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My Memoir of Motherhood
“Did you ever consider aborting me?” my thirteen year old asked me one day. I was always told that if a child asked a question it was because they were ready to hear the answer. Aidan had always been able to handle the responses I gave him to his inquiries when he got curious, which was often. However, I wasn’t sure what to answer when my son got personal. The trust was, I had thought about getting an abortion the instant I found out that I was pregnant with him because I was only eighteen years old at the time, still in high school, and had been accepted into the university programme I wanted.
My handsome blond haired son stared at me with his brown eyes, patiently waiting for an answer. I didn’t want to lie to him, but didn’t know how to tell him that his father and I had not planned to have him and that abortion had been my first thought when I looked at my positive pregnancy test back in June of 2000. How could I look at my loving son in the eyes and tell him that I didn’t originally jump for joy and then happily announce the news to the whole world?
Obviously, I ended up changing my mind about getting an abortion and have absolutely no regrets about my decision.
This is my true story of how my precious son came into the world and changed my life. I don’t know what I would do without him. Being a mother is truly the most wonderful thing in the world.
(This memoir was originally published in the compilation book ‘’They Call Me MamaBear’’ put together by Author Amber Royce.)
My handsome blond haired son stared at me with his brown eyes, patiently waiting for an answer. I didn’t want to lie to him, but didn’t know how to tell him that his father and I had not planned to have him and that abortion had been my first thought when I looked at my positive pregnancy test back in June of 2000. How could I look at my loving son in the eyes and tell him that I didn’t originally jump for joy and then happily announce the news to the whole world?
Obviously, I ended up changing my mind about getting an abortion and have absolutely no regrets about my decision.
This is my true story of how my precious son came into the world and changed my life. I don’t know what I would do without him. Being a mother is truly the most wonderful thing in the world.
(This memoir was originally published in the compilation book ‘’They Call Me MamaBear’’ put together by Author Amber Royce.)
52 pages, Paperback
First published January 1, 2014
About the author
Chantal Bellehumeur
64 books84 followersI am a multi-genre author who always loved to write but never thought about publishing anything until a friend of mine told me I should.
Before that, I was more interested in acting. I performed in a couple of amateur stage showed and joined a Youth run Theatre Company. I was also an extra in a few commercials, TV shows and movies.
My love for acting soon got replaced with the love for my son. I made him my number one priority. I found it easier to write on my spare time than to work around other people's schedules to act. I found that I had to use some of my acting training to write since I had to put myself in the shoes of the characters I created.
I currently have 19 books available to purchase on Amazon. Some of my work (short stories, memoirs and poems) was also featured in online magazines as well as anthologies. I also wrote articles for a local newspaper.
On a side note, whether you own any of my books or not, you can request a personalized digital autograph from me by going to the following link:
http://www.authorgraph.com/authors/c_...
Please visit my webpage: https://author-chantal-bellehumeur.we...
Follow me on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/pages/Chanta...
Before that, I was more interested in acting. I performed in a couple of amateur stage showed and joined a Youth run Theatre Company. I was also an extra in a few commercials, TV shows and movies.
My love for acting soon got replaced with the love for my son. I made him my number one priority. I found it easier to write on my spare time than to work around other people's schedules to act. I found that I had to use some of my acting training to write since I had to put myself in the shoes of the characters I created.
I currently have 19 books available to purchase on Amazon. Some of my work (short stories, memoirs and poems) was also featured in online magazines as well as anthologies. I also wrote articles for a local newspaper.
On a side note, whether you own any of my books or not, you can request a personalized digital autograph from me by going to the following link:
http://www.authorgraph.com/authors/c_...
Please visit my webpage: https://author-chantal-bellehumeur.we...
Follow me on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/pages/Chanta...
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Displaying 1 - 8 of 8 reviews
August 2, 2014
Memoir is a strange genre: it purports to be true, for better or worse, but it also must read with the flow and drama of fiction in order to be entertaining.
