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Samaria
Samaria
L1


Photograph Information Photographer's Comments
Camera: Canon EOS-30D
Lens: Tamron SP AF 28-75mm f/2.8 XR Di for Canon
Location: Terrell TX
Aperture: f/2.8
ISO: 320
Galleries: Candid, Children
Date Uploaded: May 4, 2008

Viewed: 259
Comments: 17
Favorites: 0

 Meet Samaria...she is five months old and is the daughter of a 17 year old student at my school. Samaria lives with her mother and grandmother in one of the government-subsidized apartment complexes in town. Samaria and her family struggle a lot. Grandmother works two jobs at two different fast-food restaurants, and mom just started working at the local Subway sandwich shop a few weeks ago. They coordinate their schedules so that they can cover child care in the evenings. Sometimes it doesn't work out, so Samaria stays occasionally with her father's mother.

Samaria sees her father on occasion. From conversations, I've learned that he doesn't work, and doesn't go to school. Samaria's mother will not open a child support case for him, because she says he "helps out." I've tried explaining to her that "helping out" is not buying a bag of diapers once a month, but she won't budge. I have found that there are many students who view child support as punishing the man rather than supporting a child and being legally responsible for the actions of both parents.

Samaria is a very unhappy baby. She cries nearly all the time. She is also twice the weight she should be for her age. Since birth, every time she has made a sound, her mother has put a bottle in her mouth. Now the baby thinks she is hungry all the time. At the center, we don't feed her like that...we have her on a regular schedule, but because of it, she cries A LOT. I've counseled with mom, and she is in our Parenting Skills class, but she says she just can't handle the crying and gives her a bottle to quiet her down. Samaria will suffer greatly for this cycle.

I am hopeful that mom matures and grows into the wonderful parent she could be, and that she develops patience to help Samaria blossom into a happy, well-adjusted baby.

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AuthorThread
 05/15/2008 02:07:01 PM
What a beautiful baby and such a sad story. Unfortunately, it is one we see all to often here as well. :(
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 05/06/2008 07:20:53 AM
What a beautiful baby - sad story.
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 05/05/2008 11:02:02 PM
I hope everything works out for this little one, nice image.
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 05/05/2008 10:19:10 PM
She is so cute. I hope the mom comes around so she can grow into a happy beautiful being. Wonderful capture.
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 05/05/2008 05:00:48 PM
This is such a sad story. The cycle of overfeeding is heartbreaking. It probably will be very hard to get her to take the pacifier now that she is used to being fed all the time.
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 05/05/2008 12:21:21 AM
This poor girl looks sad. Even if you had not told the story. Nice capture of her true being.
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 05/04/2008 09:52:33 PM
Her story is hard to hear, but I am thrilled her mom is starting to work, & is actually HELPING her mother take care of her! So many times the grandmother becomes the surrogate mother and raises the child(ren).

I think it's great she is involved with your center and has the daily opportunity for wise counsel and support. It certainly gives me hope that mom will adjust to her lifelong role.

ps pls make sure she is on birth control now!!
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 05/04/2008 08:31:52 PM
Beautiful eyes and well captured. Hope she receives all the love that she deserves.
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 05/04/2008 07:20:51 PM
OMG this is such a sad story and i hope, like you, that the difficult start she's having wont create a broken person .. it must be the hardest thing in the world to watch all that stuff going on .. giving advice which goes unheard .. you must feel so helpless .. having your strong religious beliefs would go a long way to easing the pain you may feel in a situation like this .. it just seems so sad .. the cycles repeated thru the generations .. maybe with your input you can change something in their lives and make their lot a better one ..
she has the most beautiful eyes .. i'll pray for samaria and her family .. :)
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 05/04/2008 06:03:28 PM
What a beautiful girl - with a sad tale. When children have children...

Thanks again for sharing the story. It's an awareness raising effort reminding us all to be conscious about putting children into this world.
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 05/04/2008 03:42:24 PM
sad story, its such a shame when trying to help a child with overfeeding, its a cycle that will be hard to break further along in life, that will end in depression or other problems.
Its also a shame that the mother wont budge for child support, its both of the persons responsibilities to care fully for a child, and not just for a day or so a month.
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 05/04/2008 02:50:38 PM
*shakes head*

Compare the requirements for getting a drivers license to the requirements of becoming a parent. Grrrrr. I am so sad for that beautiful baby and am also nominating you for sainthood. :)
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 05/04/2008 02:01:14 PM
Very sad indeed... it's really too bad that these beautiful babies are the ones to suffer. An awesome photo though!
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 05/04/2008 10:55:31 AM
She looks like she just finished crying. Poor baby, it is heartbreaking to hear these stories.
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 05/04/2008 10:53:34 AM
I love the stories that go with the babies - I find myself checking this side challenge (not in it) for another story every day.
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 05/04/2008 10:06:24 AM
What a beauty. I wonder if she's too old to enjoy a pacifier?
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 05/04/2008 08:57:43 AM
A heart-breaking story, but all too common...it seems like in my work there were 3 teenage single moms to every planned baby with 2 loving , prepared parents.
You are doing excellent work with these portraits , Laurie :)
  Photographer found comment helpful.


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