My name is Lidia Rodriguez. I am the proud mother of 2 very beautiful, sweet children. My son is Christian Bond and he is 11 years old. My daughter is Mia Bond and she is 7 years old.
My whole life, I wanted the beautiful big house with a dog, a happy marriage and, of course, beautiful children. However, my life has been an emotional rollercoaster from the moment I found out I was pregnant at the age of 22. I have been doing everything on my own since day one, having become a single mother when I was about 4 months pregnant.
At the age of 3, my son was diagnosed with autism, which turned my life upset down. By the age of 4, I found out he would possibly need brain surgery due to his chiari malformation. We went through numerous exams and specialists all on our own. By the time he was 5 years old, his father and I tried to work things out. Unfortunately, when I informed him I was pregnant again, he once again ran away. My daughter has been a blessing in my life.
My children's father and I tried working out our differences and being a family, but that was not the universe's plan for us.
My life is not close to what I had envisioned it would be back when I was young, but I would not change anything about it. My children are my beautiful angels and I would be lost without their unconditional love.
My name is Ana Colon. I am a single mom to my 14 year old daughter, Anayah Pabey Colon. I also have a 2 year old baby boy, whom I am raising as a family with his dad and Anayah, of course.
I remember as if it was yesterday the fear I felt when I discovered, at the “tender” age of 17, I was expecting a baby. In my eyes, this was a nightmare and my mom was going to kill me! Many things happened in between then and the time I gave birth to my daughter, but one sticks out. I remember a family member, after learning I was pregnant, saying, "Oh, I am not surprised. That is the style." I was also not surprised. It was what I too saw. Thinking back, I guess it was in style.
The "style" was also staying with your parents, dropping out of school and living off welfare. I did all three, then changed them all! I lived with my mom for the first 6 months of my daughter's life, then went to a shelter and have had my apartment for 12 years now. Dropped out of school? Yes, I did that too. But then went back, got my GED and graduated from Elizabeth Grady. I was able to get a job and get off government assistance, all while being a single parent. I made it my purpose to change the "style" and make it my own, well mine and hers. I was no longer alone. I am Anayah's mom and dad!
I don't think anyone sets out to be a single parent, at least I didn't. It happened because the dreams of family and love were not shared in the same fashion. I was too busy living with my rose colored glasses. Life looked and felt simple. I was in love and I was on top of the world. I was going to marry this awesome man who I admired and he adored me.
My pregnancy shattered those glasses because in reality sweet nothings were safe to whisper until real responsibility sets in. I started peeling the orange back and recognizing the facade of the person that I once loved. I couldn't recognize this man anymore, maybe he was always there. I still had hope that we would overcome; after all, we created life together.
However, the more I invested the more I kept losing a piece of myself. So I decided, that my love and my life were to valuable to waste in constant tears, depression, and heartache. I was afraid of doing it alone but I was already doing it. It's hard, but there's nothing I wouldn't do for her. I'm investing in my Queen who will know she is a powerhouse setting fires everywhere she goes!
My name is Angie and I am a single mom to an amazing little 10 month old girl. Her name is August and she was a NICU baby.
When August was 5 days old, I was sat down by a team of the world's best neurologists and shown her MRI scans from the previous night. The brain damage was massive. I was told she will never walk or talk or use her hands. She was born via ER cesarean because I was bleeding out; she had no oxygen. It took our surgeon just under five minutes to get her heart started. She was rushed to Boston Children's Hospital... I wouldn't meet her until three days later, as I was recovering at Beverly Hospital.
But. August is a miracle. She's beat the odds.
I work with her every single day, and have since the moment she came home. She has hit every single milestone and is even ahead of the game!!! I am more grateful than words can imagine.
My name is Theresa Collie. I am from Boston, MA and I am a single mother of two. My story began when I was only 16 years old and became pregnant with my son. I had no clue how I would do it all. I knew was he was here and loved him already. We had it rough from living in a shelter to renting rooms around Boston when I was 18 years old. By the time he was 4 years old, we had moved about ten times. I was and still am very ambitious; I received my GED by 19 years old and enrolled in college all while working and going through the everyday struggles of keeping the bills paid, food on the table and clothes on our backs. When I was 23 years old, I had my daughter and, again, I kept pushing. There is no big secret. I just would get up everyday and strive for myself knowing that it would benefit them. I stayed in school and working, I currently have 2 trades under my belt & I am finishing up my degree in education.
Two years ago, my son was diagnosed with a chronic illness. My life changed to where I had to take a lot of time off work and look for jobs that would work with me. I always wanted to work for myself and these circumstances pushed me to do that so, now I currently am running a business from home called "It Works," a health and wellness company. I am working on publishing my first book to share my story in hopes to educate and inspire others. Being a parent and single parent is one of the hardest jobs. I was that mom walking and on the bus in every weather with groceries hanging off my carriage. I've worked two jobs while going to school; sleeping two hrs a day. I'm the mom that's cried herself to sleep from being over-stressed and not having any help when I really need it. But, it is all worth it and storms are only temporary.
