Dear Diary: My Life Raising Brown Girls

"I just can't give up now. I come too far from where I started from. Nobody told me the road would be easy and I don't believe he brought me this far to leave me." ----Mary Mary I'm sure you have heard this song by renowned gospel group Mary Mary . This is one of several songs that I found myself humming or singing throughout the course of my day.  Life is not easy. It is overwhelming and very challenging. Yet, it can also be rewarding and filled with joy, happiness and so many memories. The challenge is seeing the rewards, feeling joyful or happy when life events have left you in despair and feeling overwhelmed.  I have always considered myself to be a strong person. Nevertheless, there have been several times in my life when I felt  like giving up. At the age of 20, I became pregnant with my oldest daughter.  I took my birth control faithfully every day and I never missed a pill . This was definitely not a part of my life plan, but I believe it was GOD

Don't twerk something, read something. It is estimated that school summer breaks will cause the average student to lose up to one month of instruction, with disadvantaged students being disproportionately affected (Cooper, 1996). Hence, why it is important to read during the summer. Summer reading help our childrem retain and enhance their there reading skills. It also helps to magnify their cognitive skills. These skills include,  communication (writing and verbal)  attention, memory, logic, reasoning, auditory processing and visual processing which are all critical for learning. As parents we are our children's first educators and it is important to stress the importance of education. We must encourage our children to read throughout the summer. During the school year our children are required to read every day and night for a certain time during a certain time. I believe we should continue that process during the summer. However, the process should be relaxed. Allow th

It is the last week of June and the school year is coming to an end. Tereya's last day of class was on June 16, but she had to return to take her regents exams. Nyasia's last day of school is on June 26. They are both excited about Summer. The first week out of school is usually the most relaxing for my girls. This is mostly because they get to sleep late. When Tereya was younger she rarely stayed in New York for the Summer. As soon as school was over she left to visit her father, stepmother, sister and brothers in Georgia. As she got older she stayed in the city and both Tereya and Nyasia went to summer camp.  At sleep away camp At the age of 14, Tereya stated she did not want to attend summer camp. When I asked her why, she said she wanted to sleep late, lounge around the house and do nothing. I decided I was not going to make her attend camp. I also explained to her that she was not allowed to have company and she was not allowed to go anywhere with anyone. I also

Tell the   and  the  Lying is not necessary. It is so much easier to tell the truth. As quick as you can tell a lie, you can tell the truth. Big, small, good or bad a lie is a lie. I don't know what's worse? Being lied to by a loved one or the fact that a loved one thinks I'm unintelligent and will believe the lie. Well news flash, I find it very entertaining especially when I know the truth.  Lying to me will get you nowhere fast. Lying to me will only make me question everything you say and do. I'd rather know the truth even if it hurts. Lying to me will only make me angry and enraged because you felt you had to lie. People fail to understand that lying about something provides a temporary solution to the current situation. I can't stress how much easier it is to be honest and tell the truth. Lying requires a lot of work. When a person lies about something, they have to remember that lie. As the situation progresses, it becomes difficult f

I did not get a chance to post this yesterday. Today is Day 2 of my process. Writing has always been beneficial to my psychological well being. Throughout my life writing has allowed me to express what I needed to say when I felt I had no voice.  Although I know my "absent father" and I will never come face to face, I decided to write him letter. I have written him several letters and today I will share one with you. Dear Father, To you I was of no value I guess I had no worth If I did you would not have denied me from birth You never reached out to me not even to explain You have no idea how you scarred me I was filled with so much pain Until TODAY I've held this inside and for so long I went through it alone TODAY, I cried because you have not been in my life and I am already grown So many things have happened that you did not get a chance to see You have missed out on so many things and not only me By the way, you have two amazing gran

I honestly thought I was over this, but yesterday I realized I never addressed the issue what I did was suppress the issue. This past Sunday I went to church with a heavy heart. I was raised in the church and as an adult I attend church often. However, the last year or so, I fell off the wagon and I have not been attending as often as I should. This Sunday was different. I went with a different purpose. I refused to leave the house of the Lord without releasing one of many things that has held me hostage all of my life... my nonexistent relationship with my father. The sermon was great. Ironically, the topic was "Are You Just Like Your Father"? I thought about that question during and after the sermon. That is one of several questions that I cannot answer. It was during the sermon I realized I was a prisoner that I am free, but I live behind bars. Certain areas of my life have been affected by failed relationships (whether friendships, family or significant other). Today I

This week Tereya had a doctor's appointment. Two years ago we crossed a new milestone. Every time I accompany my oldest daughter to her doctor's appointment I am reminded of the moment when her physician asked me to leave the examination room.  I remember it like it was yesterday. After entering the examination room, the Registered Nurse (RN) asked Tereya and me how we were doing. We replied we are doing well. The nurse proceeded to take and record her vital signs (vs)--weight, height, and blood pressure. Shortly after, the Pediatrician entered the room. We engaged in a brief conversation before he provided a comparison of last year's vital signs and this year's vital signs. He stated, "She has maintained her blood pressure and weight which is wonderful". He stated, "It is very hard for many to do whether they are young or old".  He then he said, "Now it is time for you to wait in the waiting room". I was shocked and in disbelief. My

Courtesy of The Oz Blog Vegetables are provide so many benefits to our well being. They provide us the necessary vitamins which our bodies need to thrive. The calorie intake is super low which means it would be difficult to gain weight. The food we is very beneficial to our well being. However there is a downfall. You should not consume certain food items .The food and beverages we consume while taking prescription medication can be hazardous to our health. It can also affect the method in which our medication is suppose to work. This is called a Food and Drug Interaction. This interaction can negatively affect your current side effects and create new side effects. There are several individuals who ingest prescription and over the counter (OTC-medications bought without a prescription) are not aware of the consequences of consuming food and medication together or within hours of each other. I have worked in the clinical and administrative areas of health field all of my adult l