In Honor of Mother’s Day — A Song for Mama

Since it’s Mother’s Day weekend and I’m a mama, here’s one of my favorite ‘mama’ songs– from the Soul Food soundtrack “A Song for Mama” by Boyz II Men.

While the Baby’s Away the Parents Will….Rest

Thank God for grandparents!!!! My wonderful parents, those brave souls, are keeping their very active, very curious, and very feisty nearly 2-year-old granddaughter this week. My husband and I are so enjoying this time to rest, reconnect, and FREEDOM!!! I love being a mother, but its nice not to have to rush off work to get to the daycare before it closes at 6 p.m. They charge you $1 each minute you are late! And they want cash! I didn’t realize how much I missed being able to come home and just relax reading the paper without someone screaming “ELMO! Pets!” at you or begging for juice. And more importantly, the husband and I can get busy anywhere and anytime we want. No waiting til the baby is sleep, which is when I’m ready to go to sleep myself. Although I really miss my little one, this is definitely a much needed break where my husband and I can get refreshed and remember why it was we got married and had kids in the first place.

Black Women, Bad Choices & Our Children

Earlier this week here in Charleston, a 1-year old girl was hospitalized after swallowing crack that she found the floor of the apartment she shares with her parents. Thankfully the child will survive and the parents have been charged with neglect. The mother is in jail and the father (of course) is missing and the police are still looking for him. Click here to read the entire story.

At first glance this looks like another one of those trifling parent stories, with black folks in the starring role. However, it may be also another case of a black woman who makes bad choices in men and the children end up suffering. The parents were married. The mother had steady job working at a local car dealership. She was described as “bright, energetic, and well-liked”. The father, it seems doesn’t have a job, but he does have a rap sheet that includes robbery and drug-trafficking (which may be why there was crack in the house). Their relationship has been described as good girl attracted to the bad boy. And now a toddler is in the hospital and will probably be put in the foster care system unless someone in the family steps up.

I don’t want to judge a sista, I’m sure she’s worried about her daughter, and the guilt is eating her alive. However, as a mother, you have to put the child first. Even before your husband/baby daddy. If I knew my husband was doing something that could hurt our daughter or land us in jail and her in the foster care system, he’d have to go. And if he wouldn’t go, I’d report his ass to the police myself. No man is worth losing your child or your freedom over.

Grammys and Mommies

Before I became a mom, I never missed the Grammy Awards. However, the last two years its been hit or miss. The night of last year’s grammys I forgot they were on until I happened to turn the TV to CBS. Most evenings my television consists of Elmo DVDs or whatever is on PBS Sprout. This year though, I refuse to miss it. I am so looking forward to see Kanye perform and if they will finally give him Album of the Year. He’s up against Herbie Hancock, Foo Fighters, Vince Gill, and Amy Winehouse. I have Amy’s album (which is fiyah) but the rest of the nominees I couldn’t tell you one song of any of those “albums”. If Amy gets it, I’ll be okay, but if any of the others get it,
I will pitch a Kanye-sized fit. LOL. Seriously, it would be an injustice, and not because of the passing of his mother. For an old-school hip-hop head like myself, Kanye represents the best of what h ip-hop can be. I am so over the ringtone rappers of today. I want lyrics and interesting beats and that is what Kanye provides. And if Soulja Boy wins a grammy for best rap song, I will await the four horsemen of the apocalypse to arrive and take me away.