tribal people
Unconditional love
nov. 9, 2016
Junior Nydia Nixon admires her one-yearold daughter, Taniya, as she reaches out towards the photographer. Nixon plans to join the military and work toward a career as a detective. “Just keep striving,” she said.
S
David Carico
Circulation editor
Sitting in a delivery room, laying in bed alone surrounded by nurses, doctors and equipment. Consumed by a fearful anxiety waiting for a child to be born and change her life -- the life of a 15 year old -- forever. On Oct, 24, 2015, holding her newborn daughter Taniya for the first time, Junior Nydia Nixon felt emotions all mothers share despite her challenging situation. “It was amazing, it was wonderful, I felt a full body shock,” she said. “All I could think was, oh my God, this is my baby.” Almost a year after the birth of her daughter Taniya, Nydia showed the same love and excitement as she did that day. In that delivery ward, Nydia was able to avoid the depth of her situation. “At the hospital it was easy because they were getting me everything I need and taking care of me and Taniya. I loved the hospital,” she said. I had all these people around me saying, ‘Oh can I hold the baby? Oh do you need help? And then I’m home and I got to take care of this baby by myself.” At her home was where her situation and the stress of childcare became a reality -- the reality being she was 15, a parent and not quite ready to be a mother. The reality of growing up in a home with several siblings who rely on her and call her name right after they call their mom’s.
But she wouldn’t do it alone. She had the support of her family and her school. What almost every teenage high school drama reality show has taught this generation is that a teenage pregnancy is accidental, followed by shameful shunning from classmates and an overwhelming struggle with becoming an adult too soon. But Nydia’s story wasn’t one aired on an episode of Degrassi. “Well Lincoln was small so we were like a family,” said Nixon, who moved to Wando this year as part of the combining of the two schools. “Everyone was there for me and everyone was happy for me.” While at school Nydia had the support of her classmates and her daughter Taniya had the support of her aunt and her father’s mother at the daycare where they worked. In 2015, 75 percent of teen pregnancies in the United states were classified as unplanned, accidental. But to Nydia, her daughter was no accident. “I wouldn’t call it an accident, but no I did not plan on becoming pregnant. A baby is a blessing no matter the situation,” said Nixon, who is currently taking culinary as part of her school activities. Every time Nixon mentioned her daughter, a smile lit up her face. It was clear her words were sincere and contained unconditional motherly love.
“
“Oh… She is bad! She’s so active and loves to smile. Always trying to walk, she’s just like a lil baby,” she said. “It’s so funny because I can tell when she’s learning new things and it makes me think of how maybe I was when I was a little baby.” Nixon said it did take awhile to adjust to the idea of being a mother. “A baby is a blessing, so it wasn’t like I was shocked,” she said, “but I was definitely upset since I was young and having a baby.” Having a baby is not easy, Nixon said, but she is dealing with it. While she said she was irresponsible before Taniya, now that she is a mother, she thinks about all of her decisions because her choices in life now not only affect her but affect her daughter, too. “Because of my baby, if someone’s having a party or something my new rule for myself is if my baby can’t go I can’t go,” she said. “That rule helps me stay out of trouble.” Nixon’s story opened with her anxious feeling toward the uncertainty of the delivery of her child and the overwhelming responsibilities of being a parent. However, she has embraced being a parent. And setting an example to others in her position. “The way I look at it is don’t let a baby prevent you from being successful and doing what you want to do, and what I want to do is join the military after high school, and work to be a homicide detective,” she said. “Just keep striving.”
A baby is a blessing no matter the situation.
“
Birth of daughter gives teen mother new perspective
Lucy Johnson // photo
06
Junior Nydia Nixon