Take That! Ka-Pow!!!

I've been working on this creative nonfiction piece for a contest that's coming up. Then something Grayson said to me yesterday, really got me pysched to write this blog. First, the piece is about my experience as a young mother. Learning your pregnant at 19 is life changing. It also comes with stares, whispers, flat out insults and prejudice.

I looked even younger than 19. It was still no excuse for the horrible treatment that I endured while walking around with my brand. I felt branded. My ever-growing belly felt like a brand. I went to all of my doctor appointments and I did everything that was expected of me yet I was treated as though I was incompetent and incapable of raising a child. I remember using the negativity to my advantage. I knew one day I would look back on my experience and scoff at the disbelievers. Today, I scoff.

Grayson informed me yesterday of his desire to study history. He wants to be a history professor and focus on WWII. I felt proud in that moment. I like that he thinks about his future and I like it even more that he loves learning. I'm sure that his career of choice will change many times over. I'm great with that. I want him to be interested in many things and I want him to constantly find new areas of interest. I hope he goes to college as both his father and I did. We finished even with his surprising arrival. If the day comes and he decides to venture into the world minus that piece of paper, I'll live as long as he has a passion and desire to succeed in his endeavors. I want him to continue on this road that he so happily strolled along. He hates to see a tree unearthed from its rightly home and he seems plagued by issues that greatly impact our society. He is more than willing to help another child that struggles academically and he always makes a point to treat a disabled classmate like everyone else. He shows indifference to race, gender, sexuality and spirituality. My child, the child that carried for nine months, the child that some felt I was too young to be having, is thoughtful, inquisitive, polite, open-minded, bright and most importantly, happy. Yes, I was young but no, I was not destined to be a horrible parent. Age does not determine the type of parent one might be. It just doesn't. So, take that! I say this to all those that looked down on me and to all those that look down on other young parents. Life happens and all actions have outcomes. My outcome was a child and he's wonderful. Ka-pow! He's wonderful and will not grow up to be hateful, judgemental, snide and/or contemptible. He's well on his way to being the great man that I know he will become.