Welcome to #VlogLife

Drumroll please: Guys, I made a YouTube video! A whole ass video creation...I edited, added music and transitions, the whole shebang....it’s a cinematic masterpiece. I’m pretty sure I’m basically Issa Rae at this point. I mean, this has to be how she started (no real set, 3 incompetent supporting actors, a tripod that leans to the left 🤦🏾‍♀️). Anyway, I’d love it if you’d check out our Easter baking fun video.

And if you happen to try the recipe we borrowed from @GimmeSomeOven let me know how it turned out. Happy viewing 😊

https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=_Hx9nbX8ayI&t=13s

This Is Us

My husband, on his way out the door most mornings, pecks me chastely on the forehead mumbling a half hearted ‘good morning’ and then heads in to the office.

Today, he fumbled at my bedside attempting to stuff something beneath my pillow, waking me in the process. 

Father Knows...

Having children gives you the chance to view your own parents with new eyes. The larger than life figures that you idolized (villianized?) are often seen through different lenses. Complicated relationships are sometimes made even more so taking into consideration that your parents are only human, flawed but with hopes and dreams and failures of their own to contend with.

Father-daughter relationships can be extra tricky. I remember first having kids and being surprised at how attentive my dad seemed; how present and thoughtfully he cared for them. My dad, in my childhood memories, always loomed a stern and imposing figure. As a grandfather, he’s funny and playful, things I’d misremembered about him for far too long.

Unboxing: Izzy & Liv

Unboxing: The Mom Life Edition

Y’all, 😩 how do vloggers live, because this can’t be it. The effort and creativity that go into making a 20 minute slice of life video is just beyond me. I can’t even do a 60 second unboxing video without my kids converging like cockroaches🤦🏾‍♀️

Yet another Izzy & Liv box, for the win. It’s a subscription service that celebrates the history and beauty of black girl magic. I was gifted a membership about a year ago and I’ve really loved each shipment sent.

#BrownSugarBox

Breast friends

The 4yo was watching me intently as I dressed for the day:

P: Remember when I used to chew on your boobies?
Me: You didn’t chew them (usually). You drank from them, like a lot of babies.
P: Ohhhh. Can I do that now?
Me: Nope.
P: Why?
Me: Because you’re a big girl now.
P: But I like boobies.
Me: Well, lots of people do, I think. You still have to wait until you get your own.
P: And then I’ll chew on them?
Me: Ok, let’s start from the top...🤦🏾‍

♀️

Showtime

This girl, always doing things her own way, but making waves nonetheless. Ashton is in her first play this week. “I’m a town crier, mom,” she said initially.

“No,” I replied, “you’re Town Crier number TWO. You have a title, get it right.”

She rolled her eyes at first, but I heard her laugh walking away. She struggles regularly with what lots of little girls do, wanting to be special and stand out but still somehow not appear any “different” than the rest. I know the feeling. And it’s a hard one to shake. But this time, bravery won out. She auditioned for the school chorus last year, even though many of her friends didn’t think twice about it and she even went out for a leading role when the play was announced. She didn’t let not getting that leading role get her down either. That resilience will come in handy.

Brother Love

I take lots of random videos of the kids, both so I can have funny things to look back on (and bribe them with) AND so that we can stay connected with family across the country who want to keep in touch.

I captured this last night, right before they were going to bed. They’d had a pretty deep conversation about her getting bigger and whether or not that meant she was still the baby (they tabled the discussion without agreeing to an answer).

Then today when I reviewed the video I noticed some things I’d overlooked yesterday. I saw today how she leans on his shoulder as he speaks and grips his hand instinctively toward the end, he doesn’t stop her this time (the way brothers sometimes can) and almost welcomes it comfortably. And it occurred to me that even when I think they’re not “seeing” one another in the moment, that they’re bonding all the time. I hope that remains constant always. The way Parker (4yo) looks to Roman (7yo) now for security and the way they both seek out Ashton (9yo) for validation is so special to me, comforting really. They fight like gladiators sometimes, don’t get me wrong, but glimpsing snippets like this reminds me that they’re doing ok too and they have one another’s backs.

And that’s all most moms really want, for her kids to know there’s always someone in their corner loving and fighting for them no matter what.

Kid Convos

9yo: Your shirt has 2 holes in it.
Me: Oh *looking down* I see that.
9yo: Your hair is falling out of the ponytail...and you smell a little bit like bacon.
Me: 😐
9yo: Are you sad today?
Me: Well, I wasn’t. But then this conversation started so....🤷🏾‍♀️

It’s too Monday for this shit.

Roman's 7th Birthday

Roman, it’s your birthday! And if I had my wish (since it’s also MY birthday) it would be for you to feel all of the good vibes today that you typically share with others. I truly believe on that birthday those few short years ago, you were meant to rebirth all of the best parts of me I’d forgotten about. 

You are absolutely the “good-est” boy I’ve ever known. The way you love and give and care for others is something I’m so proud of. This big wide world has a bad habit of breaking boys, squeezing out all of the sweetness and innocence our beautiful boys have to give. But I know you’re smart enough to understand that love and kindness ARE strength and nothing makes you a better human than being who you are absolutely supposed to be, no matter what. I love you so very much and what you give to this family could not be duplicated. I’m happy to share this day with you and all the days to come.

-0:58

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DIY Valentine's Boxes

In this round of the battle that is Girl vs Pinterest...Girl won!

Gosh, this is just so unexpected. I guess I’d first like to thank the Academy, then my so-called friends for claiming their “jobs” were so important yesterday they couldn’t Marco Polo me throughout the day like real friends are supposed to (like your ability to pay the mortgage is more rewarding than hearing me re-tell old jokes for the 200th time - pshhht) It’s just amazing what you can do on a rainy morning when you find 2 empty Kleenex boxes and there’s nothing OnDemand.

Real talk though: I’m the craft-attempting mom. I know my strengths and wanting to create cutesy, homemade mementos with my own 2 hands is something I commit to. I sometimes get the “but everybody can’t do that!” response thrown at me when I share that. But to that I say, “Cool. Not everybody wants to spend 3 hours on Valentine’s Day boxes that’ll be torn apart before the end of the next day so your kid can get to the Skittles faster.” That’s life.

We’re all just working with what we have. You may have the patience of Job or the ability to whip together meals that leave your little ones chanting for more. And to that I say, “How in the hell did you pull that off?!” But AFTER I say that, I’ll calm down and remember that Im doing my own thing for now, whatever it is that makes me feel like a present, attentive parent and you all are on your own path for that. I may pick up tips on the way, but your journey isn’t mine. I have to work with the (limited 🤦🏾‍♀️) gifts I was given.

In the interest of fairness, I did attempt to make an adorable how-to picture tutorial to go along with this. But somewhere after re-constructing the Kleenex box and in the middle of sketching the Black Panther mask, I started saying sweary words that weren’t appropriate for social media, so....you get whatcha get. 

Happy almost Valentines Day, everyone, may the Pinterest odds be ever in your favor!