I’ve Struggled to Make and Keep Mommy Friends
By Alicia Barnes, liciabobesha.com In my rural, southern town there aren’t any of the meet ups I hear moms going to. There is a MOPs chapter about 20 miles away, but they meet during the work day. If I had that... Continue Reading
4 Ways to Teach Black Children The Importance of Tradition and Family
Family is an important hallmark of Black culture. It used to be that teaching kids how to value family was pretty straightforward, even when generations were separated geographically. Parents, for example, might send their kids down South with “Big Mama”... Continue Reading
7 Bad Mommy Habits I Need to Break
A photo project from back before I got into the bad habit of not making enough time for myself. By Alicia Barnes, liciabobesha.com While I’m doing a whole lot right in my life, I’m not perfect. I struggle all the... Continue Reading
Why I Have Mixed Feelings About the #WorldsToughestJob Viral Video
A few days ago a video called, “World’s Toughest Job” was posted online by the greeting card company cardstore.com and quickly went viral. I was sent the video by quite a few people, watched it a couple times and felt…... Continue Reading
10 Ways to Prepare Mentally and Emotionally for Motherhood
When women ask me what the biggest shock of becoming a mother was, my answer often surprises them: adjusting to a new lifestyle. Becoming a mother is one of the most empowering changes I’ve experienced. I didn’t realize, though, how... Continue Reading
I’m a Black Woman, and I Had Postpartum Depression
Almost nine years ago, I was a new single mom in graduate school. In many ways, this should have been a time of great celebration. New baby and new opportunities in life. But instead, I was full of dread. I believed... Continue Reading
10 Reasons (Beyond Weight Loss) I’m Motivated To Work Out as a Mommy
By Alicia Barnes, liciabobesha.com Being a mother is exhausting. From those early weeks of seemingly nonstop nursing to this demanding toddler time, I’m not always able to find the energy, time, and motivation to make work out like I want. Thinking... Continue Reading
5 Reasons I Stopped Arguing In Front of My Children
My husband and I had known each other for just a year before we decided to tie the knot. Soon after that, we had a little one on the way. It all happened so fast. And after moving in together... Continue Reading
Speaking Life Affirmations to Yourself and Your Child
As I kissed my little girl ‘goodbye’ this morning, and told her to, “Have a great day”, she had a big grin on her face. This grin always appears at the end of our Daily Affirmation Cuddle. At least once... Continue Reading
Postpartum Rehab: 10 Things You’ll Need Help with After Giving Birth
As I write this, I have 6 friends who are counting down the days and weeks until they welcome their bundles of joy into the world. As I’ve journeyed with them, I’ve had to do lots of reflection on what... Continue Reading
She Get It From Her Mama: How Low Self Esteem Can Be Passed Down from Mother to Daughter
“Shrinking Women”, by Lily Myers. If you haven’t heard this poem, take a second and go listen to/watch it. I’ll wait. Now, I don’t know about you, but I know a person who has always been thinner than I was... Continue Reading
True Life: I’m Insecure About My Successes
By Alicia of alburnet.wordpress.com I’ve been teaching now for six years. I’ve been married for five. I’ve been a mommy for two. And for all this, I’ve got plenty to show. I’ve got: letters from pleased parents and thank-you cards from... Continue Reading
4 Ways to Make New Mom Friends
By Vanessa H. My husband and I moved to North Carolina from California a couple months ago. We’ve finally moved all our stuff into our apartment, and now that the dust has settled, I’ve found that my days home alone... Continue Reading
Jada Pinkett Smith: Mothers Have Been Taught that Taking Care of Themselves is a Problem
I recently shared about how burnt out I’ve been feeling lately, and how it got so bad that my husband and I decided to take money out of savings for an ‘emergency’ vacation. A close friend of mine, perhaps picking... Continue Reading
