Staying on Track With School While Raising a Child Becoming a parent as a teenager does not mean your future is over. It means your journey looks different—and with the right support, it can still lead to success. One of the greatest challenges teen parents face is staying in school while caring for a child. Without support, many are forced to choose between education and survival. At Houston Birthing Connection, we believe no young parent should have to make that choice. Why

Reducing Health Disparities Through Trust, Representation, and Listening Pregnancy should be a time of care, protection, and support. Yet for far too many women—especially Black and Brown mothers—pregnancy comes with fear, dismissal, and unequal treatment. One of the most powerful ways to reduce maternal health disparities is often overlooked: the relationship between a pregnant mother and her healthcare provider . Why Connection Matters Research consistently shows that pregn

Let’s get the "Instagram vs. Reality" check out of the way immediately. You see the cute photos of us? The ones where we are holding hands over the car seat, smiling like a happy little family? That was taken at 2:00 PM. At 3:00 AM, the vibe was different. Last Tuesday, specifically, I looked at my boyfriend sleeping peacefully while the baby screamed, and I had a very vivid daydream about smothering him with a pillow. I didn’t do it. Obviously. But I  thought  about it. Let’

Let’s get one thing straight immediately: whatever you thought this was going to be like based on binge-watching  16 and Pregnant  or scrolling through aesthetic TikTok moms... forget it. Delete it from your brain. That isn't real life. Real life is currently 2:37 AM. I am wearing a t-shirt that I’m 90% sure has dried spit-up on the shoulder from yesterday morning. My hair is in a bun that has started to fuse with my scalp. And I am currently being held hostage by a 9-pound d

Let’s be real for a second. When you’re a teen parent, people look at you like you’re a "statistic." They see the stroller and think your "professional" life is over before it started. They couldn't be more wrong. The truth? You are currently in the most intense, unpaid internship on the planet. While your peers are worried about who’s dating who, you’re managing schedules, monitoring health, and providing high-level personal care. You aren't "just a teen mom/dad." You are a

You are standing at the top of the stairs, holding your sleeping newborn, and suddenly a mental image flashes through your mind: What if I dropped them? Or maybe you’re in the kitchen, and your brain whispers, What if I put the baby in the oven? Or you're near a window and think, What if I just let go? Your heart races. You feel sick to your stomach. You pull the baby closer, terrified of your own mind. You think, " Only a monster would have a thought like that. I must be dan

You've just given birth, or you're deep into postpartum recovery. Something feels  wrong . It's more than discomfort; it's a searing pain, an unsettling sensation, or a persistent symptom that just won't go away. You go to the doctor, explain what you're feeling, and you hear words like: "That's normal for new mothers." "Are you sure you're not just stressed?" "It's probably just anxiety." "Give it time; it will resolve itself." "The tests look fine; there's nothing wrong." T

Scroll, scroll, scroll. Another perfect nursery, flawlessly organized. Another picture of a beaming mother effortlessly preparing organic, home-cooked meals. Another post about a toddler speaking three languages before breakfast. If you're a mother, especially one navigating the complexities of transitional housing, trying to secure childcare, or simply battling exhaustion, these images can hit like a punch to the gut. You look at your own reality—the small space, the sometim

It starts as a whisper. A "gentle" reminder. “If you leave this house, I’ll call the state and tell them you’re homeless.”   “If you don't do what I say, I’ll make sure CPS takes that baby away.” For many young parents, the home they live in isn't a sanctuary—it’s a cage. When family members or partners use Child Protective Services (CPS) as a weapon, it is more than just a "mean" comment. It is a calculated form of  coercive control . At  Houston Birthing Connection (HBC) ,

If you feel the rage rising, your first priority is safety—both yours and the baby’s. The "Safe Pause":  If you feel you might snap, put the baby in a safe place (like a crib or bassinet), walk into another room, and close the door. A crying baby is a safe baby; a parent who has lost control is not. Check Your Sensory Load:  Turn off the TV, dim the lights, or put on noise-canceling headphones (you can still see the baby, but the "sharpness" of the cry is muffled). Physical R

