One Secret to Success for a Working Mom, Expand Your Village (Jack and Jill of America)

Jack and Jill of America member and her daughter Recently, I have become keenly aware that good kids are created by accident. They become good because someone made a concerted effort to pour positive things into them--things like, honor, discipline and respect for others. These qualities are taught through lessons and by observation. For that reason, I have been actively considering how to give my children more examples of people who embody those qualities.  Indeed, raising my children to become good people is my most important job.

Celebrating Independence Day While Black


Mom and son
Celebrating the Fourth of July

Our nation was founded on the ideals that every free man should have the right to life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness. Recent events have shown us that although slavery has been unlawful since 1865, freedom is not experienced in equal measure by all American citizens. Black and brown people remain bound by the systems of power even though the law abolished slavery.

We are confronting very serious questions and critical decisions need to be made. However, in the meantime, we celebrate.
Family celebrating Independence Day

Black People Celebrate Independence Day Too


We celebrate because we know that our forefathers confronted more serious challenges and yet they survived.

We celebrate because we appreciate that our grandparents were smart and worked hard yet they were denied their due and still they sang. 

We celebrate because we understand that our parents sacrificed so that we could have more opportunities and raise our children to dream big.

We celebrate because we are still here, fighting the fight, telling our story, and because of above all else, we are still breathing!

So, this holiday weekend, I stayed with my dad, had breakfast, lunch and dinner, swam at the pool with my family, tried to catch fireflies, laughed, shared stories, and had a great time. And, I was incredibly grateful that I was free to do it. 

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