If I have a piece of advice for any single parent it would be don't ever give up on your dreams. It may take us longer, but God is a provider, a healer and knows our heart. Our sacrifices are not in vain. Because of my hardships, the most important thing to give my children is a stable and peaceful home. Strive for that and everything else will fall into place.
When I found out I was going to be a Mom, I was beyond excited. I thought to myself that my fairytale would be complete as I had found my perfect guy. We made lots of plans for our future life as a family. But, by the time my daughter was born, the story surrounding her conception had changed dramatically.
The first moment I held her in my arms, I knew without a shadow of doubt that we were going to be okay. She has been the joy of my life- an immeasurable source of love. I feel truly blessed to be a parent. The role of a single parent is not an easy one. However, the built-in rewards make it so worthwhile.
What can I say? Being the best mother I can be, and giving my only child the best life possible as a single parent is all I strive for. Yes I have my ups and downs, and at times wonder if I am a good parent, or if I'm failing miserably.
You are forced to make decisions based on their well-being. Although I might have plenty of hands to help, in many ways she is my responsibility. When she is sick, it's up to me to make it all better. If she gets bullied, how do I explain it's not her fault; show her there will be consequences if she does wrong, but also praise her for a job well done or even for just trying; help her with her struggles, but also be there for her victories?
Being able to see your child achieve things they said she wouldn't, is priceless! Chrisalisse is 17 years old and a junior in high school. Soon she will go off to college... Parenting has been/is a very tough, but also very rewarding part of my life.
God gave me the privilege to become a mother to a handsome baby boy at 35 years old, after doctors said I couldn't have kids. His name is Nathaniel Pimentel. I was in labor for three days, but it was all worth it. He was born at 12:21pm weighed 7 pounds 14 ounces, 19 inches long.
In my first year of motherhood I became a single Mom. I have gone through a roller coaster of emotions. I've felt moments of pure joy and moments of isolation. I've felt moments of defeat and glorious moments of victory. But, as the reality of ending our first year together hits, what stands out the most is the precious time I got to spend with my handsome little boy.
Those moments that I will never forget, times that I wouldn't trade for anything. Our time together is precious and left me with so many life changing memories. I know that each year as he gets older he'll become more and more independent, and time with him will be harder to come by. So, even though I know he won't remember the days, the hours and the moments we spent together these past 17 months, there are still many things I hope h'll never forget. Mommy loves you, Nathaniel.
Allow me to give you a tiny glimpse into our life, the love, the relationship, the challenges, the tears, the laughter, and the pain, the joy that makes it worth it, and the fight and determination that that gets us through it. I am a single mother, raising OUR future.
I am Danielle Parkman, 35, mother to a beautiful and brilliant 4 year old daughter named Kannon, who breathes life into me each and every day. As any single parent could attest, raising a child (ren) alone is by far the hardest challenge you will ever face. Unfortunately, single parenthood comes with many stigmas attached and even more questions. How did we end up “single”? Were we irresponsible? Lack standards? Are we difficult to deal with? Not marriage material? The world has made us feel like we have to apologize for going it alone, but what the world may not see is that to our children, we are EVERYTHING and MORE.
I don’t know about you, but I have super powers and an immeasurable amount of God’s favor that I carry in tow with me each and every day. I have the ability to wake on an instant, read minds, heal wounds, feed the hungry, sooth the crying, teach the unknowing, drive while singing, open snacks with two fingers, catch flying items in mid air, give an abundance of love, and protect by any means necessary, all while being the sole provider, financially, physically and emotionally. I am a mother! But what they seem to overlook is the doubt and the fear, the discouragement and loneliness, the frustration and the exhaustion. They don’t see you being in a hospital room with your then 4 month old and being told that she has to undergo brain surgery, and that she will need to have a device implanted for the remainder of her life, so that could live a somewhat normal life. They don’t see you fighting tears and questioning God. They don’t see you losing your mind a 100x over, while still having to be the comforter. They don’t see that, all in all, you have no choice but to keep going.
These little people depend on us. We are their only hope. We are ALL THEY HAVE. So let’s keep them healthy, happy, and thriving. It makes for a better future.
Hello, my name is Chefiatou Falana and I am the creator of Ke'efa. I am originally from Togo, West Africa but currently living in the US with my 7 year old daughter, Kekeli.
Growing up in Togo, I was always fascinated by fashion. Unfortunately, when I came to the US, this dream died because reality kicked in. I became a single mother at the age of 25. I had to sacrifice everything to invest in my child. My pregnancy moment till child birth, was the most heartbreaking moment because of the mental and emotional challenges I had been through.
