Please take time to read the following!

I came across this article that my mother posted to a website called woman24.com. They selected my mom's story out of a few other and made it frontpage article.... Im not the kind of person that likes to brag I want to show this article to the whole world 'cuz I know this is what we all need, we might not allways get the regegnition that we need, but know that that all of you single parents out there deserves it!!!!

please take time to read the followin please

Lindy's* 'Recognition for a young mother'
I wish to tell you about a very special person, who I think needs an award for being brave, graceful and honest.
I admire her for standing up for what she believes, fighting for her child and most of all being a GREAT mum!

I do not wish to mention her name, but I can tell you that I am a young grandmother and that I adore my grandchild and have a lot of respect for my daughter.

My daughter is a 19-year-old Mom, with a 2 1/2 year old son. She fell pregnant when she was in standard 8 (15 years old) and continue her schooling career. She only missed out on approximately 2 1/2 months of school, before returning to school in standard 9.

Ever since the day she fell pregnant, she was determined to keep her unborn baby, even though she was unsure about where she would live or how she would take care of it.

During her pregnancy she went through some traumatic experiences. She experienced the changes in her body and lost most of her friends and also the father of her unborn baby. But still, she was determined to keep going. She was the typical confused pregnant teenager, never really knowing what was lying ahead of her.

She would make scrapbooks; write down thoughts of how she thinks her baby was going to look and also wrote of all her emotions. Seeing the changes she had to go through from being a 15-year-old schoolgirl (wearing a size 33) to a being huge, pregnant woman and also the confusion that she felt about how she would cope in the future really broke my heart into pieces.

But she kept going, not asking for much and being happy with even a small present being given to her.

During this period she had to take a lot of hammering not only from her school but also from outsiders looking down on her. After giving birth in December, she rested for 1 month, after which she continued her school career (after a C-section) and held her head high, talking about a darling son.

This period was an emotional rollercoaster. The baby's father lost his visitation rights. This gave her control over her child's future but also a lot of maternal responsibilities during her school career.

She continued her schooling career and her marks continued to improve. This went on until the end of Matric. During her Matric year she started planning to get a job in order to assist with the financial burden of the baby.

She would never ask for anything more than just the most necessary items and would always be thankful and take pride in her child. She would take photos of her son, enter him into baby competitions.

What was most amazing to me, is her ongoing determination during these years. No matter what happened, and believe me there were trials, she continued to help and emotionally support the people around her.

She has been through a lot. She is learning to be a mother, learning how to discipline her son, but has always given her son so much love. And when you see her son, he is always smiling and happy.

In 2004 she finished her Matric year and during January 2005, she began working. She has since gained a lot of career experience, and has applied for a second job, which she was successful in doing. She is starting a new career in one of South Africa's biggest banking Institutions.

She is a strong, well-balanced, kind and sensitive woman, who is sensitive to others, supportive and also determined to get ahead in life no matter what has happened.

She has spoken in front of others, telling them about her beliefs and told them that they should always to look forward and keep going. She always makes sure that her son is part of our life and we love him dearly.

She gives only the best to her child and has kept her eyes up and kept her faith and also stimulates her child daily. She is always making sure he only gets the best, although she is just a teenage mother. She has a combination of determination, strength and sensitivity. She is so well-mannered and loving and is an example to even older mothers.

Although she has made her mistakes, she has that same maturity of older mothers and keeps striving to give her child only the best.

Lindy*
* name has been changed

May the spirit that flows hrough her also flow through me.

Wonderful Wonderful story, THANK YOU for sharing that! I'd be one darn proud mom too, that's for sure!