This Year, Let’s Celebrate All Moms and Motherers

When I was little, I had big dreams for my career -- ranging from being an investigative journalist to the next Whitney Houston -- but I also knew that I always wanted to be a mom. Motherhood came sooner than expected for me, when I was preparing  to graduate from high school and head off to college. On my first Mother’s Day, I was a freshman at William & Mary, my daughter was just under a year old, and I was studying for finals while worrying about how to keep a roof over our heads and food on the table. I didn’t get breakfast in bed, or flowers, and most people considered my motherhood a liability. 

This Mother’s Day, let’s start a conversation about which mothers are recognized, valued, and most importantly, supported? And who gets left out of the narrative? In my interview on NPR’s Fresh Air with Terry Gross this week, I explained “We need to rally around mothers no matter how old they are or how they brought their children into the world. And yet, for young mothers, we rip the rug right out from under them. And we have to acknowledge the fact that that is damaging and it causes so many issues, not just for the mom, but also for that child."

Every mother wants to give their children the world, but only some receive the support to do so. This Mother’s Day, let’s celebrate ALL mothers and motherers, and change the conversation around teen parenting from one of isolation and stigma to support, college success, and opportunity for their family.

If you want to learn more about my experience and how you can support teen parents and student parents' success in college, my book, Pregnant Girl, is now available for purchase anywhere books are sold. Follow me on Twitter and Instagram @nicolelynnlewis for information on my virtual book tour and check out #PregnantGirlBook for all the latest updates.