Sonya Changed Her Daughter’s Life Forever
Not long after Sonya* turned 13, she discovered she was pregnant.
Sonya had never been so afraid before. She was a child herself—how was she supposed to raise a baby?
Family finances were tight. Her parents could hardly afford to feed Sonya and her siblings. She knew she was entering an uphill battle by raising this baby. And then Sonya had to face challenges like morning sickness, prodromal labor, and sleepless nights with a newborn.
Sonya spent her pregnancy and the next three years trying to trust God. Though the budget still remained tight, she found ways to save her family money on groceries so her daughter, Maria*, always had what she needed. She was a great mom, but she was still so scared.
Sonya was starting to lose faith.
On top of school, family responsibilities, and taking care of a baby, Sonya was getting angrier and angrier. She felt abandoned by God, and she started to doubt the plans He had for her and Maria.
Though she was present to take care of Maria, Sonya was disconnected as a mother. She struggled to find the energy to play with her daughter, and she felt herself growing cold toward motherhood. She gave up so much to make sure her daughter had what she needed, and her mental health deteriorated.
But that’s just when Sonya’s story began.
Sonya grew up in a neighborhood where teen motherhood wasn’t uncommon. And when one of her neighbors, Lisa*, invited her to a mother’s group she had heard about, Sonya was uncertain. She was already so tired, so ready for sleep at the end of the day—could she really afford to add one more activity to her day?
Sonya wasn’t sure if there could be hope for her and Maria. But she took a chance. She asked her mom to watch Maria and showed up for night one of AGCI’s mentorship group for young mothers.
She walked through the doors, shaking as she stepped into the unknown. What if the other girls didn’t understand her? What if they judged her for how tired she was? What if someone tried to take away Maria?
As Sonya sat in her chair, she was surprised by the warmth she felt in the room. From the tea she was handed when she walked in to the smiles she saw as she looked around, she started to feel more settled. And she started to listen to the stories the other girls shared.
That night awakened something new in Sonya. For the first time ever, Sonya really connected with girls in similar situations. She watched as the other girls boldly opened up about their challenges as young moms, and she heard their laughter despite the challenges they faced in motherhood.
So, Sonya kept showing up.
It wasn’t easy for Sonya to open up to others. She had become so used to bottling up her emotions, and she had hidden the trauma that thrust her into motherhood deep within herself. Sonya didn’t believe there would be anyone who could relate to her struggles, no one who could lovingly hear her without judgment.
Bit by bit, Sonya started to open up. And every session, Sonya dared again to show up and be vulnerable around her peers. She felt capable of connecting with others for the first time in years and wasn’t consumed by the fear to which she had become so accustomed.
Before joining the mentorship group, Sonya didn’t know what her future held or what that meant for Maria.
For the first time in her life, Sonya felt the comfort and confidence that only God’s grace can provide. Today, thanks to the loving care of AGCI staff and the transformational work of the Holy Spirit, Sonya feels capable of connecting with others. She’s more confident in her parenting than ever!
For Sonya and her daughter, the cycle of trauma has been stopped in its tracks. Sonya has changed her future, and her daughter’s future, forever. We are so proud of her hard work to unlock hope for her family!
*Name and photo changed to protect privacy.
