Category Archives: Family

When the World is Hurting: Talking to your Children about War & Violence

0 comments Anxiety, Children's Mental Health, Family, Grief, Healthy Living, Mental Health, Parenting , , , , , ,

Our Children Have Questions A few days ago, my son peppered me with questions – “Mom, what’s happening? Are we going to have World War III? Is Russia going to bomb us? Are we safe?” He was obviously concerned about Russia’s invasion of Ukraine and rightfully so. Kids at school have been talking, whispering their fears to their friends. Violent images of the war flood the media. Radio stations cover the tragic events. We cannot shield our children from life’s perils despite our best efforts. So, how do we discuss such sensitive topics with our children? TEN tips for talking […]

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What I Wish I Knew …

0 comments Family, Motherhood, Parenting , , , , , , ,

Three babies – I had a whole three babies who are now my big babies at ages 7, 11, and 14. Before I became a mom, I thought I knew a little somethin,’ somethin’ about raising kids. Turns out I was horribly wrong. There is so much I have learned over the last 14 years and so much I wish I knew before becoming a mama. Here’s 10 things I wish I knew before becoming a parent: #1 They are babies for, like, two seconds – literally. So, savor those moments. The new baby smell; soft, sweet cheeks; baby coos; […]

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Love’s Gaze

2 comments Family, Parenting , , , ,

For my father, Alvin Ellis Your first gaze upon newborn me escapes the recesses of my memory But I know without question That your first gaze was one filled with love, adoration, devotion, hope, and joy Now as a grown woman with my own family, Your gaze upon me has never shifted, wandered, nor faltered It remains steadfast, sure, and constant It challenges, it propels, it nurtures, it envelops Like an impenetrable fortress your gaze is evidence of a father’s love A love that guides and protects no matter the distance Under the gaze of my father, I have grown […]

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Suicide While Black

0 comments Children's Mental Health, Family, Health, Health Education, Mental Health, Racism, Social Justice

Sound the alarm Black children are in danger. From trauma to poverty to educational inequality to racism, our children face very real threats to their mental health every day. I distinctly remember being taught during my psychiatric residency training that black people don’t typically die by suicide; but sadly, this just isn’t true. Suicide is the 10th leading cause of death in the United States and the 2nd leading cause of death for people ages 10 – 34 years of age. For black youth, suicide is on the rise. In 2015, Jeffrey Bridge et al. discovered that suicide rates among […]

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What COVID-19 is Still Teaching Me

0 comments Faith, Family, Mental Health , , , , ,

Honestly, there are many moments when I am utterly amazed that COVID-19 is still here. Still! We are still wearing masks, we are still sheltering-in-place, we are still opting not to visit most of our family, and we are still choosing to postpone most of our travel plans. While there are still a lot of things that we are not yet comfortable doing thanks to this global pandemic, the COVID-19 experience continues to teach me some important life lessons. COVID-19 Lessons The peace that is unbusyness – Busyness is my thing. I’m always busy – hustlin’ and juggling work marriage, […]

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You’re Here, But I Still Miss You

0 comments Family, Motherhood, Parenting

Strange Times What a peculiar span of time within which we continue to find ourselves. I honestly believed, dared to presume, that COVID-19 would breeze through the United States, leaving few remnants of its contagion. Yet, the legacy of this novel coronavirus strain has been death, divide, and destruction. There’s been a shift in my household as well. Thankfully there have been no significant perils. Rather it’s a curious dilemma; and it’s one I never predicted – the description of which reads like a clever rhyme from a children’s picture book: It’s quite the conundrum and completely unfair. For you […]

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