Dear Diary: My Life Raising Brown Girls

"Rooted Beyond Motherhood"   is a blog series rooted in spiritual identity, emotional well-being, and wholeness in Christ. While motherhood is sacred, it does not define the entirety of who we are. Through this series, we explore the full spectrum of womanhood beyond motherhood; our dreams, creativity, struggles, passions, and evolving identities. It invites women to reconnect with their God-given identity, nurture their emotional and spiritual health, and remember that before we were mothers, we were beloved daughters, called women, and whole persons in Christ. Motherhood is a vital chapter in our story, but it is not the whole story. Below is the outline for the series. Blog Series Outline Before I Was "Mom," I Was His When Caregiving Costs You Yourself The Guilt of Wanting More and God’s Grace Healing the Woman Beneath the Sacrifice Your Body Is Still Sacred Friendship, Solitude & Spiritual Community You're Calling Isn’t Cancelled by Motherhood Becoming W...

A  few years ago, I created a Facebook group for children of Black and Brown parents called “Help! My Parents Drive Me Crazy.” The purpose of this group is to provide a safe, supportive space where adolescents aged 14 and up can connect, share experiences, and discover strategies for navigating adolescence, young adulthood, middle adulthood, and beyond. People from all walks of adolescence and young adulthood are welcome to join, creating a community where we can learn, grow, and support one another . This is a positive, uplifting space — no bashing is allowed. Here, we lift each other up, share our journeys, and celebrate the joys and challenges of growing up and living life as a brown child or young adult. You will find understanding, encouragement, and connection as you navigate the journey of being yourself. Discussion Topics Include: Navigating parent-child relationships Communication strategies with parents Identity, culture, and heritage Buildi...

A few years ago, I created  Facebook group for mothers or mother figures raising brown daughters! The purpose of this group is to provide a safe space for fathers to connect, share experiences, and discover effective strategies for navigating fatherhood — however that looks for you. This is a  positive, uplifting,  supportive community . There is  no bashing is allowed. Here, we lift each other up, share our journeys, and celebrate the joys and challenges of motherhood together. You will find  understanding, encouragement, and connection  as you navigate the journey of raising brown daughters. Topics for Discuss Include: How to be a great mother Raising daughters and navigating challenges Child behavioral issues and discipline strategies Managing stress and practicing self-care Education and academic support Encouraging confidence and self-esteem Celebrating culture, identity, and heritage Health, nutrit...

A few years ago, I created  Facebook group for fathers or father figures raising brown daughters! The purpose of this group is to provide a safe space for fathers to connect, share experiences, and discover effective strategies for navigating fatherhood — however that looks for you. This group is a positive, supportive community . There is no dad-bashing allowed. Here, we lift each other up, learn from one another, and grow together as fathers. Topics for Discuss Include: Effective Co-Parenting Strategies How to Be a Great Father Raising Daughters: Challenges and Insights Managing Child Behavior and Discipline Handling Stress, Overwhelm, and Practicing Self-Care Whether you’re seeking advice, sharing successes, or simply connecting with other fathers who understand your journey, this is a space for encouragement, growth, and support. Join us and be part of a community that celebrates fatherhood while honoring the unique experience of raising brown dau...

Some days, life presses hard against me. The mistakes I’ve made, the people I’ve lost, the moments I wish I could take back… they leave marks I didn’t expect, lessons I didn’t ask for. I feel bruised by disappointment, by loss, by choices that hurt more than I can admit. I’ve stumbled, questioning my strength, my purpose, even my place in the world. But even in the heaviness, something inside me refuses to give up. I am still here. Every bruise I carry tells a story not of defeat, but of endurance. Of the times I got back up when it would have been easier to stay down. Of the resilience I didn’t know I had until life demanded it. I’m learning that being strong doesn’t mean being untouched. It means choosing to heal, to grow, to move forward, even when the path feels impossible. I am not the same person I once was, and maybe that’s the point. I am becoming someone who understands that pain is not the end it’s a beginning. A teacher. A doorway to deeper strength. So yes, I am bruised. Li...

Some stories begin with love. Mine began with absence, resilience, and a young mother who was still learning how to live while trying to raise me. This is my journey through pain, purpose, and the kind of love that grows from survival the story of what it means to be the daughter of a teen mother and an absent father. No one could have prepared me for being the daughter of a teen mother and an absent father. No one could have prepared me for the obstacles, the journey, or the emotional and mental effects it would have on me both as a child and even now, as an adult. I wasn’t ready for the heartache, the breakdowns, the letdowns, or the tears. I wasn’t ready for how deeply it would shape me. There were days it felt like I was walking through fire barefoot, with no one to carry me, no one to shield me from the burn. I know God has a plan and a purpose for my life. I’ve always believed that. But for years, it seemed as though my life was destined for destruction. Every path I took seeme...