Yeah, that's me. Working it in the Hart Senate Office Building.
Wow.
Let me just say to you all that we (young moms) are not alone. There are so many people in this country who are working on behalf of our issues, to make sure we have what we need to succeed. This is awesome.
I will try to give you a brief overview today, with more details coming throughout the next week. But just know this – we will succeed. We will make it, because we have an army of supporters who are dedicated to making sure we have the best chance at a powerful and enpowered life.
WEDNESDAY
We got to our hotel – the GOREGOUS Lorien Hotel & Spa in Alexandria, Virginia shortly after 8 a.m. {If you’re in the D.C. area, I would recommend this hotel. It’s sleek and modern and the food was delicious.}
It's the little things that make me happy. My name on the TV's welcome menu.
I walked in the meeting room, not knowing what to expect. Everyone there seemed to already know each other. I looked for Jeannette Pai-Espinosa, the most down-to-earth executive director I’d ever met, who personally invited me on the trip after I sent a simple e-mail asking for advice for my book. I found her and hugged her, as she had no idea how much this meant to me. I also squealed when I met Jessie, director of agency relations and communication. She was as awesome in person as she was through our e-mails exchanged prior to the trip.
Then the day began. We wasted no-time getting to the nitty-gritty, discussing pending legislation that affected young women and girls. We also received training for our Capitol Hill visits taking place the next day. I was scheduled to meet with a staffer from Sen. George Voinovich’s office, and I planned to discuss including services for pregnant and parenting young women in the reauthorization of the Elementary and Secondary Education Act.
Confession time: I was crazy nervous. Never been invited to do anything like this. Would I screw it up? Would I get tongue-tied and the staffer would roll her eyes and say, “Um, okay, honey, come back when you’ve got your big girl panties on.”
*sigh*
The rest of the day was overview of isssues on the state level, most of which was overwhelming to me. So many stats and figures being thrown around – definitely information overload. I’ll get into more details about the details (heh) in a later post.
We ended the day at Hard Times Cafe. This place was like something out of Diners, Drive-ins & Dives. Definitely a hometown vibe and the food was excellent.
I had the ribs. Oh so good.
After we stuffed ourselves silly, I went back to the room to revise my remarks for the reception Thursday evening. Jeannette asked me to say a few words and I knew the other speakers (Lisette Orellana, alumnae of the PEARLS program and mother at 15; and Lalita Booth, former runaway turned Harvard scholar) were going to be amazing. I tried to dig deep and come up with something inspiring, yet true to myself. I didn’t have that emotionally gripping background that the other speakers did, but I had my passion for young moms. I hoped that would be enough.
THURSDAY
This was it. Today was the day I transformed into the take-no-prisoners, I-don’t-care-that-your-Senator-has-to-figure-out-health-care-right-now, listen-to-me-darn-it! woman I always thought I’d become.
Trying to smile even though I was super nervous!
Okay, so not quite, but it was a huge step for me to look a congressional staffer in the eye and say, “Young parenting women need support if they are going to become productive members of our workforce. Without the proper supports in place, these young women and their families can become mired in the cycle of poverty that is almost impossible to climb your way out of.” I’m proud of myself and grateful to Jeannette for allowing me the opportunity to flex my muscles.
After the Hill visit (yes, I had only one), we went to grab some lunch at Union Station while waiting for my sister to join us. Did you know how cool the folks at the National Crittenton Foundation are? In between Hill visits and the reception, they treated us to massages. I almost fell asleep during mine!
Then it came time to walk over to the reception for the Young Mothers @ The Margin {http://www.atthemargin.org} campaign. As soon as I get the video from the event, I’ll post it. (Or not. Hopefully I look as relaxed as I remember feeling. LOL)
I was really proud of myself, because for all the back and forth I felt about what I was going to say, when I actually got up to the podium to speak, I spoke from the heart. I went off script. And I LOVED IT. I was able to say what I truly felt and how the issues pertaining to young mothers make me passionate like almost nothing else. Can I say I represented? Yeah, I’ll go ahead and say it.
Me and Jeannette, my newest "shero"
I also want to post the video of the other speakers, as they truly amazed me. I’m sure they’ll amaze you, too. I also met Erica, one of my longtime readers, who lives in the D.C. area and stopped by after work. She’s amazing and I was so happy to meet her in person. What a sweetheart! After the reception, we had an evening tour of the monuments. The only one I cared about was the White House, but we didn’t catch a glimpse of President Obama and Michelle taking an evening stroll on the South Lawn (how I wish!).
I was exhausted by the end of Thursday, but Friday was an important day, too….
FRIDAY
I was so pumped for Friday. Jeannette had graciously given me 30 minutes with some of the directors from Crittenton agencies, who work directly with the young moms that I am trying to reach with this book. They gave me AMAZING advice about what to have in the book, including a special chapter devoted to “Stupid Things People Will Say to You When You’re A Young Mom.” I loved that idea.
