Mandi did not know what to be more scared of: the fact that she was pregnant at the age of 23 or that the father was totally a red flag. Mandi had been dating A’Jay for a couple of months, but the more time they spent together, the scarier it got for Mandi. She did not decide to leave, believing that because she loved A’jay truly, everything would turn out OK, and the emptiness would soon be filled.
However, over time, the relationship did get stronger, but A’jay became an addict. Mandi’s life was severely affected by several things, from the legal troubles she faced, her partner being a drug addict, and now she felt emotionally unstable as her partner wasn’t there to love and support her through the tough times. However, to maintain the family cohesion, Mandi kept giving her best.
Mandi decided to accept the child wholeheartedly, as embracing motherhood fascinated her. So, in 2010, Kayden, the couple’s baby boy, was welcomed into this world. They also got married the following year, and Mandi’s hopes that things would get better increased, too, but what happened was the opposite. Things eventually got worse. She was used to broken promises as she did not have many expectations left from her partner, sleepless nights were a part of her routine, and hidden car keys were the norm. All this happened in 2012, when she was pregnant with their second baby!
Kameron was soon born, and yet this time again, Mandi prayed and hoped for things to get better, but with A’jay’s growing drug addiction, the chances were low.
In 2015, A’jay was given an ultimatum to either get clean for the kids and family or to leave. This was because of his three-day binge; as expected, he chose to leave. It was something Mandi was already prepared for; thus, June 5 that year marked a new chapter for Mandi.
It was a chapter that required her to be strong and independent. For the kids, she had to go through the painful chapter without breaking down and shattering. Thus, every day, she woke up and chose to be a powerful single mother for the boys despite her heart filled with profound grief and sorrow.
The journey of healing felt daunting, but the support of her boys gave her the strength to carry on, usually with life. Although A’jay did check on the family and boys sometimes, it eventually started to fade, too. By then, Mandi was no longer focused on fixing or rebuilding her relationship with the kids’ father, but all she wanted was for her kids to have a good life and a safe space, free of worries.
Mandi had always wanted to be a foster parent, but while juggling all the problems for years, she couldn’t express or act on her wish.
Although she was a single mother already taking care of two children, after all that had happened, she wanted to provide other suffering children with a safe space, too. Over the next few months, she took her time preparing to become a foster mother, taking classes and getting the licenses, and in 2019, she was a licensed foster parent.
Two boys who were only at her place for 9 months before reuniting with their actual family were her first placement, and she experienced how saying goodbye to them was so tough on her. However, through it all, she kept reminding herself of the purpose for which she had decided to become a foster parent, which acted as a reaffirmation.
However, things took a turn when she received a call and was told that a 14-year-old boy needed a home. She was concerned about whether she could take care of a teenager, but keeping her hesitation aside, she decided to try it. When the boy entered the home, it felt like they were meant to be bonded. Although Mandi was not his biological mother or did not know him at all, it felt like he was her child. Thus, in 2020, on February 26, he moved in, becoming a permanent part of the family.
Although they had to go through challenges of adjusting to his new identity and trusting everyone around him, in May 2021, he was officially a Booker. Mandi exemplifies how resilient women can be, whether for their family, providing for their home, or healing others. It is always upon the person who chooses to love and care for.
