Personal Narrative: Havin Having Children

look after the children effectively. In this consideration, I remember how I would run after the kids throughout the day to ensure they were safe and that they grew up disciplined. I served as a caregiver of the eight children for two years. On the other side, many of my friends and relatives advised me to look for work; they argued that a graduate was too good to be a caregiver. In my community, jobs such as staying home with children were associated with illiteracy. Fortunately, my care giving efforts were rewarded well. First, when my sisters gained their master’s degree, they, beside my parents, offered me a scholarship to pursue my education in the U.S. Second, my nephews and nieces still have good memories of me. Now, I am grateful for

The whole reason for my epic cross-country trek was making Christmas in Arizona happen for my kids and today begins the culmination of this extravaganza.

In between life happening, I found my soulmate, a Soldier in the Army, and got married.

On May 19th, 2012 my whole life was turned around. See, my mom had a drug and alcohol problem, so her state of mind wasn’t really in a good place. As I reached my grandmother’s house in Brooklyn, New York, her telephone started to ring. On the other end, was the sound of a woman crying, the type of cry where you can’t get your words out and no one can understand what you are saying. It was the cry of my mother. I couldn’t really make out any of the words she was saying but I clearly heard the part about my brothers being taken away from her by ACS. Now, remember the date I told you in the beginning? Yeah, they day all this happened was on my birthday. This event made me grow and change my whole life around in so many ways.

On October 17, 2002 at 7:58pm at Riverside Hospital in Newport News, Va., Mr. Corey and Mrs. Annise Herbin had their first and only baby. Before I was born my parents thought of several names for me. My dad wanted to name me Leslie and my mother considered Sydney and Briana. They decided to name me Layla Camille Herbin, which means dark knight and silent warrior. After seeing the boxer Laila Ali on television, my mother fell in love the name. My parents told me that immediately after I was born, my father took me from the doctor and raised me up to dedicate me to God. They describe it to me like the scene in the movie Roots.

My parents would describe infant me as adventurous,happy,full of energy. When I was younger I had a habit of crawling out of the crib and opening doors and my have tried to invite the mail man in a few times. When I was just learning to walk I would always open the front door when the mailman came or when my grandma thought I had ran away because I had opened multiple doors in the house and later found me playing in the backyard and later would by door knob locks to keep me from opening the doors, I believe I may have been 3 or 4 years old at the time. My favorite stuffed animal was this light brown monkey with a darker face, brown marble eyes that my mom had gotten me when she took me to the Toledo zoo when I was 4 years old I used to take

Ms. Gail Avent is the founder and executive director of Total Family Care Coalition. Ms. Avent started this organization in 2005 and was founded out of the need of having an organization which helps families, children and youth with navigating systems.

My first child observation took place on Wednesday the 21st of September. I was observing the younger preschool room, there was an age range from 2-4-year-olds. I started my observation at 3:00PM in Mrs. Amy’s classroom. It was a typical classroom. In the room, there was students’ artwork around the room, tables, and sinks modified to the students' needs. It was a students’ birthday so all of the students were given juice and a cookie, and due to the sugar, they all went outside immediately following snack. The playground included a sandbox, bikes, and a play set.

Parenting has proven to be an everyday struggle. However, in the beginning, it seemed as though it would be effortless. It wasn’t until later that all the challenges of “Parenthood,” occurred.

The room was quiet and dark as Sara was to get herself up. A small amount of light was coming from the glass paneled door. She was afraid, there was a whole new world waiting for her.

I never thought about being an aunt or having nieces or nephews until it actually happened. My oldest brother, Tuan, had his first kid, Nathan, when he was eighteen. It was a new and exciting feeling of having a baby in my life after being the baby of the bunch in my family. I learned a new set of skills at eight. How to take care of babies. I fed Nate, burped him, and changed his diapers. This gave me a new responsibility as an aunt.

My life before I had a baby was considered my own. I was laid back and pretty much worry free. When I wanted to go somewhere, I would just get up and go. I could stay out as long as I wanted to. If I wanted to get crazy with my friends, I could. My friends where always around and we were going here and there constantly. I didn’t answer to anyone but me. All I had to worry about was what I wanted and needed. My life was mine and mine only. My time was mine and only mine. Everything revolved around my feelings and me. I know I sound selfish but I think everyone is at that age. Before Austin came, if I wanted to sleep late or just lay around the house in my pajamas I could. I have found that when a bay comes along, that your life is not yours

You could be the Hope, Help And give the kids the Home they need. Just imagine how much you would want a good home if you were in a foster home and you don't have a good mom and dad.

Being a new mother was a learning experience; even before my daughter was born I was already learning to be a mother. I instantly began to protect my unborn child by not doing certain things that I felt would put my daughter at risk, like lifting heavy objects or stressing. Becoming a mother was a blessing not every woman gets to experience pregnancy. Motherhood changed me to a different person. I felt like a mother already.

I will never forget the day I had my son. Carter Johnson born on September 06, 2015 at 2:16 am. When I found out I was pregnant at almost three months, I was so surprised. I was surprised because I was on birth control for almost 1 year. I was a 21 year old c.n.a. working as Home health aid for going on three years. I lived on my own and I had my own car for two years. I was doing good for myself for the most part, I was young independent and I loved my job.