It was hard being the oldest of five and i could see how being a single mom was to my mother. She is the sweetest and most gentle woman I've ever known and I couldn’t have a better mom. She still does what needs to care for my brother who is autistic. I also help her with him as well and even with her sickness, she stays strong and keeps going and that inspires me every day to keep my strength and work hard to give my baby a better life. Now that I'm a single mother I feel what she went through and it has made me stronger and believe in myself. It wasn’t the goal to be a single mother, but i had to get away from the domestic violence i experienced while i was still pregnant with my child. I changed myself so much. Before i found out i was pregnant, i was the friend who slept on your couch and did nothing with my life. Knowing i was pregnant made me realize i couldn’t do that anymore. I had to step up as an adult and do better so my child can live a good life. I will not allow my daughter to struggle and miss out on life as my mom and sisters did. Im pursuing my education to give a better life for her and myself. I like to teach my child that education is the secret to a better life. She’s four now and loves to read books. I am currently working on my associates degree in billing and coding, i work and take care of my brother, and every day still try to find time to spend with my baby by end of day.

It was hard being the oldest of five and i could see how being a single mom was to my mother. She would have to take money from one bill to pay the other, get food from church because we had none, and sometimes sacrifice her whole day to take us back and forth to appointments and wherever we wanted to go. My mom is the type of person to not give up and to make sure even if she has nothing, that we had everything we needed. She doesn’t know, but sometimes i’d hear her crying in her room because she stressed or tired and as the older child it made me want to contribute and realize that i should appreciate her more. When she would go to work, i would make sure the kids eat, do their homework, and are clean and in bed before she comes home from work so she has nothing to stress about when she gets there. My mom deserves so much better than the life she lived and experienced. She is the sweetest and most gentle woman I've ever known and I couldn’t have a better mom. She still does what needs to care for my brother who is autistic. I also help her with him as well and even with her sickness, she stays strong and keeps going and that inspires me every day to keep my strength and work hard to give my baby a better life. Now that I'm a single mother I feel what she went through and it has made me stronger and believe in myself. It wasn’t the goal to be a single mother, but i had to get away from the domestic violence i experienced while i was still pregnant with my child. I changed myself so much. Before i found out i was pregnant, i was the friend who slept on your couch and did nothing with my life. Knowing i was pregnant made me realize i couldn’t do that anymore. I had to step up as an adult and do better so my child can live a good life. I will not allow my daughter to struggle and miss out on life as my mom and sisters did. Im pursuing my education to give a better life for her and myself. I like to teach my child that education is the secret to a better life. She’s four now and loves to read books.