Britany, Audrey, Kemberley and Zoé are between the ages of 18 and 19 and are already mothers. Annaëlla, 15 years old, is 5 months pregnant.
Having children as a teenager is a sensitive subject. Other people’s fears are numerous and the sight of a young mother is unsettling. In Kemberley's culture, it's frowned upon to have a child at a young age. For Zoe, being a single mom is a challenge that she overcomes every day. For Anaëlla, it is necessary to mature quickly.
The arrival of a baby changes the lives of our teenage mothers. In the list of priorities, their child has to take first place and fortunately, at Rosalie-Jetté School, they help young women prepare for their life as a mother. Otherwise, living in a supervised apartment comes with the joy of being able to help each other.
Being a mom means putting your child's interests before your own. For a teenager, this is an additional challenge, but one that many are able to overcome. Our young moms are fighters. Although they are very resilient, they often need support to fully invest in their role as mothers.
The announcement of a pregnancy can be upsetting for the relatives. It is a life journey that begins abruptly for a teenager. When you become a mother before you are an adult, nothing is innate and everything is built, especially for our five mothers, for whom the involvement of those around them is of the utmost importance.
Although motherhood is a milestone, the lives of teenage mothers doesn’t stop after the birth of their first baby. Our young moms patiently build the best life they can, juggling school, work and new pregnancies. They work hard to make it happen.
Bernard Lafrenière
Director
