16 years ago, a change in her career led Tamara Tucker to a parenting class. Though the mother of six and grandmother of nine was against the idea at first, attending the class was a life-changing moment for her.
“It changed the dynamics of my home,” said Tamara. “I learned a lot and was able to implement what I learned in real time with my children. It was a game-changer.”
Now a parent leader in the Saginaw County community, Tamara described herself as an unseasoned parent at the time she took this parenting class. The community of parent leaders she met through that class, still her friends 15 years later, helped her grow into a stronger mother.
Tamara’s passion for parent leadership blossomed from her experience navigating the CPS system while one of her sons was being bullied, causing him to struggle academically. As she attempted to support her child, a community member called CPS, leading to a visit that stayed on her record even though no abuse was found. Tamara advocated for herself and her family to get the investigation removed from her record. She described the process as a fight, and as something that harmed her work career tremendously.
Afterwards, Tamara began to advocate for other families. Helping other families understand their rights and navigate the CPS system launched her career as a parent advocate, where she taught parenting curriculum for over 15 years. Tucker says that she owes this experience to a former supervisor, who saw something in her that she didn’t see in herself. Navigating challenging experiences as a parent gave her lived experience to share with others, guiding parents through courses such as Parenting Wisely, Incredible Years, and Make Parenting a Pleasure from a place of understanding.
When her daughter passed away, Tamara had to navigate state systems once again as she took custody of her daughter’s son. Now five years old, Tamara’s little one was five and a half months old when she took him in.
Home visiting services were a lifeline for Tamara and her family during this transition. Even after her grandson aged out of the program, Tamara’s home visitor Miss Sarah is like family.
“She was phenomenal, teaching me how to parent this baby in this new age, and how to grieve while parenting—that’s a whole ‘nother ball game,” said Tucker. “To be seen, recognized, and loved, through grief. To be loved through the pain. And she didn’t go anywhere. She still checks on me – we’re family now. That counts, when you have a genuine home visitor, or a genuine worker that you’re working with. That all matters, the small things.”
After working in parent and family services for fifteen years, Tamara now works at Restoration Community Outreach, a shelter for unhoused men. Using what she learned as a professional parent leader, Tamara is teaching men how to advocate for themselves and their families, about the resources available to them, and how to better their lives.
“From the skills I learned at that job, I’m learning to teach men to advocate for themselves and their families. Just teaching them the ropes like someone taught me, and took me under their wing,” said Tamara. “You have the right to have that place in that room or have that seat at that table. That was major for me.”
Join Tamara and a collective of parent leaders advocating for Michigan families with Think Babies Michigan! Learn more and join today.