I majored in magazine journalism in undergrad because I love telling stories. I love talking to people and hearing what they’ve been through and then using that example as a way to inspire others. I’m not working for a glossy magazine now, but I’m doing what I love and I’ve found my calling working with young mothers.
Recently, I started the hashtag #WhatAYoungMomLooksLike on Twitter to highlight some of the young moms I follow and tell why they’re awesome. Because really, who else is doing that? What other mainstream magazine/website/books are giving us our due as mothers? No one is. So we’re doing it for ourselves.
Too often when people think of a 21-year-old mother, what does that image look like? Is she successful? Is she happy? Is she secure in her role as a mother? Not usually.
I have people try to tell me that the young mothers I talk to are the exception to the rule. “The majority of young moms,” they say, “aren’t like the ones you highlight. They’re not trying to do anything; they’re lazy.”
I usually just sigh and rattle off how many young moms I know who are striving to be better, even if they aren’t where they want to be just yet. They are pushing to reach their goals, to support their family, to educate themselves and their children.
And it’s troublesome to hear that even as we are trying to climb, there are people who are scoffing that we’re not climbing fast enough or that we’re not climbing toward the right things or that we shouldn’t be allowed to get help as we climb.
My biggest goal with the #WhatAYoungMomLooksLike hashtag is to show that young mothers are MOTHERS who are young. We care just as much about the well-being of our children. We have the same concerns and some of the same needs. All we’re asking (*cue Aretha*) is for a little respect. That’s it.
Why hasn’t it occurred to them maybe the ‘lazy’ young moms they know are the exception to the rule? I hate that so many people view being a young mother in such a negative light. Is it because they’ve watched one too many episodes of Teen Mom or !6 & Pregnant? Whatever the case, i refuse to let people judge and question my ability to be a loving and responsible mother for my kids because I chose to have when I was young.
There are just as many ‘lazy’ and unfit mothers in the 30 and over age range. It’s time we start getting and demanding more respect from family, friends and the media!
I think that is a great idea! I can give a list of moms doing great things for themselves and their children. I even have friends who were teenage moms and are very successful because their kids motivate them. And now that I am mom, my drive is even more strong than it was before.
omg thank you!! I had my eldest son four days after my 20th birthday and I can’t tell you enough how judgmental people can be. I may not have all the things older mothers have, I may not of had to sit for months TRYING to have a child on purpose, but what I do have is the exact same amount of love and DRIVE. I think this is lovely!
Movie theaters once used coconut oil to pop the corn
and real butter or melted margarine for flavor.
Why do many people always prefer to download Another Year and other movies instead of
watching in theater. Although she and her siblings get plenty of
nurturing from their grandmother GG (Shirley Jones), she wants her parents to
start being normal and pay attention to the family. As for the second
problem, well, there is no way out. It does everything right
that Black Swan did wrong.