“You are NOT keeping this baby,” I firmly told my daughter.
My 20-year-old daughter, Lily, met my gaze with a steely resolve. The confrontation had begun. This wasn’t her first experience with parenthood. Two years prior, at just 18, she had given birth to her first child, a son, whom she placed for adoption. I remember crying all the way home from the hospital. Meanwhile, Lily sank into our living room couch, emotionally exhausted from a C-section, spending weeks in a daze trying to numb her pain.
This time around, Lily excitedly shared her “big news” and immediately dove into selecting baby names. Her younger sisters looked on in shock and disbelief, while her well-intentioned roommate volunteered to help raise the baby—when she wasn’t busy working or recovering from a hangover. Fast forward three months, and Lily found herself kicked out of their shared apartment with four questionable roommates. So much for that plan.
After leaving the chaotic apartment, Lily moved in with my in-laws for a short period before landing at a city shelter for pregnant women and their children, which advertised itself as a “boot camp for pregnant women.” It was a clean and safe environment but also crowded and noisy. Just weeks before her due date, Lily was “asked to leave” for not adhering to the rules.
To suppress my frustration, I held my tongue. I listened as Lily cried softly over the phone, sensing her fear, exhaustion, and the confusion that came with pregnancy. Yet, over the past seven months, I had watched her grow. With quiet determination, she secured maternity clothes, enrolled in Medicaid, and diligently attended every prenatal appointment. She participated in parenting classes at the shelter and organized all the handouts in a notebook. For the first time, she began asking for help when necessary and expressed gratitude when she received it.
“You’ll be alright,” I reassured her during those tough moments.
On a Monday morning, August 12, 2013, at 10:30 AM, Lily welcomed her daughter, Emma Rae, into the world. Weighing 8 pounds, 2 ounces and measuring 20 inches long, Emma was healthy, vibrant, and ready to make her presence known. I immediately fell in love.
I brightened Lily’s hospital room with balloons and stayed by her side, sleeping on the couch until her discharge. When the moment came, I drove her and Emma home and assisted in giving her newborn baby her first bath.
Today, Lily is a dedicated single mother who attends weekly counseling sessions and is grateful for the government assistance that supports her as she strives to build a stable life. She plans to enroll in cosmetology school and is proving to be a loving, resourceful, and protective parent.
It’s often said that raising a child fosters the growth of a responsible adult, and I consider myself fortunate to witness this transformation.
Resources for Family Planning
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Summary
This narrative reflects on a mother’s journey as her daughter navigates the challenges of unexpected pregnancy and single motherhood. Through struggles and growth, both mother and daughter learn valuable lessons about resilience, support, and the transformative power of love.