Magi-Lyn’s Story
Written by: Maggie HarperWhat makes a supermom? For Magi-Lyn Tucker, it’s a combination of motherly instinct and a little professional help. Though when she became pregnant with her first child at fifteen, she was certain she could handle it all on her own. She kept going to high school throughout the pregnancy, ignoring the judgement of classmates and some faculty. At graduation, as she walked across the stage, one teacher told her she didn’t deserve the diploma. But she was unflappable, taking only four weeks off to complete her studies from home before Bella was born.
In 2020, Magi-Lyn accomplished the impossible again during pregnancy with her second daughter Alana. At just seventeen, she was earning her diploma as a Certified Nursing Assistant (CNA) at Rockingham Community College (RCC), working at WellSpring in Greensboro, parenting a toddler, as well as carrying a child. During a time when most of us struggled to get our footing during a global pandemic, Magi-Lyn was juggling enough responsibility for three moms. Her only complaint was that “COVID made it hard to go to school.” As anyone who continued their education or work through the pandemic will tell you, that’s putting it lightly.
“I’m the kind of person that if you say I can’t do something, I am definitely going to do it,” says Magi-Lyn. For a time, this attitude prevented her from reaching out for help. She didn’t want to look weak. Support from her mother was the exception, and she welcomed it readily. “She’s my role model and best friend,” says Magi-Lyn. The two share the special bond known only to single mothers and their daughters. But even moms can’t be there all the time, a reality that settled in for Magi-Lyn when hers left her with the baby for the first time: “I cried when she went to work. I didn’t know what to do.”
But it didn’t take long for Magi-Lyn’s motherly instincts to develop, and like all good moms, she soon became attuned to her baby’s needs. But even still, a young mother is no childcare expert. Fortunately, the people at the Rockingham County Partnership for Children (RCPC) are. Magi-Lyn had been introduced to RCPC’s Adolescent Parenting Program (APP) during her first pregnancy, but she had reservations. “I didn’t want anybody telling me how to raise my kid,” she recalls. But the representative from the Partnership was persistent, and eventually Magi-Lyn swallowed her pride and let them in. As a member of the APP, she was assigned a personal advisor on all things parenting. Robin Corriher and Ashley May, a beloved coordinator who recently departed from her work with RCPC, filled that role. As an APP mom, Magi-Lyn receives advice, literature, and home visits, as well as supplies like diapers, car seats, food, toys, and clothes. There have even been opportunities to meet other young moms and learn valuable skills like cooking. Thanks to RCPC, Magi-Lyn hasn’t had to raise her kids alone.
What makes a supermom? “Sleep, scrubs, and coffee,” laughs Magi-Lyn. But even with weapons like these, a mother can’t face the day alone. Superheroes need their sidekicks. With help from family and the experts at RCPC, Magi-Lyn believes that “Every single mom and dad is capable.” She encourages parents, “Even if you think you don’t want the help, at least try it. The Partnership is a great resource. I definitely recommend their services.” Part of a mother’s instinct is recognizing where her knowledge fails. It isn’t having all the information that makes a hero; it’s knowing when to signal for help.
