Leslie McSpadden

He had some struggles. And I just used to tell him about my struggles. And like, you got to do this because I didn't. And I need you to go beyond the point that I did. And he would always say, well, what about you? Mama, you didn't. What about you? You know, they always want to compare. And I said, no, I don't want you to be like me. I want you to be better than me.

He had some struggles. And I just used to tell him about my struggles. And like, you got to do this because I didn't. And I need you to go beyond the point that I did. And he would always say, well, what about you? Mama, you didn't. What about you? You know, they always want to compare. And I said, no, I don't want you to be like me. I want you to be better than me.

You know, and a lot of parents say that, but I really meant that. And I told him, I said, I tell you what, once I have the time, To go back to school, I'm going to do that. But you got to do it first. I say, you got to do it first.

You know, and a lot of parents say that, but I really meant that. And I told him, I said, I tell you what, once I have the time, To go back to school, I'm going to do that. But you got to do it first. I say, you got to do it first.

Mike Mike, he was the teacher of all these tech items and teaching us how to use the phone, how to program the TVs and all that. You would come and get Mike for all of that. He was the person for that.

Mike Mike, he was the teacher of all these tech items and teaching us how to use the phone, how to program the TVs and all that. You would come and get Mike for all of that. He was the person for that.

And put it back together. He can do all these great things. And I don't know where he learned it from. It was just his gift.

And put it back together. He can do all these great things. And I don't know where he learned it from. It was just his gift.

Mike had this video camera that he would record things on. And, oh, God, I could just see him on TikTok now. Like, I really can. He just was always this gadget guy, and so was my dad. So he would buy him all these things, iPods, tripods, all kinds of stuff. Mike had a portable Wi-Fi box camera. that he would carry around in his backpack with him and his laptop and his game, all his electronics.

Mike had this video camera that he would record things on. And, oh, God, I could just see him on TikTok now. Like, I really can. He just was always this gadget guy, and so was my dad. So he would buy him all these things, iPods, tripods, all kinds of stuff. Mike had a portable Wi-Fi box camera. that he would carry around in his backpack with him and his laptop and his game, all his electronics.

So wherever he went, he could plug up and be comfortable. He had all the stuff that he needed.

So wherever he went, he could plug up and be comfortable. He had all the stuff that he needed.

We had to go to family courts. I explained to them that he's been with his father for the last two weeks. I wasn't aware that he didn't enroll him in school, but moving forward, I will take my son to the school. I'll take care of it all.

We had to go to family courts. I explained to them that he's been with his father for the last two weeks. I wasn't aware that he didn't enroll him in school, but moving forward, I will take my son to the school. I'll take care of it all.

In that meeting, I paid for Mike's cap and gown because I knew my son was going to graduate. I know you're going to graduate. You're going to graduate. You're going to school and you're going to graduate. Mike started going, doing what he was supposed to do. Ms. White called me some months later and she said, I want to let you know that Mike is caught up and he's graduating.

In that meeting, I paid for Mike's cap and gown because I knew my son was going to graduate. I know you're going to graduate. You're going to graduate. You're going to school and you're going to graduate. Mike started going, doing what he was supposed to do. Ms. White called me some months later and she said, I want to let you know that Mike is caught up and he's graduating.

She said, I have his diploma and I want to give it to you. And I told her, no, you give it to Mike because he earned it and it's his and I'll see it. And I was at Straps. I left work. I got to Mike about maybe a little after three when school let out. And I saw that vanilla folder in his hand and I knew what was in it. He didn't know that I knew yet, but I did.

She said, I have his diploma and I want to give it to you. And I told her, no, you give it to Mike because he earned it and it's his and I'll see it. And I was at Straps. I left work. I got to Mike about maybe a little after three when school let out. And I saw that vanilla folder in his hand and I knew what was in it. He didn't know that I knew yet, but I did.

which led to him going to my mom's house for the summer because he earned it.

which led to him going to my mom's house for the summer because he earned it.