I am A Woman. I am a MOM.

The minute I found out I was pregnant, I began looking through articles, reading books, searching websites, and getting advice from the women in my life on how to be a mother. It wasn’t until the moment my daughter was born that I knew none of what was said or what I spent months reading mattered. This journey was personal. No one could prepare me for being my daughter's mother because no one had birthed her but me. It wasn’t easy, and it wasn’t perfect, but I did it. Every milestone she achieved made me a better woman because I did it all on my own. I saw millions of women wear the crowns of single moms, but never in a million years would I have dreamed that I would become one of them. But it is a crown I now wear with pride because, with all odds stacked against me, my daughter thrives well above average academically, socially, and athletically. Although I thrived as a single mom raising my daughter, I never imagined having to experience that journey again with my son. My journey with my son was different because when I became pregnant, I was married and thought that the man I had chosen would be in my life forever. Unfortunately, life comes at you fast, and sometimes what you think will last forever is only here for a season. I now proudly raise both of my kids as a single mom. I would never sit here and say that this journey is easy, but I will always advocate that it is the most rewarding journey in the world. Seeing my beautiful son and daughter shine so brightly in this world makes me feel like I’m the best. Being their mom gives me the confidence I need to step out in the real world and achieve all of my goals. Without them, I am nothing; with them, I am a warrior, a conqueror, and an achiever, but most importantly, I am mom.