From the moment you become a mother, the world seems to hand you a cape. Especially for women of color, there's a heavy, unspoken expectation to be "unbreakable." To handle everything. To be the rock, the provider, the nurturer, the warrior—all without a single crack in your armor. You hear it in phrases like: "You're so strong, you'll get through this." "Our grandmothers did it; you can too." "Black women always find a way." While these sentiments often come from a place of

It’s Okay to Grieve Your "Before" Life “I love my baby, but I miss my old life.” It’s a sentence many parents think, but few feel safe enough to say out loud. In a world of curated social media feeds and "perfect parent" expectations, there is a heavy pressure to feel nothing but overflowing joy the moment your child arrives. But the truth is much more complex: parenthood is as much about  becoming  someone new as it is about  leaving  someone behind. At Houston Birthing Conn

Imagine this scenario: You have the perfect outfit laid out for a life-changing job interview. The blazer is pressed, the shoes are polished, and you've rehearsed your answers. On the surface, you look ready to take on the world. Now, imagine that underneath that outfit is a layer of suffocating stress. Maybe you're sleeping on a friend's couch and have to be out by 7 AM. Maybe you're facing an eviction notice and don't know where you and your baby will sleep next week. Maybe

Why Getting Help as a New Parent Is a Pathway to Independence For many new parents striving for independence, the path to stability is rarely a straight line. It’s often a winding road, especially when balancing a new baby with the demands of school, job training, or finding stable housing. In moments of need, vital resources like WIC, TANF, or housing assistance can be a lifeline. Yet, a silent, pervasive “stigma tax” often forces parents to carry a burden of shame or judgme

People talk about teen parents like they’re cautionary tales. Something to avoid. Something to judge. Something to whisper about. But here’s the real plot twist: most people have no idea what these young parents actually carry — the strength, the pressure, the brilliance, the heartbreak, the hustle. This is the truth people avoid because it shatters their stereotypes. Let’s talk about it. TEEN PARENTS DON’T GET GRACE — THEY GET CRITICISM Teen parents learn quickly that the wo

The truth? After delivery, everyone’s eyes go straight to the baby and the birthing parent — and yes, they deserve all the love. But the partner? They’re the quiet engine that keeps the whole house running. And when they show up intentionally, consistently, and confidently… everything shifts. Let’s talk about real roles, not “hold the baby for five minutes and post a picture.”Here are five practical, powerful ways dads and partners can be the backbone in those early postpartu

When most people hear the word “philanthropist,” they imagine billionaires writing multi-million-dollar checks or funding massive foundations. But the truth is that philanthropy isn’t about wealth—it’s about impact . You don’t have to have a private jet or a portfolio of investments to give back meaningfully. At its core, philanthropy is about generosity, commitment, and community . It’s the act of making a difference in someone else’s life, whether that difference is large o

Let’s be real: young families today are trying to build wealth on ground that feels like it keeps shifting. Rising costs, unexpected bills, childcare, job changes — it’s a lot. And while it can feel overwhelming, you don’t have to be born into stability to create  it. Building a financial foundation isn’t about perfection or having everything figured out. It’s about taking small steps consistently — the same way families have done for generations. Stability is built, not gift

Raising kids today means constantly balancing creativity, cost, and sanity. And the truth? You don’t need a high budget or a Pinterest-perfect craft room to keep your little ones entertained. Most young families are doing the same thing generations before us did—stretching what they have, using their imagination, and building memories out of everyday moments. If you’ve ever felt guilty that you can’t take the kids somewhere “special” every week, breathe. Kids remember connect

Keeping your family fed shouldn’t feel like a luxury. And honestly? Young families today are juggling way more than past generations ever had to—work, childcare, rising grocery prices, and that constant pressure to “do everything right.” Meal planning becomes one of those secret weapons that keeps the household steady, the budget tight, and the stress low. This isn’t about gourmet meals with ingredients nobody can pronounce. It’s about structure , simplicity , and stretching