Told in first-person, we get a strong, clear, warm voice of a woman experiencing motherhood--a reluctant motherhood, in fact, and all that implies. It is at times a difficult story to tell, but all is elevated by the interplay between the mother's thoughts, reflection, and introspection, and conversations with her son. It's an amazing sequence, an exploration of the motivations and issues influencing a decision about abortion or motherhood.
Yes, I'm a guy and so (some may think) I cannot possibly understand or appreciate the topics in this memoir, which was one reason I was drawn to it. But I am human, too, and I empathized with the narrator at every turn. The genuine feeling I got from reading gave me insight into the feminine side of humanity. In my own experience of fatherhood, we never kept a journal or saved more than a handful of mementos. But reading this brought back so many memories of my own experiences.
Of course, there are moments, scenes, episodes that tend toward the ordinary, everyday activities which to other people may not be so special. However, placed in the context of the overall narrative, they add details and context to the main "plot" of the tale. Daycare, shuffling work duties with child care, her child's development and gaining interests, displaying new talents, favorite this and that--all the things a new parent marvels at. Yet, as expected in a narrative like this, it is the ups and downs of everyday life that provide the drama.
I've previously read a couple short stories by this author (which are now collected in the anthology "Emily"), so I thought I would see what this "novella" was about since the themes of the stories were also experiences being a mother. I enjoyed the author's voice in those stories and it matches the voice in this memoir, one that is honest in tone and heartfelt in spirit.
If there are any faults in this short memoir, they are limited to the journalistic feel of the narrative, which if one takes it as a journal is still sufficient to be of interest to those about to be mothers (or fathers) and those who have already experienced this awesome phase of life. This is a memoir, after all, yet it is both a personal story and a universal one.
Told in first-person, we get a strong, clear, warm voice of a woman experiencing motherhood--a reluctant motherhood, in fact, and all that implies. It is at times a difficult story to tell, but all is elevated by the interplay between the mother's thoughts, reflection, and introspection, and conversations with her son. It's an amazing sequence, an exploration of the motivations and issues influencing a decision about abortion or motherhood.
Yes, I'm a guy and so (some may think) I cannot possibly understand or appreciate the topics in this memoir, which was one reason I was drawn to it. But I am human, too, and I empathized with the narrator at every turn. The genuine feeling I got from reading gave me insight into the feminine side of humanity. In my own experience of fatherhood, we never kept a journal or saved more than a handful of mementos. But reading this brought back so many memories of my own experiences.
Of course, there are moments, scenes, episodes that tend toward the ordinary, everyday activities which to other people may not be so special. However, placed in the context of the overall narrative, they add details and context to the main "plot" of the tale. Daycare, shuffling work duties with child care, her child's development and gaining interests, displaying new talents, favorite this and that--all the things a new parent marvels at. Yet, as expected in a narrative like this, it is the ups and downs of everyday life that provide the drama.
I've previously read a couple short stories by this author (which are now collected in the anthology "Emily"), so I thought I would see what this "novella" was about since the themes of the stories were also experiences being a mother. I enjoyed the author's voice in those stories and it matches the voice in this memoir, one that is honest in tone and heartfelt in spirit.
If there are any faults in this short memoir, they are limited to the journalistic feel of the narrative, which if one takes it as a journal is still sufficient to be of interest to those about to be mothers (or fathers) and those who have already experienced this awesome phase of life. This is a memoir, after all, yet it is both a personal story and a universal one.
January 29, 2017
A Mother’s Life is Never Dull
The author has experienced an interesting life to date, sometimes happy and sometimes not so happy, but always interesting. Still in high school, she experienced a shocking pregnancy. She pretty much decided that abortion was the best solution and booked an appointment at an abortion clinic. Fortunately, her boyfriend did not desert her. They changed their minds on the abortion and were blessed with a happy, healthy son which they both adored. The relationship with the boyfriend lasted almost five years but they eventually went their separate ways leaving the author as a single parent. This is never easy but the author’s determination to provide the best life possible for her son was pretty much successful. This is a quite interesting account of their journey together from birth to the son’s early teens. Everyone should find it enjoyable and it is certainly a valuable guide book for single teen mothers.
