"I am not the exception, I am the norm" - unknown
I cannot recall if I read the above quote, or if I heard someone say it. But wherever I was when I heard it, it struck a chord, and I made it a point to write it down. Just to be clear, I love this quote. This is one that I would make a life mantra. One of the things I love most about myself, is that I really want to see as many people win as possible, and that desire intensifies when it comes to young black women.
For those of you who may not know, I am the founder of a non profit, Her Future: Teen Mom Empowerment Group, and this quote describes the reason I started this work. I feel like I tell my story so much, but here goes again. 18 pregnant, in college, no clue what I would do...fast forward, 34, career, founder of a non profit, Masters Degree, and that baby I had is the bomb!
Thing is this, I am not the exception, and if I can help it, I will never be. I know so many women who were moms before they may have been ready, and are KILLING this thing called life! I am honored to be including in this elite sisterhood. And I am just as honored to bring other young mothers into this illustrious sisterhood.
As any parent can attest to, raising children is hard. Add being young to the mix, and you can POTENTIALLY have a recipe for disaster. I truly believe that with the proper support, love, and guidance, young mothers cannot only survive, but thrive! I learned a lot while journeying through being a young parent, figuring out systems, time management, daycare concerns, and trying to live my dreams and finish college made me a very resilient person. It would be a shame to not share what I've learned with other young mothers who are trying to navigate and find their way.
So, while I know I am not average, I do know that I am not the exception. I would encourage anyone reading this to reach back, and grab someone younger, and help them in anyway you can to reach new heights and new levels. Let's work together to make success the new norm!
~Lauren
As any parent can attest to, raising children is hard. Add being young to the mix, and you can POTENTIALLY have a recipe for disaster. I truly believe that with the proper support, love, and guidance, young mothers cannot only survive, but thrive! I learned a lot while journeying through being a young parent, figuring out systems, time management, daycare concerns, and trying to live my dreams and finish college made me a very resilient person. It would be a shame to not share what I've learned with other young mothers who are trying to navigate and find their way.
So, while I know I am not average, I do know that I am not the exception. I would encourage anyone reading this to reach back, and grab someone younger, and help them in anyway you can to reach new heights and new levels. Let's work together to make success the new norm!
~Lauren
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