As her alarm rings at 4 a.m.,she gets up to wake her 2-month-old baby boy. She dresses and feeds him. She packs a diaper bag and takes her baby to her cousin’s house. Then, she makes her way to school.

Alexus Reynolds, senior, is a new mom to baby Christian Andrew Roddy. At first Reynolds was depressed about being pregnant. Her family was not completely supportive, and she knew her life was going to be different.

“When my family found out I was having a baby boy everything changed,” Reynolds said. “Now my family is in love with Christian. They call me every Friday and Saturday to ask what we are doing.”

Reynolds and Christian are staying at Almost Home, a transitional living center for young mothers and their children in south St. Louis. Their mission statement is to inspire teen moms to create a better life for themselves and their children. The mothers can stay up to two years at Almost Home.

“We provide services such as life skills classes, case management, counseling to make sure when the mothers leave here they can do well in the community,” Tonetta Clay, Almost Home staff member, said.

Reynolds and Christian are living with 13 other young mothers and their children. Each family has their own room with a bed and a crib, but all 13 share three bathrooms and a kitchen. The staff and volunteer at Almost Home are helping Alexus get her own apartment.

“It is hard to balance out every mom’s different techniques of parenting,” Reynolds said. “Christian likes [Almost Home], all the other kids love him. They call him Christmas because they can’t pronounce Christian. He’s like their little brother.”

Reynolds never doubted keeping her baby, and she knew she wanted to finish high school and continue on to college. She started her senior year one month late and was put into Atlas to catch up.

“I want to be in Pep Club, and I want to be on varsity cheerleading. I want to do so much for my senior year but I am so limited,” Reynolds said. “I had to change my whole group of friends because some of my [old] friends’ parents [did not approve]. The friends I grew up with in middle school and drifted away from, those were the ones at my baby shower and who came up to the hospital.”

Christian’s dad, Chan Roddy, leaves in December for one year in Afghanistan with the military. Reynolds said they are not in a relationship but she and Chan are “like best friends.” She said it is not what most people expect for them because they are young and have a child together.

As for Reynolds becoming a mother, her friends and family have no doubt that she will be a great one.

“She’s not embarrassed about being a teen mom. I know she really loves [Christian], and she would do anything for him,” Lauren Weyerich, senior, said. “She’s a very genuine person.”

Reynolds mother, Renita Hawkins, has noticed her becoming more mature and outgoing since Christian was born. She also said having Christian has been a positive experience for her.

“Alexus is catching on pretty fast [to parenting]. She seems happy and excited about being a new mom. She likes to spend a lot of time with him, and she does not like him away for long periods of time,” Hawkins said. “It is such a blessing for her to be in the Kirkwood School District and to have so many resources available to her.”

Reynolds is planning to go to college at UMSL because they have a family living center where she and Christian can live and an on-campus day care.

“Before I had Christian I wanted to go to Florida [for college] to be a pediatrician. But when I had him [I realized] I can’t just pack him up and move him to Florida,” Reynolds said. “It is bad enough his dad will be gone.”

Christian stays with her family members when Reynolds is at school or work. Reynolds said Christian’s personality is contagious and her family members all want to spend time with him.

“I call Christian my goofy goober. He is very demanding, and is such a goof ball. He is always happy and if he is not happy, he is sleeping,” Reynolds said. “He is the highlight of my life. He is what makes me get up in the morning.”