(Eastern Michigan University student Karen Washington holds her son, Glen “Tre” Aaron Baltimore III. Photo was taken at Portrait Innovation in Perrysburg, Ohio.)
YPSILANTI, Mich.-- On a peaceful Friday evening a young woman looks furiously through a baby bag to find a pacifier as her child begins to wake up from a nap. The bag seems to be filled with an endless amount of baby necessities. The baby cries and without much delay she find's the missing pacifier and the young woman runs over to the couch and saves the day before sitting down to grace me with her presence. Karen Washington, a senior at Eastern Michigan, is a student similar to many college students who now takes on a great deal of responsibility and difficulty as a new parent. Despite any obstacle or struggle, she continues on with her education and chasing her dreams.
The 21-year-old double major in electronic media films and communications is the mother of a 3-month year- old son named, Glen “Tre” Aaron Baltimore III, after his father.Washington’s day starts around 5 a.m. This is the time her baby usually wakes up and needs to be fed. Once the baby is fed she spins more time with him: rocking him back to sleep,changing his diaper if needed, or just simply embracing him. After taking care of the baby, Karen then has to prepare for her other job as a full-time student, with classes that start at 8 a.m. Waking up this early can be a bit stressful. She explains that she doesn’t get enough sleep and when she does get to class she often spends time worrying about her son. As time moves on, she feels things will become even more stressful.
“As he gets older he’s not going to want to sleep as much, and he will be moving around getting into everything,” Washington said.
On the days Washington has classes, she doesn’t leave campus until about 1:45 p.m. She often makes a quick trip to the store to pick up something for the baby before heading home; and when she arrives home she starts on homework and plays with her baby before 7 p.m.
With the help of boyfriend and Eastern Michigan University student Glen Baltimore II, a good portion of the load that comes along with being a parent is taken off of her shoulders, especially when she is away from her child.
“After dinner, Tre usually goes to sleep and Glen and I watch TV or sometimes have company over. At 10 p.m. I get Tre up, give him another bottle and a bath, put him to sleep by 10:30 p.m., take my bath and be in bed by 11 p.m.” Washington said.
Since becoming a mother, Washington said that besides the management of money, she really isn’t missing out. She says that she was never much of party goer and her friends still come and hang out.
Washington plans on graduating at the end of the 2011 winter semester and moving to the South to pursue a career as a newscaster in public relations. Washington is determined to finish her education. She said her child is her motivation.
“I know I have someone depending on me now to make it and get the best career possible so that I can give him everything he wants and needs.”
Above all, Washington said she feels that this experience is helping her to become a stronger person.
“I know that as far as today I am a better person and mother and it's all thanks to me having Tre. He keeps me grounded,. He has helped me realize that just because you have a baby at what some would call an early age your life is not over, it has just begun. Most importantly , it has helped me become stronger because I am his voice right now, so I have to carry his and my own.”
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