Hollister
– Courage comes in many different forms, not all of which are
immediately apparent. Just ask Desirey Viramontes, a local mom who
whose family is her greatest source of pride.
”
My husband and I have stayed by each other’s side through thick
and thin,
”
she said.
”
No matter what. And now we have a wonderful family.
”
Hollister – Courage comes in many different forms, not all of which are immediately apparent. Just ask Desirey Viramontes, a local mom who whose family is her greatest source of pride.
“My husband and I have stayed by each other’s side through thick and thin,” she said. “No matter what. And now we have a wonderful family.”
Viramontes, 24, was born and raised in Hollister into a “good-sized” family, most of whom she has stayed close to even today. As a junior high student, she met her future husband Ben, although she didn’t know it at the time.
“We really didn’t like each other in junior high,” she said.
In high school, however, the two quickly grew very close and became a serious couple. When she was 14 years old, Viramontes discovered she was pregnant. Though the family was divided as to what she should do, Viramontes ultimately decided to keep the baby.
“I guess for me there was never really an option, it just seemed like the best and only thing I could do,” she said. “His family wanted us to get married right then and there, when I was only 14 and Ben was 16, but my mother said ‘No. Absolutely not. You can leave this house when you hand me your diploma.’ But you know, if it wasn’t for her, I don’t know if I would have graduated.”
Viramontes attended San Benito High School during her pregnancy, but her friends abandoned her one by one, choosing instead to tease and gossip about her. Soon after her baby, Little Ben, was born, Viramontes returned to school and put her son through day care while her boyfriend also started working to support their fledgling family.
“It was very, very hard. There isn’t really any other word for it,” she said. “I know a lot of girls say ‘Oh, I want a baby because it will be so cute and I can dress it up and take it out,’ but you don’t know what it means to have a baby. It means buying Pampers and having to provide for that kid 10, 15 years in the future, when you don’t even know what will happen.”
With hard work, Viramontes was able to graduate a full six months early, move out of her mother’s house and marry Ben in 2000.
“I knew a few girls who were pregnant in high school,” she said. “Some of them are all right, but I don’t know a single one who stayed with their baby’s father. But I couldn’t imagine ever being with anyone else, and I think this has all worked out for the best.”
Today, the couple own a home in Hollister and have added Bobby, 4, and Ricky, 2 into the family. The Viramontes’ hobbies include dirt biking, sports and, most recently, Texas Hold ‘Em.
The Viramontes will soon be receiving her home childcare license and plans to go into business for herself while her kids are in school. In the next few years, she would like to attend culinary school and become a chef.
“Keeping up with my family has been really hard,” she said. “But look at us. My husband and I have accomplished what some people don’t do until their forties and we’re not even thirty yet. That’s a lot of pressure, but I’m very proud of us.”
If you would like to suggest a San Benito County resident for Local Stories call Danielle Smith at 831-637-5566 ext. 336 or e-mail [email protected]
