I Wish I Could Tell Every Black Mother...

This is for the beautiful brown-skin Wombman.

The giver of life.

Mother Earth in the human form.

Yeah...this one is for y'all.

 For us.

I’m just little ol’ Kish with a message from my soul ready to share, hoping somebody feels me.

You are important.

You, along with every other Mother tracing back to roots in Africa that has ever lived, are the reason the entire human race is able to experience life. Yeah, it’s that deep. 

You are appreciated.

I wholeheartedly admire you; your creativity, resilience, and essence. I see your sacrifices. I value your existence. 

You are irreplaceable.

It would take a whole team, a handbook, endless conference calls, countless online searches and the list goes on, to do what you do. There is no replacing you. The way you get things done, day in and day out is monumental. Trust me, you make it look easier than it is.

You don't have to be strong.

I know, you're expected to keep pushing, be independent, never show emotion, never complain, and be thankful for what’s often considered the bare minimum. All while carrying the weight of the world on your shoulders. Please hear me when I tell you it's okay to stop Mama. It's okay to put down some of those heavy loads. Even if it's for a moment, a day. Breathe. Rest. Indulge in yourself. Give yourself some of that love you're always pouring into others.

It will get better.

Situations are bound to change. That's just the way life is. Things will get better, then they will get worse, and probably better again. As the cycle continues to be all over the place, I hope you continue to stand firm. You have the power within you to control your perspective of life.

Real talk.

You can't control life, but you can control how you respond to it. That makes all the difference.

Our feelings are valid.

Any Mama that truly discovers her self-worth it's bound to feel hurt, sad and definitely angry at some point. Because, truth is, we are overworked.

Period.

Society, our community, and sometimes even our family expects us to do it all with no complaints. A lot of us Mothers will walk around without realizing that what’s happening isn’t just, “how it's supposed to be”. In some cases, we become numb to our true value. We overlook the simple fact that this really isn't fair. And to be completely honest, right now, there isn't much we can do about it. Besides, well…keep doing it. My hope is that we gain knowledge, encourage each other, and advocate for ourselves along the way.