙏 And yess the pancake was even better than it looks!! 🥞 🍓
Well-said
Of everything I read on this platform, THIS was probably the most relatable. I was every single one of those bullet points in your story except mine started at 18, not 17. I too, felt the judgey glances from randos at the shopping mall, over a 19 year old pushing a stroller. I felt my high school friends slip away because they were all clubbin' while I was motherin'. I only had one friend I could relate to...we met when we were both 19 and about to give birth. Our sons were born 3 months apart and we stayed friends for many years.
As you know, my story didn't turn out as happily as yours. He would be 32 today if he still existed but as you said, being a young, single mother made me into the woman I am and have been for all these years. And I wouldn't trade my "mom" years for anything. 😊
This is so beautiful! It’s a gift given not only to the young moms but to the children they gave birth to. I am one of the latter. Hearing and reading your extraordinary journey grabs my attention and resonates with my imagining of my own deceased birth mother’s thoughts and wishes. Thank you for writing! Thank you for your determination and strength to resist the negative that surrounded you. You are a wondrous gift to many.
Thanks for the comment, Kathy. Lately, it seems like a particularly important gift to be able to speak up for these moms - and as you mention, speak up for their kids by proxy. Just this week I've seen several posts on social media where the sentiment is essentially that teen moms should forever be ashamed of themselves. Really?? Really I should live in shame forever, about having sex and having a baby? About choosing to carry my child, even though I was young? Really, my child should also live in shame forever for being the product of this? That is ludicrous. My son, and you too Kathy, are evidence of the incredible humans that come from slightly messy beginnings. To me, this is something to celebrate, not something to hide in the closet out of shame. Thank you for the gift that you are Kathy! 💗
I enjoyed your post. I'm also very interested in the welfare of teen moms. My memoir is about teaching science at a campus designed to meet specific needs of pregnant and parenting teen girls. They were my heart ❤️
Wow, what a beautiful niche you have. 💗
I would really love to keep in touch! My fingers are crossed for you - I would love to see your book on bookshelves soon! 📖
I agree it would be nice to stay in touch. I'm eager to read your memoir as well.