So, since my daughter, Jayda is now a freshmen, I’m absolutely learning what it means for Michigan to be a play-2-play state, at the high school level! Jayda’s summer track camp was $200, her essentials (spikes, duffle bag, sports bra, compression shorts, etc.) cost well over $250. Jayda’s high school sports insurance cost $50 for the year. Her band uniform was $210. Her cross-country warm up’s were $150… the uniform was provided by the school (thank Gawd). And I had no idea anyyyy if these costs were associated with her participation beforehand!!! In Cleveland, we had minor fees like cheer shoes; in college, dance shoes; but most uniforms and fees were covered … Not to mention gas/mileage to commute her back and forth to track practice over an hour away for 8 weeks (I have a gas-guzzling truck; literally each day cost me about $25)… Also have to mention the many track meets that we traveled to and each meet costing between $10-15 for admission/parking for me and my son… When I look ...

There I was this beautiful morning, minding my own business, doing what I’ve done several times before, when GRANDMA KAREN & GRANDPA BOB felt the need to tell me how my (obvious blackness) wasn’t welcomed where they were!!! The audacity and disrespect! Crazy thing is, as a black person, we can absolutely expect it at some point, any point, every point, any where and any place… at all times !!! I was unaware that this community had closed off its trail and premises to outsiders due to quarantining as no signage was posted and we’ve previously gone there on plenty occasions. #WalkingATrailWhileBlack The most upsetting part for me, is that my 6YO son was instantly able to pick up on something wrong when the rude couple started saying filth out of their nasty mouths. I noticed his mood instantly changed and he became mopey and so did his body language as he positioned himself behind my body while we went back and forth. Well, we just got home and he was sitting on the floor. I ask...

*I made this post on Saturday via Facebook, but had to share my thoughts on my blog!  So, I’m watching Soul on Disney Plus... it just came out yesterday and is about a black musician who’s voiced by Jamie Foxx. I have SOUL many issues with this movie! #SpoilerAlert Within the first 10 minutes of the movie, the main character done turned into a blue marshmallow thing 🤦🏾‍♀️! Just like Princess and the Frog, the black characters don’t seem to stay their authentic, black selves... they’ve apparently gotta change into something else in order to be relatable. Then, his soul returns back to Earth and is stuck in a cat’s body (yet, another animal... like the friggin frog... I guess black people can only be animals according to Disney)... while his physical body inhabits the soul of “middle-aged white lady” (it’s what’s stated in the movie)... he’s way feminine as a result, and has a woman’s voice for a huge chunk of the movie.  He seeks the validation from his “mama” who doesn’t app...

Click to listen to The Single Wife Life Podcast, Episode 6  I'd taken a job over an hour away from where I lived. Partly because I'd set my career goals on the organization as I admired the great work being done there and within the community overall, around diversity, equity and inclusion. The other part was simply because I wanted to move. I never really had plans of staying in the small-country town in Michigan that had become my home for almost 10 years. So when the opportunity of employment elsewhere presented itself, I jumped.  Problem is, when you're married, you can't jump in whatever direction you please, whenever you please. Well, I'd been meeting opposition for years and I was the only person who wanted to move forward and progress. Inwardly, I was on a journey to have a much better life than what my children and I had experienced. As such, I took the job in another town, was willing to commute two to three hours per day, and had the mindset that I'd...

Let me tell y’all how this entire conversation went (with a 4-year-old boy): Him: Mom, I need a  ✏️  for my homework (i.e. his coloring book  🙄 ). Me: I don’t have one, but here’s a  🖊 . Him: Oh, I have an idea  💡 ... (walks over to my make up pencils, grabs one and starts walking out the room... youknow, so he can complete his homework... in a timely manner). Me: Wait, you can’t use that, that’s my makeup pencil! Him: Oh  🤔  (In a very inquisitive tone)... This you makeup pencil? (He proceeds to walk to me and my face) Mommy, hold still! Me:  💭   # InnerThought  1)Body slam him just because and start a wrestling match (nah, too tired to play); 2) Give him a lecture about not playing with makeup (nah, I don’t want to impose ridiculous gender norms... not today anyways); 3) Let him have artistic expression on my face  😳 ??? Well, you see the end result  🤷🏾‍♀️ ! I followed up by asking ...

Spats with a 4-year-olds be like: Mom, I’m hungry... can you fix me a  🌭  ! Sure son, you want this, right? (Points  ➡️  in fridge to designated  🌭  drawer to confirm because he’s a picky 4-year-old eater... as they all are... and mom wants to make sure she’s giving appropriate requested cuisine)... No mom, not that  🌭  ... The other  🌭  ... (good thing she pointed  ➡️ , right 🤷🏾‍♀️ ?!) 😳  Son, those are the only hot dogs we have! No mom, I want the  🌭  with the bread on it! Son, you mean a corn dog? But you pick all the bread off and only eat the  🌭 😒 ! Yes mom  ✔️ , I want YOU to pick all the bread off and then I can eat it! But I don’t want a hot dog! Who do you think will win this battle  😤 ? And yes, the  🌭  drawer is a real thing because my culinary skills are - 💯 ! And on day 1,257 of this quarantine, these kids are lucky I feel like fee...

Sooo... In the time of Corona 🦠 Virus, something good has come from this pandemic! My 12-year-old daughter, Jayda-Monay, has created her very own YouTube channel  🎉 🎈 💃🏾 !!! Please support be watching, liking and subscribing  🤗 !!! When I tell you, she did SUCH A GREAT JOB  🏆  !!! I honestly was sleeping  💤  on her talents  🙌🏾 . She is a natural! She even created her own intro and outro by herself 🤞🏾 !!! And together we dabbled with  🍎 ’s iMovie and Clips to get a wonderful, finished product. (She told me she wanted me to be her editor because all the famous YouTuber's have editors  😒 ... to which I replied, "Puuhhh-lease 😆 ... you're going to learn those skills so that you can be even more marketable! You can then take your hustle and become a freelancer on the side, along with being a huge YouTuber and everything else you want to be  💰 💪🏾 💰 💪🏾 💰 !" Anyways, back to the point... please "like ✅ ...