Jessica

Topics: Safe Dating

“I was 14 years old when I got into my first real relationship. We talked on the phone every day, held hands at school, and I was so happy thinking that we were in love. It wasn’t long after that that we became intimate and made our affections for each other public. My mother encouraged the relationship in the beginning. However, she was on drugs and always drinking or abusing prescription medications. She would sneak me in and out of the house whenever my father was there, so that I could see my boyfriend. At that time my father was in and out of my life.

I got pregnant at age 17 – my senior year of high school. After that there was a long road ahead for me. I kept my friends, but my family soon fell apart. My dad abandoned me and suddenly my mom didn’t want to be bothered with me. They kicked me out of the house, so I moved in with my boyfriend. It wasn’t long before he became abusive. When I was with my boyfriend, I lost my identity. He took me away from my friends and family – soon his friends had become my friends and I had none of my own. I lost my sense of self.

This forced me to focus on my daughter and the type of life I wanted to provide for her. The realization came to me that I had to leave her father even though this meant we were going to be homeless again. Thankfully, a very ill woman gave me free room and board in exchange for taking care of her. Since asking for help I have been maintaining very well.  I’ve been in a healthy relationship for 3 yrs and married for 1 happy year. I’ve done a complete turnaround: I now have the self confidence that I didn’t have before. I believe in myself, love myself and know that my body is beautiful!"