My journey to Florence Crittenton began when I was 21 years old. Before coming to Florence Crittenton my life was very tough. I had a difficult childhood, my mom passed away when I was 3 and my Dad was in and out of my life until he too passed away in 2017. My older sister raised me and life was not easy.

I was using meth and hanging out with the wrong crowd. Because of my drug use, I lost custody of my 3 children which was very upsetting. The family that adopted my son changed my baby’s name which was very hurtful and I missed them all desperately.

Eventually, because of my drug use and CPS cases, I went to jail. When I was released I relapsed and was on the run for 6 months. During this time I became pregnant again and went back to jail. When I was in jail I thought so much about how much I wanted to sober up and about all the regrets I had in my life.

When I was 7 months pregnant I went to an intensive drug treatment center for 39 days. When I left that program I had the option of going back to my home town and putting my baby in foster care or coming to Florence Crittenton and being able to keep my baby. I chose to come to Florence Crittenton because I wanted very much to be with my baby.

That was one year ago now, and I have been clean and sober for one year. Florence Crittenton has helped me find myself. It has helped me find who I am without using drugs and who I am as a loving mother to my child. It has helped me get in touch with being a mom and I know I am a really good mother to my baby. I have full custody of him which feels so good. He is a healthy, happy little boy and with the help of Florence Crittenton’s Child Enrichment Center, he is thriving and developing into a beautiful person. He is 10 months old and about to start walking!

I am proud of maintaining my sobriety for a year. I have not really had any cravings and I am thankful to be able to parent again and feel love again. I don’t think I could have done this without relocating. It has been good to be in a new town away from negative people and influences and have all the support that Florence Crittenton provides.

I have a job at a local pharmacy and am hoping to one day become a manager there. I have just got an apartment in Helena so I can continue to get support from Florence Crittenton after I leave and my son can keep coming to the Child Enrichment Center. I am staying at my new apartment at weekends right now and coming back to Florence Crittenton during the week so I can get used to being independent. I want to get my driver’s license and save money and do things the right way with my own hardworking money.

My hopes for my child are that he has a happy, childhood and for him to be successful and to know he is always cared for. I would like one day for him to know about his brothers and sister and for him to meet them.
I am so thankful for the people at Florence Crittenton and all the help they have given me. Being here has changed our lives forever. It has been so good to start over and re-find myself.