A place of their own

Teresa Roseberry is celebrating the holidays with her family in the home they've lived in for almost a year.

Inside the living room is a couch, chairs, television and Christmas tree, accompanied by the constant hustle and bustle of eight children - all boys.

The scene is something Roseberry said she wouldn't change for the world. But it's also something she lived for years without.

A battle with drug abuse kept her out of her home and away from her kids for a large part of her life.

But Roseberry said there was a point her mindset changed. It was the moment she decided to concentrate on her kids and her future - instead of getting high.

“I was sick and tired of the lifestyle and what comes along with it. There's nothing positive in it,” Roseberry said.

The mother also longed to be with her children.

“I wanted that. I needed that,” she said.

She was willing to try whatever it took to get her life back.

“I put in as much effort as I did to get high to get clean and sober,” Roseberry said.

She enrolled in the local Salvation Army Depot shelter program and the Cold Weather Shelter program. After stints at the shelters, Roseberry and her kids got into permanent housing.

“I picked up on it and just went with it. It really paid off tremendously,” Roseberry said.

The mother stays on track by focusing on herself and her children and their well-being.

“I just stay focused on being a parent. Basically, it's all new to me because I've only had my children in my care for two years. So I just take it slowly. I don't jump ahead of things,” Roseberry said.

The young mother enjoys open communication with her kids.

“I had my first kid at 16 and my oldest one is now 16, so I can relate to him,” Roseberry said. “He's old enough to talk about what I was doing at his age. I can say, I don't want you to go down this road, let's try something different.”

The future is looking good for Roseberry and her kids.

“We are just gradually moving up and moving up - and I love it,” she said. “I love being able to feel secure and actually worthy.”