Lightness: A Story of Skills

I grew up with my mother only because of my parents’ divorce, and had to do odd jobs after school to add to the little income that she was getting. I got pregnant while in school and the man responsible first showed willingness but suddenly refused to be involved saying he never knew me. It was a very complicated pregnancy and I was sick for most of the 9 months. I felt like I was becoming a burden to my family, and was constantly regretting my life choices which led me to be overly anxious about life. I did not have any transferable skills with which I could earn anything, and I was a single mother to a baby boy who was rejected by his father. My mother allowed me to go back to school after giving birth and I went to study a course to become a librarian, but tuition fee was always an issue. I was constantly in debt from loan sharks to pay for the school, and no one in my wider family cared enough to fully understand what I was going through. I remember many nights where I’d sit in my room and cry myself to sleep, and some nights not sleeping at all. I kept telling myself: “A child is a blessing” just to be encouraged enough to take care of him. I believed that even though most people have rejected me, I can still find a footing and there is life after being a teen mom. I have learnt from my mistakes even though the societal pressure on getting married and the stigma on being a single mother persists. One thing I know is this: My son will be proud of his mother. The young girl who had no skills now has skills – multiple skills, all thanks to Mama Jasiri. I am proud to be a mother, and I trust God in everything. In the present tech-driven world, there is nothing more important like having SKILLS.