Mentor program helps teen moms

Southeast Missouri State University student Heather Tallent hasn't settled on a career, but the 19-year-old already is majoring in motherhood.

The Cape Girardeau teen and another 19-year-old mother, Nikki Seiler of Leopold, Mo., talked of juggling jobs, school and parenting duties during a luncheon meeting Saturday, sponsored by the Missouri Mentoring Partnership parenting program.

About 20 mothers, daughters, friends and relatives attended the program, titled "From Backpacks to Diaper Bags." The event at the Evangelical United Church of Christ included a panel discussion featuring Tallent and Seiler.

Tallent was an 18-year-old freshman when she got pregnant. She was already engaged, but the pregnancy moved up the wedding date. She and her boyfriend were married in December. Their son, Elijah, was born in April.

Suddenly, she was a mother with responsibilities that other teen-agers didn't have.

Still, Tallent isn't complaining. She loves her son. "It was like a gift from God," she said.

Like Tallent, Seiler isn't bitter about her new responsibilities. She loves her baby girl, Kyleigh Nicole, who is now 3 months old.

But she admits that raising a child isn't easy. "I'm like every other teen-ager, I want to go out and party and have a social life," she said.

Seiler and her boyfriend are raising the baby.

Moms up to age 22

Tallent and Seiler said they have been helped by the mentoring program, which provides parenting help and mentors for young mothers up to age 22 with babies less than a year old, and young pregnant women. It also helps them find funding for schooling and job training.

"We have classes on healthy pregnancy and household budgeting. We even teach them how to change diapers," said Stacy Taylor, who coordinates the parenting program.

Currently, there are 24 volunteer mentors helping 30 young mothers in Cape Girardeau, Bollinger and Scott counties.

Marge Sullivan, who directs the Mentoring Partnership in the region, said they would like to have more mentors. Mentors are provided training.

Tallent said the program has helped her cope with the demands of being a new mother.

"It makes you feel you are not alone," she said. "It gives you a chance to be with other moms."

mbliss@semissourian.com

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