A Grand "Ma"

Born in Senatobia, Mississippi, and raised between her birth town; Memphis, Tennessee (her hometown); and Chicago, Illinois (where she and her family would permanently reside), Carol Morris began thinking from a young age about the mother she would be. Seeing the mothers around her– having children while being children, continuing to do so until they were having babies next to their babies, scarred by the lack of respect it really seemed most men had for their bodies– motherhood seemed almost like a certain doom. Everyone around her had essentially the same advice; it's coming, so get ready. As a mother of 3 before 25, she was determined to shield her children from the nightmares of her childhood, and show them the nurturing and safe home that she had yearned for. It was far from easy, but she intended to do her best, regardless. So she pressed on, relocating or rearranging as necessary to accommodate the three little people who were her greatest responsibility. Pain, grief and loss came like grenades, one after the other with no warning. Motherhood is a test of everything, but for her, those little faces made all the struggles worth it. So she pushed. All three of her children became high school graduates, and at least launched into the workforce. Over 30 years into motherhood, Carol and her husband finally feel like they are able to plan for when their nest has been cleared when another bomb hits the family. Mornica, her oldest daughter, died in a tragic and brutal course of actions by her husband, who also ended his own life. After losing her eldest child, as a grandmother nearing her 50s, Carol was thrust into motherhood once again, to raise the little girl her daughter left behind. This little girl and her first cousin– a little boy born to Carol's second child in December of 1999, Carol's oldest grandchild– graduated high school about 15 years later. And of course, it was in the cards that she began the cycle again with 3 of her granddaughters shortly after. With the nest overcrowded, the little people began to look around to all the faces framed on the walls and ask questions. The bigger ones begin to look back and gain perspective with momentum. It dawns on Carol that this journey of hers is remarkable. And she's decided to tell it.