This is such a beautiful piece. Thank you so much for sharing it with us. Honestly I hope that I still have my writing and this community for many years to come.
I love this piece, thank you so much for sharing. I love what you said about being the one to meet your needs. As a working single mom and trying to nurture my writing it’s very important that I show up for myself so I can be authentic in my words and present for my babies. Writing has become how I heal. “Love and God is riding with me” I felt that!
I was led here and just subscribed as I was looking for writing communities in Houston and A Writing Room peaked my interest. I will be doing a session with them soon! Thanks again for sharing your words.
Karen, I loved reading this! I felt like I was chatting over brunch with a girlfriend I'd known for years! Your flow just feels so natural and I appreciate your vulnerability. Also, thanks for sharing about so many writing groups! I'm pretty new to Substack and loving the idea of connecting with more writers.
I didn’t have true writing community until the last couple of years. I’ve made so much progress in that time. Thank you so much for reading. I do kind of write the way I talk. Welcome to Substack!
I loved this Karen! Like yes to you loving hard on yourself because we all love you over here at Blackstack. Your voice and words are a salve to your soul and I am honored and happy to be part of it. So glad you found your way to us!
PS: love the synchronicity with Kelvin and Richard meeting in Malaysia 🇲🇾. Reading, hearing, listening to synchronicities remind me how much magic is in the world amidst greater chaos
“These two fellas, Kelvin and Richard, happened to meet up in Malaysia, of all places. They were both on vacation at the same time, which is wild because one of them is still living in L.A., while the other lives in Costa Rica.”
Yessss!! I am reminding myself who tf I am because of your words. I'm so happy our writing spaces and communities are giving us what we need in this season of life, and our writing is flourishing because of it too!
So grateful to have met you dear Writer even if only on Zoom. We will soon meet in person and it will be full of laughs and joy! Your honesty and authenticity is so welcome in this firey Sagittarius woman.
I love the beaming image of you and your friend in full joy mode! Gorgeous!
I identity with the before motherhood years and how friendships change and we forget who we are. I’m so glad you’re choosing you and remembering the light that you are. Thank you for sharing your heart! 💜
I feel and see myself in so much of this piece. As a new mother and wife (I still consider myself a freshie though it’s been ongoing 4 years) I don’t want to lose myself in the thick of all my roles! My mother often spoke about how she lost herself in the roles of mother, wife, daughter, caregiver.
This quote also stuck with me: “Sometimes, you are the only one you can depend on to meet your needs.” We cannot put that expectation on anyone else to fully meet our needs. Not our partners, not our friends, not our family. I have found rest in letting people show up in my how they have the capacity to while recognizing that my joy is completely up to me.
I loved those early days of parenting so much more than the teen years! I moved away from my family system of support and then we found out both boys are autistic, so mothering became my main gig.
The main thing I like to tell young moms is to keep a piece of your life just for you, however that looks. You don’t have to meet a quota as to the number of kids and all of that. Do what feels right for you.
You’re off to a good start. I can tell by your writing. ♥️💋
I appreciate this advice. My mother has given me the same wisdom in some sort of way, and as of recent I have taken more time just for me — knowing it doesn't make me selfish or mean I don't love time with my son or husband , family or friends, but allows me to pour from a fuller cup.
Also, I hear the teen years are even harder than the early years😅
This is such a beautiful piece. Thank you so much for sharing it with us. Honestly I hope that I still have my writing and this community for many years to come.
Also. You’re VERY beautiful okay?!?!
BE STILL my heart! Thank you Beautiful!
I love this piece, thank you so much for sharing. I love what you said about being the one to meet your needs. As a working single mom and trying to nurture my writing it’s very important that I show up for myself so I can be authentic in my words and present for my babies. Writing has become how I heal. “Love and God is riding with me” I felt that!
I was led here and just subscribed as I was looking for writing communities in Houston and A Writing Room peaked my interest. I will be doing a session with them soon! Thanks again for sharing your words.
I'm glad you are here! I'm in Austin. I hope to see you in a Writing Room.
Check out @BlackStack here on Substack. A dope community of black writers.
Karen, I loved reading this! I felt like I was chatting over brunch with a girlfriend I'd known for years! Your flow just feels so natural and I appreciate your vulnerability. Also, thanks for sharing about so many writing groups! I'm pretty new to Substack and loving the idea of connecting with more writers.
I didn’t have true writing community until the last couple of years. I’ve made so much progress in that time. Thank you so much for reading. I do kind of write the way I talk. Welcome to Substack!
you had me from the title on lol
I loved this Karen! Like yes to you loving hard on yourself because we all love you over here at Blackstack. Your voice and words are a salve to your soul and I am honored and happy to be part of it. So glad you found your way to us!
PS: love the synchronicity with Kelvin and Richard meeting in Malaysia 🇲🇾. Reading, hearing, listening to synchronicities remind me how much magic is in the world amidst greater chaos
Thank you 🙏🏽 I’m happy to be here with you all! ♥️
“These two fellas, Kelvin and Richard, happened to meet up in Malaysia, of all places. They were both on vacation at the same time, which is wild because one of them is still living in L.A., while the other lives in Costa Rica.”
the coincidence is blinding 😱😱😱
The most wonderful reminder. I am glad you are here on Substack and sharing your inner thoughts!
Yessss!! I am reminding myself who tf I am because of your words. I'm so happy our writing spaces and communities are giving us what we need in this season of life, and our writing is flourishing because of it too!
I am thankful for you my dear. My first black friend on Substack ♥️
Once again, Karen, beautiful words.
thank you Kathleen!
So grateful to have met you dear Writer even if only on Zoom. We will soon meet in person and it will be full of laughs and joy! Your honesty and authenticity is so welcome in this firey Sagittarius woman.
I love the beaming image of you and your friend in full joy mode! Gorgeous!
I identity with the before motherhood years and how friendships change and we forget who we are. I’m so glad you’re choosing you and remembering the light that you are. Thank you for sharing your heart! 💜
Thank you! Me too! I can hardly wait to hug you in October! ♥️
The words I needed... When I needed them 🙏🏿
I was forgetting who TF I am🌟🦋🧚🏿♀️🦄
Thank you Ama! We must not forget!🤬
I’m sorry for that angry face I meant to hit ♥️ this. 🤦🏽♀️
I feel and see myself in so much of this piece. As a new mother and wife (I still consider myself a freshie though it’s been ongoing 4 years) I don’t want to lose myself in the thick of all my roles! My mother often spoke about how she lost herself in the roles of mother, wife, daughter, caregiver.
This quote also stuck with me: “Sometimes, you are the only one you can depend on to meet your needs.” We cannot put that expectation on anyone else to fully meet our needs. Not our partners, not our friends, not our family. I have found rest in letting people show up in my how they have the capacity to while recognizing that my joy is completely up to me.
I loved those early days of parenting so much more than the teen years! I moved away from my family system of support and then we found out both boys are autistic, so mothering became my main gig.
The main thing I like to tell young moms is to keep a piece of your life just for you, however that looks. You don’t have to meet a quota as to the number of kids and all of that. Do what feels right for you.
You’re off to a good start. I can tell by your writing. ♥️💋
I appreciate this advice. My mother has given me the same wisdom in some sort of way, and as of recent I have taken more time just for me — knowing it doesn't make me selfish or mean I don't love time with my son or husband , family or friends, but allows me to pour from a fuller cup.
Also, I hear the teen years are even harder than the early years😅
You are an amazing woman. Thank you for being so generous with your words.
Karen thank you for being such a valuable voice and member within the BlackStack community!!!
I am blessed to be among your beautiful, black, voices! 🖤