# @raisingculturesfamily on Instagram

- **Type:** Video
- **Original URL:** https://www.instagram.com/p/CK-bVvzhxLE
- **Gondola URL:** https://gondola.cc/posts/38144082-raisingculturesfamily-instagram
- **Thumbnail:** https://img.gondola.cc/tr:w-,h-,fo-auto/postThumbnails/b118224112.jpg
- **Posted:** 2021-02-07T03:13:34.000+00:00
- **Account Owner:** Keia Jones Baldwin (@raisingculturesfamily) — https://gondola.cc/raisingculturesfamily

## Caption

Video taken September 2019:
I was a single parent at 22 when Zariyah was 2 years old. Her dad and I had recently split and while we hadn't discussed any custody or arrangements for her, I knew I would be her primary parent. I remember my father telling me, "Zariyah will never have to want for anything as long as I'm alive. Don't you take a man to court for something he should willingly do out of obligation." So I didn't, because I knew that I would  have the support of my parents. Despite Zariyah's dad and I not always seeing eye to eye over the years, he was a relatively good dad to Zariyah and still is. I believe that children should be very much a part of both parents life even if you two aren't together, as long as it's safe. 
When Zariyah was 13, her dad asked me to put him on child support, I surely and happily obliged him! Lol! For the next 3 years, I saved the child support and gave it to Zariyah on her 16th birthday. My dad made a promise to me when Zariyah was 2 and he made good on that promise 10x over. She's never wanted for anything. God blessed me with an awesome husband, father, and village which is the reason I was able to save the money. I hate when people say the mom/dad shouldn't spend the "kids money", well if he/she is taking care of the kid, then it is what it is. If I didn't have the support I had, then I definitely would have used the money to offset expenses in the household. Kids are expensive and no amount of child support will ever cover everything it takes to be a mother or a father to a child. 
Thoughts? 
#childsupport #ittakesavillage #financialfreedom #financialliteracy #sweet16 #stocksandbonds #savings #teenager #patientparenting #motherhood #motheranddaughter #daughter #throwback

## Stats

- **Views:** 13,798
- **Likes:** 1,065
- **Shares:** 0
- **Comments:** 57

## Tags

motheranddaughter, ittakesavillage, savings, patientparenting, financialliteracy, sweet16, teenager, childsupport, throwback, financialfreedom, daughter, stocksandbonds, motherhood

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