Mum adopts two brothers after one makes her question her career choice
Chelsea Haley never thought she would be a single mum to two boys, one who is just 12 years her junior, but that is exactly the situation she finds herself in now.
24-year-old Chelsea was working as a teacher in Baton Rouge, Louisiana when she found herself dealing with 12-year-old Jerome Robinson – a young boy who made her question her entire career.
Jerome really made Chelsea work for her money, and, at first, she struggled to control him.
However, over time, the mum-of-two learned to deal with him, and fellow teachers would send him to her classroom to get him to do his work.
At the time, Jerome was living with his birth mum, who had just lost her husband and daughter suddenly.
"It was really hard on her after she lost her husband," Chelsea told CNN.
"It was just a combination of tragedy coupled with the other social situations you face when you live in poverty."
Jerome and his younger brother Jace spent a lot of time living with their grandparents.
Chelsea finished her two-year Teach for America stint, but the principal asked her to stay on to help Jerome. Chelsea signed a three year contract and did just that
The mum planned to move back to Georgia when her contract ended.
When Jerome and Jace's birth mom realised she would be leaving, she asked her to take the two boys. Chelsea was granted permanent custody of Jerome in 2015. A little while later she was granted the same for Jace.
Jerome's school work has drastically changed since he first met Chelsea, and now, two years later, he has made honor role twice.
"He used to fail all of his classes and just didn't care," Chelsea explained.
"Now he has made honor roll both quarters of his eighth-grade year so far."
And while the journey has not come without heartbreak or stress, the now 26-year-old said she would not change a thing.
"When God told me I would be Jerome's mom, He also told me, 'It was going to be okay. You need to trust Me,'" Chelsea wrote on her GoFundMe page.
"I have held on to those words of Hope for over two years and promised to be faithful, even when it hurt.
"I want to thank everyone in advance for everything you are doing and will do for my boys.
"We are so Blessed by you all. I know their birth mother will be moved when we call her with the news."