The dryer just stopped and suddenly all I hear is the ticking clock. It’s oddly quiet. I was staring out the window, phone in hand, watching the tree limbs sway in the breeze. I hadn’t really noticed the sound of the dryer until I heard the clock. It seems like I was watching a dance… Read More A Day of Ease
My mind is like a toddler. It’s hard to make it be still and quiet. It’s actually like several toddlers at a playdate – thoughts all assembled in various states of development, some playing together, others content being left alone, talking, singing, crying, giggling, whining, yelling and sometimes, just watching.… Read More Neglected Songs & Forgotten Stories
It’s 3:41pm, the day after Christmas. It’s a cool, sunny day and I’m sitting on my patio in jeans, slippers, and a cardigan. My dogs are barking at people who are working in my neighbor’s yard and I’m waiting for the sun to sink just a little lower in the sky. I want to feel… Read More Time for Sunshine
Should we ask ourselves, and each other, especially in the midst of these tumultuous times, what is the news? Instead of the general “hello,” should we begin to ask about the children and the elders? Would asking those questions help us to adjust our focus? Could African greetings help all Americans, North, Central, and South, to make necessary course corrections in our thoughts and actions toward each other? … Read More And How Are The Children?
Again, I’ve called and emailed government officials and signed petitions. Again, I’ve reminded my children that they must always be mindful of their safety when dealing with police officers. Again, I’ve corrected the white Christians who try to convince Black people to respond to the constant threat of injustice and violence in ways that are more acceptable to the majority. I’m tired though. Preparing my children for interactions with law enforcement is tiresome. Reminding Christians of the responsibility to “Learn to do good; seek justice, correct oppression,” is exhausting. EXHAUSTING!… Read More Careful, Thankful and Tired
The minor inconvenience of covering one’s face is oppressive to those who are comfortable being oppressors. So is being reminded to follow commonly known requirements like leashing one’s dog at a public park.… Read More The Inheritance of Others: What Was Intended for Our Children
The inability to go about many of life’s normal tasks has given me an opportunity to rest. I’m not driving kids all over the place. I have few social obligations and none of them require me to get dressed, go out, or spend money. I’m free to read, rest, pray, think, and just be.… Read More Isolation Behavior: Simple Changes During the Pandemic
Whether you have always desired to homeschool, you have shifted gears to homeschool when public schools no longer met your standards (like me), or you have suddenly found yourself homeschooling as a result of social isolation, you can find a way to make it work for your family.… Read More 4 Tips for Homeschooling: Whether by Choice or Sudden Necessity
January 2020 felt like the longest month ever. For me, that’s been a blessing because it’s the first time in a long time that I’ve truly felt like myself, as opposed to constantly trying to feel better. The slow start has been good for me. I think I’m ready to pick up the pace. I’m gaining momentum.… Read More Building Momentum
Most days I felt as though I was swimming through mud, struggling for every inch forward, barely catching my breath. Blogging became a chore, not a solution. Everything made me tired. In near desperation, I continued looking for jobs with a resigned willingness to accept almost anything, much the way I imagine a lonely person looks at dating sites. On the second or third day of the year, I quit.… Read More My Own Pace On My Own Path
I’ve had the pleasure of knowing this woman for my entire life. She’s one of my greatest influences as a mother and as a person who shines her light in the community. My aunt Karen, whose birthday happens to be today, is this week’s Power Mom.… Read More Power Mom: Karen Stout
In the ten months since I found myself suddenly ousted from my dream job I’ve had plenty of time to reflect on my life. I have reached or exceeded many of the goals I had set for myself, yet the result of those achievements is not what I foresaw. With prayer and intense introspection, sometimes… Read More Encouragement: You Can Do It Too
Real talk ladies and gentlemen – I’m tired. I’ve been tired for a while but this past week presented a new challenge. It’s nothing I can’t manage but it’s going to require adjustment. I’ve been busier than usual and I didn’t make time to think about and write about what special Power Mom to celebrate… Read More Power Moms: It Could Be You
From describing our tresses as nasty, to enacting policies that force us heat or chemically alter our hair, to making us feel that we’d rather hide it than allow it to be seen in it’s natural, NORMAL, state, the European influence on Black hair has been oppressive.… Read More Hair We Go Again…
Build & Balance 