Reading Changed My Life - Townsend Press

Reading Changed My Life! Three True Stories16 the day you decided to have this child.“And that means you can’t do what your friendsdo. You can’t leave the baby with just anyone. Youcan’t hang out at the bars and get high.” And, sheadded, girls who are “true moms” will lose friends.“A real mother will not allow people to come to herhouse to drink and fight and smoke dope aroundher children. She takes a stand.” It’s a hard thing todo, she added, but it’s right. “I’d take my childrento see my family, but when the drinking would start,we’d be out of there. And I’d hear, ‘Oh, there sheis again, making her kids out to be better than anyoneelse!’ But you know what? That was just toobad! Because raising my kids right was my priority—notpleasing my friends and family.”On and on Julia went. Her gospel-style delivery,combined with an occasional wisecrack thrown outwith perfect comic timing, kept the girls spellbound.Her advice was direct and practical: Stay inschool. If you’ve dropped out, go back. Be an90