Tiger PAWS Fall 2012

Base as a food service specialist in one of the dining facilities.

My son’s father and I were living in an efficiency, which is a small apartment with one room, a restroom, and a single closet. I was barely speaking to my family, and my life was just going downhill fast. I remember feeling as if I had no place to go, no one to turn to. I didn’t care about a thing in this world. All I knew was that it was my life, and I lived it however I pleased.

The day I found out I was pregnant with my son, I had mixed emotions. I had no idea what lay ahead. I knew I was going to keep him; I had to be responsible for my actions. I started to talk to my family more. I was trying to get my life together. I thought that as a mother, I had to look, act, and speak as a mother. My pregnancy went by so fast. I remember all the organization I had to do just to prepare to bring another life into this world. I was trying my hardest; my love for my son grew so deeply.

When he was born, I knew just seeing his face was my wake up call. I knew it was time to start acting like an adult, time to get my life together. I enrolled myself in high school; I was doing so well. For once, my life was full of happiness. I could actually picture my future, and I knew it was going to be bright. My son seemed to motivate me in ways never done before. I believed I was prepared for anything life threw at me.

Then, everything went downhill. I have no idea why; it just did. One morning I walked into the kitchen, and then I went 41