As a single mother, finding the right words to answer the "whys" is always challenging. I have prayed for this cycle to stop in my bloodline, given that I was raised by my mother who was a single mother, and so was my grandmother and her mother.
Single parenting is the most challenging thing ever. It may lead to put whatever dream one has on hold until he/she finds serenity and clarity.
However, my life journey as a single mother was my source of inspiration to create my clothing line Ke'efa to support other single mothers thriving to fulfill their purpose here on earth. Through the support system in my community, I was able to achieve some goals I have set on this Parenthood journey.
I hope my story will encourage other single parents out there not to give up on their dreams, and to find the right support.
Hello my name is Catherine Moore and I am the mother of 3 year old Malachi Keith Plant.
Malachi's father and I had a unhealthy relationship from the start of my pregnancy until I gave birth. Due to the unhealthiness of the relationship, I knew it was in my best interest to raise Malachi on my own, but with the help from my parents, church family and his godparents.
I have learned that I'm not the perfect parent but I'm a strong parent. I make it a point to ensure that Malachi has all of essential needs that will help him continue and grow. My prayer every day for Malachi is that he will become a God-fearing, strong, mature man.
Single parenting is a journey I never thought I would encounter, but I determined to make this journey a great success.
I am a single mom. Growing up in a two-parent household, it was not until very recently I found pride in that title. I did not appreciate my own story. In social and business circles, afraid of the negative connotations, I was hesitant to speak of my daughter's father, then later my daughters' fathers. There was always a veil of shame that hung over me. I often wondered if people saw me as a failure, or less of a woman... less of a mother. The worst part was that, although I was working a full time job, building a meaningful career, going to college part time and successfully raising and providing for two smart, beautiful and sweet daughters, all the while I internalized that which I wondered, and knew, some people thought of me. It depressed and scared me when I only heard stories and expectations of single mothers undoubtedly raising daughters with daddy issues and sons bound for prison.
Rarely were there words of empowerment and encouragement for families like mine. Instead there were of words of judgement and sympathy. At times, it seemed the preference was I stayed in relationships that perhaps were unhealthy and even unsafe in order to avoid the stigma associated with raising two girls on my own; the stigma associated with having “baby daddies.”
However, eventually I began to look less at the stats and more at the many strong single mothers around me. They were not failing. They were not less than. They were fighting against the odds and statistics, and winning! They were raising good children, making sure they had access to everything they needed and when they came across a barrier, the tore it down and kept it moving. I was one of those women! How could I see their worth yet not my own? That is when I realized the importance of highlighting our stories.
Single parenthood may not be the ideal and rarely ever planned, and it comes with challenges like most other situations, but it is not a curse. It is not a prison sentence! It is not a generalizable statistic. I am not YOUR statistic. I am a hell of a mom. I love my daughters and do everything I can so that they grow up to be kind, strong, smart and empowered. I truly believe it is because of them I have come to achieve so much. They are my inspiration. They are my family. I am a single mom!
When I was 17 years old and became pregnant with my first child Davonte, I had no idea what I could provide for him and how I was going to obtain it. Given the many things that came with my young age, such as lack of maturity, work and life experience, along with other matters that influence bad judgment, I had very little to offer.
What I did know was that my parents instilled in me good morals, work ethic, and wisdom that would guarantee I would give it my all. I quickly realized that those attributes were in fact the essentials that would generate the well-rounded person I wanted to raise and send off into this world. I quickly grew confident that I contained good qualities to begin with, and the rest I could gain to eventually offer him a better quality of life.
My first endeavor was to complete high school and begin a career. While pursuing my dream of becoming a hairdresser, I became pregnant with my second child, Jalisse. Things grew more difficult for Davonte’s & Jalisse's father and I, causing our relationship to become extremely unhealthy. We decided to part ways, making it even more difficult for me to uphold a family and home all alone.
Things became extremely challenging for me, which encouraged me to seek personal and professional growth. I wanted to gain qualities that placed morality first and would inspire good judgment, emotional intelligence, and healthy relationships for a better life. Furthermore, I desired the work/life experience that was crucial for me to land opportunities in the labor market that could also contribute to a better life.
During this journey of complete consciousness of how my choices and behavior would impact my children, I have exceeded my own expectations and have grown at a much greater capacity than I anticipated. By the grace of God and His answers to my prayers, my family and I have been able to accomplish beyond any dreams we could have imagined for ourselves.
We have accomplished academically, financially, emotionally, and relational goals. We are people of compassion, value, and strength. We challenge the status quo, swim against the current to provoke deep thoughts and emotions. We leave our print wherever we go and in the hearts we touch. My children make me very proud in the many ways they are unique and profound.
