Rise Magazine

Standing Up for My Son – I had to fight to get my son out of the system.

August 30, 2015 by Carlos Boyet

art by Rudá Tillet

I was only 15 when my girlfriend of six months came out pregnant. Soon I found out that she was playing me. I was young and didn’t know what to do, so I left her with the belly.

When the baby was born, my mother took me to the hospital. We both took a good look at the baby and said the same thing, “That’s not my kid!”

The baby’s mother did … Read More

Addiction

A Family Again – With support, my wife and I recovered from her addiction.

August 30, 2015 by Francisco Ramirez

art by Thaynia Waldron

I took my wife to the hospital because she was having contractions. It was early for her to be in labor, so the doctor did all kinds of lab tests. When he came back with the results, he told us that she had tested positive for meth.

I was so shocked and hurt. I couldn’t believe it.

Sandra denied that she was using meth. But I started to put two and two … Read More

Finding Support

‘Can I Do This?’ – Support services helped me prepare for motherhood.

August 30, 2015 by Erica Harrigan-Orr

When I found out I was expecting, I didn’t feel like I was mentally ready to care for a baby. I had just aged out of foster care and was only beginning to learn how to handle life without the system.

I also have a mood disorder and I wasn’t taking my medication on a regular basis. I’d seen stories on the news about mentally ill mothers harming their children and I was afraid that I … Read More

Rise Magazine

Do Over – Changing as a parent takes courage and practice.

August 30, 2015 by Youshell Williams

art by Dayton Town

Most parents like me want their children to have an easy, decent life as far removed from what we ourselves experienced as possible. We want to be good parents, but sometimes it can be very difficult to know how if you grew up in foster care or in a home where you experienced abuse or neglect.

Losing my children to the system made me realize that I had a lot to … Read More

Addiction

‘You Can Turn This Around’ – I overcame my addiction to bring my daughter home.

August 30, 2015 by Wanda Chambers

art by Rise

In 1998 I was pregnant with my daughter when I was arrested for possession of crack cocaine. I was given a conditional release to go to a drug treatment program but for a long time I could not get it right. First I ran away from that program. Then, when I was let out on bail to give birth, I purchased some crack while I was bringing her home from the … Read More