One Secret to Success for a Working Mom, Expand Your Village (Jack and Jill of America)

Jack and Jill of America member and her daughter Recently, I have become keenly aware that good kids are created by accident. They become good because someone made a concerted effort to pour positive things into them--things like, honor, discipline and respect for others. These qualities are taught through lessons and by observation. For that reason, I have been actively considering how to give my children more examples of people who embody those qualities.  Indeed, raising my children to become good people is my most important job.

A Working Mom Rocking Heatwave Hair Like a Boss!

Making the best of a heatwave 

There is a heat wave surging around the country. So, it is a fair guess that it is hot and humid 
 ☀️ in your world too.  In Pittsburgh, each day this past week seemed hotter than the last. And, we don't have air conditioning at our house, which has complicated hair care. Usually, I am all about effort yielding results.  I blow dry. I curl. I make an effort. 

This week was different though. 


I completely gave up on manipulating my hair. As you know, I have three kids. What you may not know is that this summer, they have been attending programs in three different places. As I mentioned in a prior post, our daughter had a less than stellar academic year. (To read that post, click here.) And because I am me, I found an enrichment program to assist her in discovering her love of learning. However, enrichment comes at a price. So, the rising kindergarterner is attending the less expensive "fun" camp that they've attended in prior years. And the baby is at his daycare. Transporting these children takes 1.5 hours in the morning. And although I don't take them all every morning, I do have to get them all ready and make their lunches. So, the last thing I need is a hair routine that takes more time. 

I am a working mom and I got a whole lot going on. So, hair do what you want, dammit!!! 

Well, apparently my decision showed. A colleague said, "Wow! You look so 'relaxed'" Translation: "Clearly you're letting it all hang out today!" Initially, I was self conscious. I could be misinterpreting his tone, but the shock in his tone suggested judgment to me. In all honesty though, his comments just reflected my own insecurity. As the day progressed, by hair just kept getting bigger. That was not my plan, but it was my reality.

In a word, the hair I returned to the house with is not the hair I left the house with.

Trust me. This is not a post seeking, "Girl just love yourself." comments. I am just expressing the real struggle that comes with living through a summer heatwave as a professional of color. The struggle is real, very much a part of the experience and it is not a fabrication. 

Don't get me wrong, I love summer, but I'd love it more at the beach.  I need to figure out how to get more beach time in my life. 

#GOALS

What's your summer fashion struggle?!

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