"Nothing Can Stop Her"

Daughter of Teenage Mom

Last month, we featured Songa and Clarissa who both had pregnancies. They beat the odds!  According to statistics, teenage pregnancy results in 40% of teenage girls dropping out of school and doomed for failure. Both of these women have pursued their Master's Degree and have children who are quite successful. We bring Victoria: by Victoria C. Brady, edited by Dr. Vivian R. Jones, MS.Ed, DDiv.

The little girl, Victoria

Amazingly, I have the opportunity to write a story about my experience as the daughter of a teen mom. While I do not condone nor encourage teen pregnancy I recognize that we often hear stories about teen moms but not too often from the perspective of the child that was raised by teenagers. So I want to thank Jacqueline Miller for her work of providing the platform for people to share stories that can inspire and encourage others. This is also what I hope to do in telling the story of my mom and my experience as the daughter of a teenager.

My mom Vivian had me at the tender age of 15 years old in the year 1964. Unlike today, having a baby at that age was not widely accepted.  In fact, teen pregnancies back then were often kept hush-hush and often ended in abortion or with the adoption of the child. According to my mother, efforts were made by my beloved grandmother to put me up for adoption. Back then the thinking was, having a baby would ruin a young girl’s life. Like any good mother, my grandmother was trying to protect her daughter and wanted the best for her.  But as it would go at that time, my mother who was an A student at Dunbar High School was expelled from school due to the pregnancy. She was labeled and many people predicted that she would end up on welfare with a house full of babies. My grandmother arranged for a social worker to speak with my mother about the possibility of adoption. The social worker assessed that my mom would be very capable of raising a child and strongly recommended that she keep me. My mom insisted that she wanted to keep me and my grandmother reluctantly agreed. 

Against all odds, looking back 46 years later I can see very clearly that my mom did a superb job of raising me. I am so very proud of her. These odds were significantly minimized as my grandmother, grandfather, and other family provided much needed support to my strong-willed mom and me. It is so funny for me to share that my grandmother considered having me adopted. As close as we were before she went home to be with God, one would never know this.  In fact, even I did not know this for many years. Like my mom and I, my grandmother and I were joined at the hip!

My mom did end up on welfare, but not for long.  She used the system the way it was intended; a means of support until she could sustain herself.  She did get pregnant a year after my birth but she miscarried. Today, she is the mother of two, and my brother Eddie (Vance) and I are 15 years apart, as is she and I. 

                When I was about 8 years old I began to realize how my smart my mom was and I began to bug her about going back to school. I would say, “Rose you are so smart, you should go back to school.”  I wouldn’t let up and eventually my mom, a former resident of Robert Taylor Homes (the projects) obtained her G.E.D.  She went on to receive her Associates Degree, Bachelor of Science, Masters of Education with an emphasis on Counseling, and an Honorary Doctorate of Divinity Degree. This came with years of turmoil, hardship, sacrifice, but yet countless Blessings.

                My mom was severely stereotyped and pretty much written off as a person who would not amount to much. I believe there were times that she may have felt she blew her chance at success (whatever that is).  But I never felt that she would amount to nothing. She was just so smart and intelligent.  But be that as it was, she poured her heart into teaching me to be confident and always believe in myself even when couldn’t do the same for herself.  It is she who taught me a strong sense of self-confidence and I still carry it with me today.  Admittedly, my dad also kicked in on this sense of confidence too.

                My mother was (and still is) very nurturing and always looked out for me.  She worked her way through jobs at places like Woolworths, Bon Witt Taylor, The Chicago Police Department, South Side Medical Clinic, Stratton Mental Health, and on to The Illinois Department of Children and Services (DCFS), as well many others.  Most of this time, she was single and also working her way through school. Today, she is a minister and also the Founder/CEO of ABJ Community Services, Inc which is one of Chicago’s leading social service organizations.

                As for me the daughter of this teen, I lived in the projects as a younger child. Because we lived with my grandparents I called them momma and daddy. I called my parents by their first names, Rose and Albert. I was almost always around family. Because my mom had me at such a young age my younger uncles felt more like brothers to me. We were a tight knit family. I can honestly say in my view of the bigger picture my mom did as well a job of raising me as a full grow adult could have. I was well cared for and loved. My mom saw to it that I had the best that she could offer and that was pretty darned good.

Tune in tomorrow and read the rest of Victoria's story as well as her journey as a
"Dream-Girls".

Victoria will be the special guest on Rare Talk with Jacqueline, Tuesday November 16th @7pm. Topic is "Why Blair Holt".  More about Blair.

As you can see, Blair's mom is giving and caring.  She spoke about giving away his shoes.  

Rare Talk with Jacqueline joined CHARM Mentoring & Outreach Service, Inc. in volunteering at Share Your Soles. 

Here are pictures.

 

 

 

 

 

 

Together with CHARM, we helped to prevent approximately 100 children and adults from pasting tar on their feet!

Rare Talk with Jacqueline lands its first radio interview Saturday November 20th @11am! Stay tuned.

Thanks for visiting. Talk to you later!