I Believe My Son Is My Hero

When I was a junior in high school, I had a lot of things going for me; I was smart, I was in almost every sport, and had a great group of friends. I practically had no worries in the world, until right after volleyball season when I found out I was going to be a mother. I was terrified; I didn’t know how I was going to raise a baby, how to tell me mom, then keep up with school. However, I strongly believe my son was and still is my hero.

As the months began to pass my stomach began to grow and things that used to be so simple were beginning to become obstacles. The whispers started as I would walk to each class, attended every assembly, and even awards ceremony.

I began to doubt my abilities, and slowly drifted away, needing time for myself. Even with the rumors floating behind me, I kept up with school, my health, and personal responsibilities. It wasn’t until my son was born that I felt like I had a real purpose. It may sound unusual, but he gave me a reason to be better, be stronger, not just for me, but for us. I didn’t want him to have the stereotypical story of a teenage mother. I wanted to give him someone to be proud of and show him what I was capable of.

There are a couple of television shows to show how easy or hard being a teenage mother can be. There are different situations; some people have help and some people don’t, some people have support and some have very little. My son’s father left when he was a month old, I guess it was too much to handle. I told myself I would manage and give him double the support and triple the love. I’m not saying being a young mother is a smart thing to do because if it were my choice I would have waited so I could give him some of the things I can’t give him now. Yet, I have no regrets, my son has always been my extra push, and he’s my motivation that never gives up on me.

I had my baby July 16, 2008, the summer before my senior year. It was hard not doing all the things the average teenager could. I was lucky to have a very supportive family and a group of friends who treated my son as their own. I was also lucky to have this bundle of joy to need me as much as I needed him. I can’t explain the way he made me feel. He spoke to me and encouraged me with no words at all. When he’s older, I am going to tell him what he did for me without even knowing. I’m going to tell him my good times and the bad, but most importantly, I’ll tell him my senior year was the best year I have ever had and I wouldn’t trade it for anything in the world. Not only did I also make my mother proud with all my hard work, but I was able to walk the stage and look in the crowd and see my mother holding my son, with my son wearing a shirt that said, “My mommy is the 2009 Salutatorian.”