Disclaimer: I am participating in this campaign as a member of Entertainment New Media Network. Although this is not a paid post, I was sent a small thank you gift (H2O+ Face Oasis Hydrating Treatment & Legacy Litho – Lion King Lithograph) for my participation. All opinions expressed are my own. #ShareYourLegacy
I was having such a hard time leading up to my daughters High School graduation that I couldn’t even talk about it or hear someone else mention it without crying. Welp… I will admit that I did cry at my daughters High School Graduation. It was inevitable! I was so emotional leading up to the event and the day of, that my emotions were even more pronounced. I will say that my tears are definitely tears of joy but, it’s a bittersweet feeling for me. I am so proud of my daughter and all the accomplishments she has made so far. I have always supported her and will continue to in her young adult life. I was a teen mom and got pregnant at sixteen. My daughter was born when I was seventeen. I was a senior in High School and things changed for me. I had plans that had to take a backseat to this life I had brought into this world. I’m glad I was still able to walk the stage. My estimated due date was graduation day but, she had her own plans and made her debut a few weeks early allowing me to walk the stage and graduate with my class. It was so special because she was there to see me graduate at a few weeks old. I knew I wasn’t going to get the real college experience, living on campus away from home, newly found independence along with young adult responsibilities. My picture looked a little different. My daughter was my priority and my life revolved around her.
I made plans to take classes at a local community college while working so I could provide for my daughter. Her dad was not that much older than me and he set out to establish a good living situation for his family. I grew up with my daughter. I didn’t have a manual that gave me the perfect parenting instructions but I did have a supportive family that helped me with EVERYTHING! In between my grandmother and at the time (my boyfriends mother) now my mother-in-law they would watch my daughter so I could continue to get an education and work. I had all my firsts with her, she’s the oldest of four children. She may be a little spoiled but, her father and I have only ever wanted what’s BEST for her. I have a very open and honest relationship with my daughter. She definitely respects that fact that I’m her mom but, she can come and talk to me about anything. I use to suffer from the “not my child” syndrome but, I’ve since recovered and know better when it comes to certain things. I had to go back and think about when I was a teenager, what was I doing and trying to get away with. Lol! The day my daughter graduated made me so proud! She’s NOT a teen mom, like I was! Hallelujah! We raised her right! She has beauty, brains and knows what she wants out of life. She’s going to double major in Sociology and Theater Arts. She graduated from an Arts Magnet High School.
The fact that she is my oldest child, she has seen a lot more than her siblings. Her father and I aren’t perfect and we have taught her to learn from our mistakes so she won’t make the same ones. I think she was paying attention! I recently got to move my daughter into her dorm room as she starts her college freshman year at the HBCU of her choice. My life is going to change dramatically because I’ve been with this person since birth. We’ve always lived in the same household, we’ve never been away from each other for long periods of time and she’s like one of my best friends! People ask us if we’re sisters sometimes. Ha! I’ve recorded every milestone she’s ever achieved! I’ve cried at Kindergarten, Fifth grade, Eighth grade and Twelfth grade graduation ceremonies. I even cried at her AKA Debutante Cotillion. I’m soooooo sentimental! Can you tell that I’m not quite ready to cut the umbilical chord. Lol! I get to sit back and watch her live her life, partially living out some of my dreams and having those experiences I never had as a teenager. I even had to get a bunch of my girl friends to agree to be on speed dial and patrol to keep me away from my daughters University. I’m good for popping up, just because! I know it’s where she’ll gain most of her independence and I don’t want to be a helicopter mom just hovering over her. I need to give her this space so she can blossom. I think this will be a great experience for her, it’s just so hard to step back and watch your baby grow up! I’ve shared just a piece of my legacy, what’s your legacy?
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