The author has experienced an interesting life to date, sometimes happy and sometimes not so happy, but always interesting. Still in high school, she experienced a shocking pregnancy. She pretty much decided that abortion was the best solution and booked an appointment at an abortion clinic. Fortunately, her boyfriend did not desert her. They changed their minds on the abortion and were blessed with a happy, healthy son which they both adored. The relationship with the boyfriend lasted almost five years but they eventually went their separate ways leaving the author as a single parent. This is never easy but the author’s determination to provide the best life possible for her son was pretty much successful. This is a quite interesting account of their journey together from birth to the son’s early teens. Everyone should find it enjoyable and it is certainly a valuable guide book for single teen mothers.
June 28, 2014
I am a huge fan of Chantal’s books so when asked to read and review this book I didn’t hesitate a sec to say yes. And as always I didn’t have to disappoint. The raw honesty of this story blew me away, the beauty of growing as a person made me cry. I think every woman, young or old, should read this story. As it is a proof that sometimes something magnificent can be born out of thin air, that even if the life does not always go as planned, there is a reason for everything. I can only imagine how proud Aidan, now thirteen, is about his mother. Not many can say their mother wrote a story about the love for her son. This book truly is a tribute of motherhood, and something that will most likely be cherished and shared to the generations yet to come.
July 4, 2014
As the mother of four children, the oldest of which was born in the same year as the authors son, I identified with practically every moment of this book other than the travel. The emotions she experienced being pregnant at such a young age and then the wonder that is our children once they have come into the world was captured beautifully. This was a very heart warming and real read and I am so glad the author decided to take this route and share her experiences as a mother with the world. I also have to admit that hearing she was Canadian like me also made me love it even more.
I dare any parents of a child to read this and not be moved by it. I guarantee you will find a part of yourself within these pages.
Terrific read.
I dare any parents of a child to read this and not be moved by it. I guarantee you will find a part of yourself within these pages.
Terrific read.
July 7, 2014
A brave girl did a brave thing...
Young, single, and pregnant...
Chantal has to make a choice...
Does she keep the baby or abort it...
Thirteen years later he son asks her "Did you ever consider aborting me?"
Excerpt
"The truth was, I had thought about getting an abortion the instant I found out that I was pregnant with him because I was only eighteen years old at the time, still in high school, and had been accepted into the university program I wanted.
This is Chantal's beautifully told, true story, of having her son and all the experiences of raising him.
"I don’t know what I would do without him.
Being a mother is truly the most wonderful thing in the world."
Your heart will be touched!
An inspirational true story!
Young, single, and pregnant...
Chantal has to make a choice...
Does she keep the baby or abort it...
Thirteen years later he son asks her "Did you ever consider aborting me?"
Excerpt
"The truth was, I had thought about getting an abortion the instant I found out that I was pregnant with him because I was only eighteen years old at the time, still in high school, and had been accepted into the university program I wanted.
This is Chantal's beautifully told, true story, of having her son and all the experiences of raising him.
"I don’t know what I would do without him.
Being a mother is truly the most wonderful thing in the world."
Your heart will be touched!
An inspirational true story!
June 24, 2014
You have an amazing story to tell in this book! Thank you for allowing me to share it in They Call Me MamaBear. I'm happy you decided to put it into your own book and share it! Thank you for such a lovely opportunity, and I know that everyone who didn't read They Call Me MamaBear will LOVE your Memoir of Motherhood! :) Best of wishes! Amber
June 28, 2014
A nice and very detailed memoir of single young parents who decided to keep their baby. When her son was old enough to begin to understand, he asked her if she had ever considered aborting him. She gave him a brave and difficult answer that he took with aplomb and they were able to get past it. It's not very long and is almost like looking through family's photo album of memories.
July 9, 2014
I felt as if I were reading this author's diary. So many heartfelt, private, touching moments. From being a single parent, health issues, financial woes and a lot of fun this is a touching poignant story of a mother's love for her child. A great read for anyone.
Displaying 1 - 8 of 8 reviews