I left with five or six pages full of notes and offers to help with everything from gathering gata to shooting a video with me when it comes time to promote the book. Can I say again how GRATEFUL I am that I was able to go? This was an amazing trip. What else can I say?
More to come about the trip this week, but I wanted to give you a rundown of how I felt. Any questions? Thoughts? I’d love to hear from you!!
Me and Erica. She just recently got engaged! How sweet!
All I can say is…incredible. Talk about the opportunity of a lifetime, and you went in there and rocked it from what I’m reading here. I love the idea of a chapter about stupid things said to young moms. Because we all know we recieve lots of stupid, nasty, and mean remarks. And I would LOVE to see videos of everyone speaking. I didn’t know if anyone would be taped, but I am seriously thrilled to hear that there are videos and I’m jumping up and down at the possibility of watching them! Seriously. Again, I am SO proud of you! I had more to say, but my munchkin is begging to go have cuddle time. So I’ll be back later
@Katie – You are AWESOME. Really. I appreciate every comment you write. As soon as I have video, I’ll post it!
Tara – It was as great for us to have you with us for the meeting as it was for you to be there! Truthfully, you and other young moms are our inspiration…because you give of yourself and you take what some would see as a “crisis” and turn it into lives and children that make the world a better place in which to live. You defy the odds and the skeptics that would predict your failure and you walk the talk as examples of what can be accomplished through sheer will and dedication. Being a mom is tough work under the best of circumstances – with each obstacle comes another barrier to surmount. But each and every day young moms across the country do it – laughing and crying – with patience and sometimes “not so much” but you do it and you look into the eyes of your children and understand that this is for real. So for all of that I thank you…This is just the beginning!
Jeannette
President, The National Crittenton Foundation
@Jeannette – I am wiping the tears from my eyes as I read your comment. Let me compose myself and I will be back!
This is just awesome! I’m so excited for you. I’m passing your site onto my little sister. She’s about to be a young mommy and I think you are just what the dr. ordered!
@Mrs. Deveter – Thanks! Tell her she has a community here for her!
I love the passion you have for the things you do. Excellent job Tara :o)
@Shauntae – Thank you!!! I appreciate you stopping by, even though we sometimes chit-chat on Twitter.
Wow! What an experience! I think it’s great you got to go!!!
PS. I linked to you on my blog today. (it’s for charity so I hope you don’t mind! )
@Jen – Nope, I don’t mind. I just need to remember to write the post. lol
TARA~
It was wonderful, great, inspiring, joyful, exciting, thrilling, and just plain awesome to meet you at the National Crittenton Foundation’s reception and meeting. I genuinely look forward to working with you and connecting with you again, many times, in the future.
And I’ll be passing on your blog to my newly pregnant 20something girlfriends, for sure!
@Melissa – Thank you! I really enjoyed meeting you too. It’s rare for me to meet someone and totally click with them, but you were awesome.
Let your pregnant girlfriends know they have a community here….
Your story was great, and I am sure that this is just the beginning! I feel so proud to know that you are taking OUR stories to places we never thought they would go. I am also glad that you inspire young mothers on a daily basis to overcome those little things, that at that moment seem so HUGE!
@Lisette – “you inspire young mothers on a daily basis to overcome those little things, that at that moment seem so HUGE!”
That’s what I’m trying to do – put this all in perspective. True, you might be having a tough time right now, but tomorrow is another day, another opportunity. You can do this, if you keep at it. Your kids will benefit from having a dedicated mama!
What you’re doing is incredible. I don’t even know you, yet I’m proud of you for standing up and speaking out for those who are so often voiceless in this society. May God bless your ministry.
@KayEm17 – Thank you so much. “Giving a voice to the voiceless” – it’s what I do.
Wow!!! This is amazing. You can be the voice of so many young moms who deserve the right to be respected as much as the moms my age. Notice I didn’t say older moms when referring to myself LOL. Again, I”m so proud to know you and so proud of what you are doing.
@Hangingwithmrscooper – Thank you so much, Big Sis.
I’m trying to let our voices be heard and it’s finally happening. 2010 is going to be a great year.
*clapping* I’m so glad for you, Tara! And I can’t wait for the book!
@Mrs. CJ – Thank you!
And I can’t wait for this book either! So much researching, writing, revising! It’s crazy!
So proud of you and keep the momentum going, every step is worth it.
always praying for ‘young mommies’ and supporters just like you. Again congratulations & you look gorgeous.
It was so nice meeting you Tara!! Your speech at the reception was great.
I’m glad that you enjoyed your time in D.C.
Wow. Sounds like an amazing trip. You. Go. Girl. I’m so proud of you — they couldn’t have selected a better person to represent young mothers. I’m sure this is just the beginning for you. There are BIG THINGS in the future for you and the YML community.
.-= Alicia @Mommy Delicious´s last blog ..Sometimes Saying No Means I Love You =-.
@Alicia – Thanks, sweetie!