Aiden and I were running extremely late this morning, my alarm clock on my phone never went off due to me not putting my dead phone on the charger last night. I roughly rubbed my hands down my face in aggravation, I was on my second warning at work and today would be my third warning. If I lose this job I don't know what I'm going to do. It's like I take three steps forward and five steps back. I quickly climbed out of the bed heading out of my room and down the hall to where my 14 month old son Aiden was asleep in his room. "It's time for my big boy to wake up." I sang as I stepped into his room. I walked over to Aiden's bed to see him trying to keep his eyes closed as a smile slowly appeared on his face. "You are not sleeping!" I laughed, "Come on baby boy so you can go to daycare." His head quickly shot up as his smile grew bigger, he began to jump up and down in his crib.
I quickly pulled into the Citgo gas station, it was unusually packed for it to be 8:43 in the morning. I quickly parked at gas pump number seven. I rush to the back door of my car taking Aiden out of his car seat. We rushed into the gas station grabbing a couple snacks, paying for the items and gas. As I was walking out of the gas station a nice, handsome, well dressed, brown skinned man about 5'8 was walking into the gas station. He stepped to the side holding the door for Aiden and I as we exited. As I towards my car with Aiden in tote I could feel the handsome stranger looking at my backside. l quickly walked to the car placing Aiden and his snacks in his car seat safely buckling him in. I began pumping the gas as so I reflected on how late I was and how I did not want to hear my boss nagging this morning. I had about fifteen minutes to get Aiden to daycare or he would not be permitted in for the day.
"Excuse me miss lady! Excuse me!" Could be heard as I came out of my thoughts. I looked up from the gas pump to see the same handsome stranger, he was holding something in his hand coming to towards me. "Yes?" I asked squinting my eyes trying to see what was in his hand. "I believe these belong to you beautiful." He smiled passing me my tan and white sunglasses from Fashion Nova. "They are, thank you! I really appreciate it." I smiled taking the glasses and placing them on my head. I began to put the gas nozzle back in it's correct spot. I put my gas cap on making my way to the driver's side of my car, I was already in a rush so I didn't have much time to chit chat. "You know what I would appreciate?" I scrunched my face up at him before climbing in the car.
"Oh yeah? What is that?" I asked getting ready to shut my door. "Your name." "Raine!" I yelled before shutting my door and starting up my car as I pulled out of the gas station lot I looked into my rear view mirror and he could be seen smiling nodding his head.
"Good morning Rae and good morning to that big old boy." One of Aiden's favorite teachers cooed as she came to remove him from my arms. "Mommy love you." I smiled kissing Aiden's cheek. "You guys have a great day." I spoke to the teachers as I exited the room. I quickly made my way out of the building and into my car.
"Hello Dailynn." My patient Lilly Russ with dementia spoke. I was a certified nurse assistant, I love every last one of my residents as if they were my own family, they are my family. Times did get tough but I wouldn't trade my job for anything in the world. "Good morning Mrs. Russ, how are you feeling today?" "I don't know." She spoke dryly, this wasn't like her. "What's the matter Mrs. Russ." I asked poking my bottom lip out a tad bit. "I never met your daughter." She stressed. "Mrs. Russ, you did meet my son, you met him yesterday." I spoke in a sad tone. "Oh yeah! Oh yeah!" She trailed off. While Mrs. Russ took one of her many naps for the day I began to clean up her living area.
"Dailynn I'm hungry!" Mrs. Russ shouted from the couch, calling me one of the lovely names she gives me daily. "Okay, Mrs. Russ. I'm just waiting on the soup to cool down and then you can eat. Would you like me to help you into the chair at the table." "No." She spoke sternly. I nodded my head, Mrs. Russ was going to need help but I gave her a few minutes to herself letting her ask on her own. She was one of those elderly people who needed help but never wanted it.
After Mrs. Russ was well fed, it was time to have our little spa date. "What color do you want Mrs. Russ? I think a soft blue would go beautiful with your brown skin complexion." "You think so?" She smiled as she looked down at her hands. I nodded my head returning the smile. "I want that one!" She pointed smiling as she nodded her head.
Finally of work I was ready to go and get my baby from daycare, I️ missed him so much. Mornings we usually sit down and eat breakfast together but due to us running late today we were unable to sit down and eat together.
"Is that mommy's big boy?" I cooed as Aiden waddled around the infant room swinging a small toy like bat. "Mama!" Aiden babbled waddling over to me. "Hey mommy's handsome baby." I smiled picking him up kissing all over his face. He went up in a fit of laughter placing his small hands on my face. "Thank you two ladies, have a great evening." I told the two daycare teachers before grabbing Aiden's coat and diaper bag.
I looked in my rear view mirror at Aiden he was nodding his head as They Like by Yo Gotti featuring Lucci played through the car. "This yo song man man?" I asked pulling off from a stop sign. "Yeh." Could be heard through the loud music.
"You hungry big boy?" I asked Aiden as I parked in front of our small one story home. I loved our small home to think we just moved to this house less than 2 months ago, we moved in with nothing but a air mattress. My home was now finally furnished thank God!
It was only 4:15, I️ figured I'd give Aiden a small snack while I started on dinner. I️ made my way around the kitchen while Aiden sat in his high chair eating Applesauce and Cheetos Puff, his favorite combination.
"Mmmm." I heard Aiden moaned in satisfaction as he stuffed a Cheeto in his mouth. "It's good?" I asked laughing as I looked over my shoulder at him as I stood over the stove. He nodded his head and began smacking. Aiden was such a character, I admired the handsome, brown skinned, big eyed boy Icreated.
After feeding Aiden dinner and giving him his bath, he was ready for bed. I placed Aiden in his crib in his room turning on the baby monitor. It was time to get myself together and pick out our clothes for tomorrow.
It isn't easy raising a child by myself, but I wont complain. Aiden's father isn't in his life, he never really was. He was there the first couple of months of my pregnancy, not much after Aiden was born. I don't need one hand to count how many times Aiden has seen his father if you catch my drift. There's things I won't be able to teach my son, I️ just wish he had a father figure in his life.
As I sat thinking about my situation, I felt used and dumb. I thought Aiden's father and I would be together forever, silly I️ know. I lost my virginity to Aiden's father and became pregnant with Aiden right after. Aiden's father wasn't there most of the pregnancy because he claimed he was out making money to provide for our son, I believed him and thought he'd change his ways once Aiden arrived. I was completely wrong. Every time Aiden's Father would try to arrange something so they could meet his father wouldn't show up. I told myself I would never let my child feel the pain I felt. My son's life is not a revolving door, I'm the only person my son needs and I'll do anything to protect that little boy with my life.
Moving to Milwaukee less than a half a year ago with nothing but a car, a few clothes and $467 to our name. I knew I wanted different for my son and I wasn't going to find that in Chicago, IL. I️ moved to Milwaukee, WI to be closer to my mother, she ended moving to Iowa with some man after 3 months of me being here.
I enrolled Aiden into a 4 star daycare and I enrolled myself into classes to be a certified nurses assistant. It may not be a lot to others but it was what was best for me and my son.
After my mother ended up moving I had no choice but to move into a place Aiden and I can call home. Any money I had saved up, I used it to put us in our home. We struggled for awhile, no refrigerator, no stove, no furniture but we had a roof over our head and that's all that mattered.
As of right now all I'm worried doing is raising my son the best I can and becoming physically, mentally, and financially stable. It was just me and my baby boy, nobody was going to stop us from achieving our goals. We've came from nothing to something in just five months I can't wait to see what the Lord has in store for us in Milwaukee, WI.
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