Tia In Ohio

My name is Tia and I’m 42 years old. I’ve never been married and I am currently single. I hope to be married one day but for now I am enjoying my life and living it to the fullest. I am actually pretty introverted but I do enjoy meeting new people, and I love spending time with my friends and family. I am a nurturer by nature, and I will do everything I can to make sure the people I love are taken care of.

I am an educator and am so passionate about my work. I began my career as a high school math teacher and spent 10 years in the classroom. I loved being able to encourage students and helping them find success in math and in themselves. I eventually moved into an administrative role, and I now serve as the Director of Curriculum in the same district that I attended in middle school and high school. I love my work because I help to ensure that every student, regardless of their background, ability, or situation, receives a high quality education and has a strong sense of belonging. I am blessed to work in my passion and couldn’t imagine doing anything else.

In my free time, I enjoy hanging with my family and friends, going to the movies or watching them on tv. I LOVE action, fantasy, and sci-fi films but I definitely appreciate a good Rom-Com, and I never miss a good Disney film! My favorite season is autumn but I really love summer time in my home city. It’s filled with festivals, live music, and great food. My city has a ton of cool gems and I really enjoy exploring it throughout the year.

I enjoy traveling, whether it’s getting on a plane or jumping in the car for a good road trip. I enjoy seeing the sites, checking out the culture, and exploring the food scene. I’ve been fortunate enough to travel internationally. I went to Germany while in high school. As an adult, I’ve traveled to China and Jamaica. I also really enjoy visiting new cities/states within the country, some of my favorite places being New Orleans, San Diego, Houston, Chicago, Providence, Louisville, DC, Las Vegas and Tampa.

I am the dog mom to my sweet pup Coco. She’s actually 7 years old but I still call her a pup because she has the sweetest puppy face and the energy of a little puppy! Coco is a boxer and she LOVES being around people. She gets very excited when she’s around the family and appreciates all of the love and attention. She’s a cuddle monster. I couldn’t imagine life without her.

I LOVE my neighborhood. Though it is a suburb, it is very much connected to the larger city. Everything is roughly 15-20 minutes from the downtown area of the major city. My neighborhood is very diverse with different ethnicities, religions, ages, and family structures. My neighborhood has two neighborhood parks and is close to several metroparks. It is also very close to the elementary, middle and high school. I live in the district that I work in, and I intentionally looked for a home in this district because I know firsthand that it has great schools with caring educators. Living in the school district I work in also gives me the opportunity to be on the same schedule as my children so I can take time off when they are off from school.

I’ve lived in my home for about 8 years. It’s a two story home with 3 bedrooms, 2 and a half baths and a basement. My brother and my niece currently live with me temporarily. I have a bedroom that is now dedicated to the baby’s nursery. My house has a decent sized front and back yard and my street is pretty quiet so it is safe for kids to play outside. Several of my neighbors have young children and they are always outside together. My neighbors are extremely friendly and we all look out for each other. The greater city has tons to offer culturally, and I love the opportunities available to learn from others about their cultures.

I am the oldest of three, I have a younger sister (5 years younger) and a younger brother (8 years younger). My immediate family consists of my sister and brother-in-law, brother, two aunts who are more like sisters because we were practically raised together, my stepdad and his wife. I also have four nieces who I adore.

I have a special relationship with my stepdad. He’s actually been in my life since I was 5 years old and calls me and my sister his daughters even though my brother is actually his only biological child. He and my mom never got married officially but they were together for 10 years. From that point on, no one could ever say all of us weren’t his children. His entire side of the family welcomed us as their family from the moment he began seeing my mom, and they have always treated us like blood family. I feel the same about them.

My grandparents got custody of me and my siblings when I was around 12 years old, and they raised us from that moment on. They have since passed away but have left a lasting impression, and I still feel their love deeply. My mom had her own struggles during my childhood but she was able to get her life together in my adulthood, and we had a loving relationship until she passed away over a year ago.

I have three best friends that I have known since middle school. I do not take our friendship for granted. They are actually more family to me now and I am so fortunate to be the godmother of their children, three goddaughters and a godson! I have several other friends that I’ve connected with over the years. My village is strong and filled with great people who are kind, caring, and supportive.

My family is pretty close, we all live within 5 miles of each other and see each other regularly during the week. My family is capable, willing and ready to love a baby fiercely and fully because they have done that with me all of my life. Family means everything to me, and I am completely devoted to mine!

My family gets together for every major holiday, usually rotating between my house and my sister’s house. We also have dinner together with everyone at least once a month. We celebrate each other and are very supportive of one another. Whether that’s a game, a recital, a show, an awards ceremony, you name it, we will always be in the audience cheering each other on. There is never any hesitation if someone is in need. We always have each other’s backs!

I am an active member of the alumnae chapter of my sorority. I have served as the co-chair for one of the youth programs for roughly 6 years. I also serve on the executive board of a local non-profit organization that provides food and assistance to residences in need within my community. This is another area of passion for me. I always try to find ways to help those in need because I had similar experiences when I was child and there were so many who supported me and my siblings during that time. I wouldn’t be the woman I am today without the love, support, and encouragement I received from others growing up.

I have always had the desire to be a mother and to love and raise my own children. I have never been married, and as I have gotten older my fertility has drastically decreased to the point where having children naturally is no longer an option. I know that motherhood comes in many forms, and I will provide endless love to a child even if I do not give birth to that child.