Mother's Day: Cheyenne Swing a real life “Superwoman”

Cheyenne Swing with husband Shawn, and her children Opie, and Cooper. {Contributed Photo}

Mother's Day is one reserved in celebration of motherhood, surrogacy is a special distinction. It's a deserving day set aside to acknowledge the wonderful woman who gave us life and honor her efforts made every day throughout the year. This year it will be celebrated on Sunday, May 9.

Cheyenne Swing pregnant during surrogacy, standing with husband Shawn, and her children Opie, and Cooper. {Contributed Photo}

What does being a mother really mean? One definition of motherhood is “A protector, disciplinarian and friend. A mother is a selfless, loving human who must sacrifice many of their wants and needs for the wants and needs of their children. She works hard to make sure her children are equipped with the knowledge, skills and abilities to make it as a competent human being. Being a mother is perhaps the hardest, most rewarding job a woman will ever experience.”

But, what do you call someone who is all of the defined above, plus more? Someone who is exactly this for her OWN children, but also for many of YOUR children in our community as well. Even more, someone who is so loving, so selfless, she willingly volunteered her able body to bless others with a child of their own?

Her name is Cheyenne Swing, and she’s been referred to as a real life “Superwoman.” After learning more about her story, that title, most definitely, seems undeniable.

Swing, 30, is a local of Davidson County. She graduated from West Davidson in 2009 and went to UNC Charlotte on the “Teaching Fellows Scholarship,” among other scholarships, and earned a full academic ride. She graduated in 2013. Eager to begin her career, Swing started teaching that fall at Central Davidson High School.

Finally, in 2014, after finishing her first year of teaching, Swing married her high school sweetheart, Shawn Swing. In 2017, they began working on building a family together. Cheyenne said with pride, “Shawn and I are now blessed with two wild boys. Opie is four and Cooper will turn two in one week.” When asked if she has plans for more children in the future, without hesitation, she returned with, “Absolutely not. I am one-hundred percent happy with being a boy mom and my two keep me busy. I can’t imagine starting over with a newborn.”

Swing continued as to her teaching background, “I taught at Central Davidson for three years before transferring to West Davidson,” adding she wanted to get back to her roots. “It’s surreal that I work alongside some of the teachers who taught and inspired me in high school.” She teaches high school English but states American Literature is her favorite. She also started teaching Film Critique for the first time this past semester. Swing is the cosponsor of the Beta Club and is involved with the Hunter Safety Team for West. “Not all students are athletes and in a rural community like ours, the hunter safety team is what keeps some kids caring about their academics.”  

In a Facebook post honoring “Teacher Appreciation Week,” one former student wrote in regards to Mrs. Swing: “You weren’t just a teacher to me but also a valuable coach and role model. I think the most important things you taught me were your constant positivity and your work ethic. From the BETA club, to the Hunter Safety Education Team, to school work, and your family. Your ability to juggle all your responsibilities and to exceed everyone’s expectations has been a powerful motivator in my life as well as many others.”

This year, Mrs. Cheyenne Swing was recognized as West Davidson High School's “Teacher of the Year”! Humbly, Swing added, “I was shocked and excited to learn I had been named Teacher of the Year. I knew it was a possibility because I had been nominated, but there were many worthy candidates that I just did not expect to get it. I work alongside such fantastic colleagues and the fact that they chose me feels good.”

If the title of “Sister of the Year” existed, Swing would certainly be nominated for that as well for her love and selflessness. Swing expressed this part of the narrative “is a story of hope, love and faith.”

Swing’s older brother and his wife got married when Cheyenne was still in high school. From that point forward, they began to start a family. Unfortunately, they faced hardships in their pursuit to have children. When Swing was a sophomore in college, she shared, “They were really at the peak of their struggle to have a baby, and I was so heartbroken for them.” She offered to become a surrogate, but says her sister-in-law would not consider it until Swing had finished having her own children. “At the time, children were not even remotely on my radar, so I thought they would surely have kids by the time I was done having my own,” Swing added, “But, then they didn’t.”

Swing continued, “Shawn and I were blessed with Opie in 2017 and then Cooper in 2019. I remember holding Cooper when he was a newborn late into the night and I just couldn’t stop thinking that my brother and his wife truly deserved to have this, and that’s when I started praying about becoming a surrogate.” After countless prayers and long talks with her husband, the couple offered to become a surrogate to her brother and his wife. “They were reluctant at first and surprised by the offer, I think. More than anything they didn’t want anything to happen to me while carrying a baby for them.” But the two did finally accept Swing’s selfless offer of love.

“I will forever be grateful that God gave me a body that will carry babies. Throughout my pregnancy, I woke up early every morning to pray and thank God; I would tell him, ‘Lord, if this is your will, let me deliver this miracle for you,’ and he did.” Now, Swing adoringly says she has a beautiful niece that made it all worth it. “I am finally an aunt, and I will cherish my sweet niece forever. It has been so satisfying to watch my brother and his wife finally have the baby they prayed over ten years for.”

Cheyenne Swing receiving Teacher of the Year award. {Contributed Photo}

When Swing was informed she was referred to as “Superwoman” by her sister-in-law, she offered, “I am flattered by it. I think I’m pretty much just like any other mama, though. We mamas love our babies immensely, and we’ll move heaven and earth to protect them. I have my moments when I feel like I’m doing it all wrong, I lose patience, or I react too harshly; when that happens, which is at least once a week, I try to take a step back and give myself some grace. God gave me these babies because he knew I would be the mama they needed to guide them through life, and I’m doing the best I can.”

It could be said that Swing is not only deserving of Teacher of the Year, but also, arguably, Sister of the Year, and possibly even Mother of the Year! But, regardless, Superwoman is definitely an accurate and deserving title for this young mother. 

If the definition of a mother is in fact defined as “a protector, disciplinarian and friend. A selfless, loving human who must sacrifice many of their wants and needs for the wants and needs of their children. Someone who works hard to make sure her children are equipped with the knowledge, skills and abilities to make it as a competent human being,” it sounds like Cheyenne Swing is without a doubt a MOTHER in all walks of her life!