T'aa who aji' t'eego!

When I was young my mother raised my sister’s and me, she was a single parent and is to this day. I have a lot of memories of her lecturing us. She would say, “Be responsible for your actions, be honest and trustworthy.” As a little ten year old I sucked it all in like a sponge. I would try my best to help her in any way I could but I was still only ten. Playing was the only thing on my mind.  Some would think my mother is strict and mean. But, like other mothers, she wants the best for her girls.  She knows our limits and she pushed us past them. She would speak to me in Navajo and say,  “T’aa hwo aji’ t’eego” which means, “Do it yourself.” Within the next few years I fell of course of her teachings, I broke some but also made some up.

In eighth grade I met my boyfriend Daniel. We began as friends, and then slowly we grew closer. We started dating but at the time it did not mean much. We were only in eighth grade. Many people did not take young relationships well; we were of course, “too young”. We thought we were in love at the time but really we just surely liked each other, you see love can be easily mistaken for, even at thirteen. Daniel and I kept dating into high school. I was not allowed to date but I kept this from my mother. She knew I talked to him, but I always said, “Were just friends.” But as time went on, she found out. I broke this honesty and trust with my mother by lying.

         My sophomore year in high school she got use to the fact that I had a boyfriend, and then I got pregnant. This is another huge step to take in. She would always say, “No hanky-panky.”  Which in our words means, “No Sex.” We did not listen, Daniel and I thought it would never happen to us, but it did!  I betrayed my mother’s rules and teaching by going behind her back, not being trustworthy and honest again.

         As I think about Daniel and I four years ago, we were nowhere ready to be parents. We were young, childish and irresponsible. I could see in my family’s eyes that they were afraid for us. My mom prayed every chance she got but I did not think much of it. I had taken care of my nieces but little did I know. I watched my nieces for a couple hours then hand them back over to their parents. This time I had no one to hand Jaken to when I was tired or had to leave. You see having a child in high school is difficult. Having a baby makes you grow up in a blink of an eye. You have another person to be responsible for other than your self. I did not listen to my mom, she told me all the rights and wrong but I did them anyway. As of now, Daniel and I are raising our son ourselves. We have a huge support system but someday we want to really be out on our own, doing it ourselves. I love Jaken with all my heart and I believe I am slowly gaining back what I lost from my mom.

         So my important lesson is: Listen to your parents. They just want what’s best for their children. Our parents have gone through what we have, it’s not easy for them to see their own children go through it. So try to cooperate, they love you and want what’s best for their little kiddos.