Ok...so TRUE story...Tasha's role in my life is literally my 2nd mama, auntie, and older sister!!! YES...all in one!! I could literally go on and on about this phenomenal woman and beautiful soul!! Tasha and her family took my mom, and then me in and made us part of their family with no questions asked. Every holiday, every just because day, and anything in between, we were apart of with them. From the MANY laughs, tears, long talks, and road trips, Tasha was always there!! I've been blessed enough to stand by her in her happiest moments, and even some of her saddest, and I can honestly say that she has truly gotten through everything with such strength, determination, and grace. I couldn't even begin to find the words to express the gratitude that I have for Tasha for accepting me and my mom and making us apart of her family. My life is better because she is in it. I am so thankful that Tasha agreed to be featured! I truly her story blesses and inspires you as it has me over the years.
I introduce you to the PHENOMENAL Tasha Freeman
*Generally speaking, what was your childhood like?
My childhood was beautiful because I spent most of my childhood in school. I know you may be thinking “She must love school”. Nope not the case. I actually buried myself in school to avoid being home. You see My mom did an excellent job raising me and my brother as a single mother. My mom started dating this guy from church and then I guess you can say we became a family right. Well so I thought. See he been knowing me all my life so of course I thought he was like a father to me. I wasn’t as close to my real father during this time which is why my mom new found boyfriend became like a father to me and my brother. One particular day at 8 years old, we spent our first night at my mom boyfriend house and the house was so huge. I actually had a room to myself way in the front by front door. I got woken up to my door opening up and it scared me. I knew my mom was gone to work already because she worked early hours. I was laying on my side facing the wall when I felt someone get in my bed. I didn’t move at all. I felt a hand rub down my body. I know this isn’t right. “What is happening”. The smell of hot coffee breath made me sick. “Why is this man touching me”?. I now could feel his hand going way up my thighs and inside. I cried out loud and he stopped got up and ran out the room. Why was this happening to me. I thought this was going to be the only time this would happen. I mean this man is the head usher of the church. Is this right? I shut down completely to my mom. I felt my mom should have known. I never told her what happened. So to avoid being home you see, I got myself involved in everything (Upward bound, basketball team, volleyball team, track, and Music). This was my therapy. I hated my mom for years because he never stopped. I even asked him why he doing this to me and he responded “Because you make me feel good”. I decided it was time to get a boyfriend. I thought that I would be protected but of course nothing worked. I got into fights mostly everyday. My mind was screwed up. After 10 years of being molested, I finally came clean to my mom and we both cried and cried. My mom was so hurt and torn because she thought I was just going through a phase. I told my mom I wanted to get him on tape and I did. So to sum it up, Yes I had the chance to experience a lot not because I wanted to but because I needed to.
*What have you learned over your lifetime that you’d like to share with the younger generation?
I have learned that when you bury feelings and never get help, you will eventually be faced with those feeling years down the line. Depression is real. To go so long with anger inside, it took me over 20 years to forgive this man. To my younger generation, if someone violate you in any way harmful, don’t hesitate to say something. You have to be able to speak up and know that this is not right. Don’t take nothing for granted. My late husband favorite quote is “Live your life in such a way your life outlives your life”. Don’t live someone else’s dreams but follow yours.
*What has the journey/process been like for you to get to where you are today?
It has been a very long journey for me. I would not be in the position I am in right now if I didn’t go through the struggles growing up. To be molested for 10 years, tried committing suicide 3 times and failed at all 3, getting into an abusive relationship mentally and physically with my boys father, to dealing with the death of the man that molested me. I was faced with some challenges because I wanted to take the tapes of me recording him doing things to me to his funeral and playing it for everyone to see. But I had to realize that God dealt with him In his own way. So now I move on with life. Here I am finally meeting the man of my life. Life couldn’t get no better than this.
*What sacrifices have you had to endure to get to where you are today?
You may be thinking yes I finally got my break through. I did. I finally got engaged and was the happiest I have ever been. Wow I finally can smile and be thankful God brought someone in my life to make me complete. My husband Michael was an inspiration to me. He was a life coach and when I tell you he made me pull up old wounds that was buried deep down that I didn’t even knew still was there. My husband made me face my childhood all over again. I was able to understand that I got so accustomed to what happened to me that it became me. I never admitted to anyone that after a while of being touched, licked, and humped on, this became my norm. I would just lay there let it happen and then it would be done quicker than to fight him off. I got whatever I wanted. I had a car, I had over $500.00 at a time. Sometimes throwing it in the toilet and flushing some of it. But it was my husband who helped me to face those challenges. Now here I am married and now pregnant with our child. It’s a boy. Camilo McKai Freeman. That’s his name. I’m now in my 2nd trimester and its Dr visit time. Wait what about the heart. This can not be happening. Heart problem!!!. Yes surgery on my baby heart. Camilo did it he fought and surgery went well. I take him to his first appointment and boom a week later my baby gone. Just like that. How could this keep happening to me. My husband Michael was right there cancelling me through it all. I was starting to heal now. 4 months later here I am April 22nd, facing yet another crisis and this time its my husband Michael died in a hit and run. So you see my sacrifice I had to endure was losing my baby and Camilo 4 months apart.
*What do you do for a living?
I am now currently running a Non-Profit organization that my husband created called Sontarahlife. My husband started this business in 2009 and I am keeping his legacy alive. I have been running Sontarahlfe now for 5 years and counting. On top of running a non-profit, I am also a manager of a group home.
*What motivates you the most?
My 2 boys Juwaun and Brandon motivates me the most. I do what I do because of them. I was able to raise them as a single mom with the help of my mom and family as well. Sometimes when I don’t feel like getting out the bed, I always have to remind myself on who I am doing this for. To have one in college on a full ride scholarship playing football and another graduate high school a scholarship as well to play football, I am damn proud of myself. I give credit to God because I would not have been able to do it without him. I am a proud football mom and I will continue living and be a motivation to others.
*You are a complete BOSS…as a woman, why do you feel like creating this path for yourself
was/is necessary?
I feel like everything that happens in life is suppose to happen to get to where you are now. My husband was in my life to show me that I am loved. Michael path was not my path. I would not be running a business if Michael wasn’t in my life. He created the path and when his story ended, mine began. I am now a stronger women who view life differently. I am happy I went through what I went through because it made me who I am today.
*What did you want to be when you grew up?
I always wanted to be in the acting industry growing up. I used to look in the mirror and pretend that I was acting out scenes imagining me actually on TV. I was an extra in Save the last dance. I was so excited because I thought that was going to be my breakthrough. But God saw other plans for my life.
*Anything you would like to say about your “platform” “area of expertise” “business” or anything?
I will like to say I hope that my story help someone that is currently going through something. Please understand that you don’t need to turn to drugs or alcohol because all you doing is prolonging your healing. You have to learn how to give your body a chance to heal properly and not bury them deep inside. I am now the happiest I have ever been. I will leave you with another quote of my late husband “I can’t change the world but I can change myself and let the would adapt around me”.
I love this inspirational woman so very much!! I hope you all were blessed by her story!! The link to her nonprofit is below. Go check it out!! Thank you Tasha for being apart of this and for just being the phenomenal woman that you are!!
Lots of Love 💙
Rebekah
https://sontarahlife.org/
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