“The love that I was missing”: Exploring the lived experience of motherhood among teen mothers in foster care

Children and Youth Services, 2015

Elizabeth Aparicio, Edward V. Pecukonis, Shalita O’Neale

Suggested Citation
Aparicio, E. M. (2015). “The love that I was missing”: Exploring the lived experience of motherhood among teen mothers in foster care. Children and Youth Services, 51, 44-54. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.childyouth.2015.02.002

Abstract
Through a series of 18 in-depth, semi-structured interviews exploring experiences of both being mothered and mothering, the six young women in this study shared their stories of living the reality of becoming mothers under extremely challenging circumstances and doing their best to thrive. Themes of darkness and despair, (e.g., substance abuse, poverty, and child maltreatment) glimpses of light in the darkness (e.g., relationships with their partner’s family), and new beginnings (e.g., identity as mother) emerged as characteristic of their experience.