The Art Of Becoming A Mother

 Happy Mother’s Day 5/14/2023 

This Mother’s Day I want to share my story.

I became a mother at the age of 17, I did not go on prom, did not finish high school and I thought that my life was over but it was the start of a beautiful struggle. I got my GED shortly after and I became pregnant with a second child. I went from job to job trying to figure this motherhood thing out. I became homeless somewhere along the way with 5 children staying in a shelter.

Now I am starting to feel sorry for myself and I am asking myself what the hell have I gotten myself into. I was depressed for several years and even tried taking my life…… when I finally talked about it a mother from my church prayed over me and I felt the life come back into me.

Upon the arrival of my sixth and final child I became ill; doctors did not know what was wrong with me and I had to stop working. With this new chapter in my life I felt those old feelings of sorrow creeping back into to my life and it was not until God showed me the blessing of being at home with my children. I participated in their activities at school, shared wisdom, loving on them, and teaching them about God. I could have continued to lay in the bed, but God had a greater plan for me.

I started cooking healthier food and it gave me life. I prayed more. I had the love and support of family and friends, and most of all I had my children. For the most part I raised my family as a single parent. All of my children attended college. Clarence graduated from Jackson State University with a degree in Computer Technology. Amanda graduated from Columbia College with a degree in Cinema Arts and Fiction Writing. Bryan is working on mastering Music Theory and Sound Engineering. David is currently a Video Vlogger and he learned that from an art program Ethan has certifications in Computer Technology. Faith is currently in college studying Political Science in hopes of becoming a lawyer. With all the skills they have acquired over the years, my children are on the way of doing whatever they want to do to live a life of richness, and I am happy to witness what they have decided to do.

Not a day goes by that I do not thank God for the blessing of motherhood, I could have done many things with my life but none would have been more rewarding than this.

Now I am currently finishing up a BS in Psychology and Black Studies at the University of Illinois at Chicago. I am using my wisdom and experiences to help myself and community to become self sufficient. It  was necessary for me to change my mindset in order to become who I am now. It was not easy to unlearn harmful behaviors that were embedded in my mind, My time in college has changed me and prompted me to build companies from the ground up. I am the creator of The Art of Black Psychology according to the life I have lived in America as a Black Woman.

I am sharing my story so that other mothers can know that if I can do it so can they! When people have asked me how did I do it, I say between Jesus and me, with my faith, and my children.

So, to all the mothers out their Happy Mother’s Day…. Love your children…. weather the storm…. trust God and all things will align when they are meant to.