Bear Learns to Share

I never imagined that my first published children's book would be a collaborative work with my teen daughters, Anaya 14 years old and Jayda Murray, 16 years old! 

It was such a fun AND challenging process. I think my daughter Jayda had the toughest job because as the illustrator she had such a high learning curve when it came to formatting and designing the books.

What's Next?

So far there are two completed books, Bear Learns to Share Picture Book and Coloring Book.  We are excited to say that a Spanish version and Activity book are in the works and will be available mid-December 2020!

I am sooo blessed to have such talented children--I'm already dreaming up what I can write with my boys.

How Was the Process?

As far as the process of working together, Anaya and I wrote the manuscript in a couple of weeks. I had a group of authors critique the story-line and then we revised it some. Once the story was solid, I sketched out some drawings for Jayda to work with and she did an incredible job of bringing the story to life.

​I know for a fact that she grew tired of me and all the revisions we had to make. :)  But we are already working on the next book, in the Bear Learns series, so I guess it wasn't too bad! LOL!!

What Has The Response Been Like?

We have been so encouraged with all the positive feedback and  excellent reviews. One of the best parts of this process has been seeing how children are responding to the story--it has made all the work worth it and we can't wait to bring more books into the marketplace.

Check out the Amazon reviews here: 

A few days ago I wrote a Facebook post about my boy's walking to the store and "the talk" that occurred prior to them leaving the house.  I wanted to share it here along with some of the comments because it will give you more insight into my life as an African-American mother and maybe just maybe, make a difference for them in the future.

Facebook Post October 25, 2020
"My boys are walking to the grocery store for the first time since moving into our new neighborhood here in Memphis.

Why is this something to post about?

Well if you could have heard how we prepped them...Here is what we said:

The goal is to come home.
Don't get distracted, get to the store and come right back.
Why?

"So we don't look suspicious."

When you enter the store what should you do?

"Take off our hoodies and don't put our hands in our pockets."

If you're stopped by a police officer be respectful and what else?

"Keep our hands out front and don't reach for anything."

What if they ask for ID?

"We'll tell them, we're only 13 and that we are homeschooled."

Ok--we think you're ready.

"Mom, I'm a little nervous."
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"Don't worry son, God is with you. Hold your head up high and walk to the store."

What do you say to your son when he walks to the store?
#raisingblackboys #raisingblackteens #conversationswithblackboys #imablackmother #GodProtectOurChildren

As of today, this Facebook post has been shared over 50x's and it really it struck a chord with the public. Here are some of the comments--I'm hoping you will find them eye-opening and educational:

There is so much about parenting that is inherently frightening. I cannot imagine how heavy this extra burden of racism must be. I’m sorry and I want a better, safer, kinder society for these two boys and for all of us. We need to heal this ill. Thank you for the reminder. -Comment

Definitely an added burden. I mean walking to the grocery store shouldn't be so stressful. But my boys came back and said, "Mom, it was no big deal." And that's how it should be!--My Response

Had the same talk the first time my sons walked to the store. --Comment

Parenting is hard enough--I'm just glad they made it back home!--My response

We have had this conversation with our kids, my parents had it with us. We explained it is a cops job to look for suspicious behavior and investigate and that they have dangerous jobs. They are confronted daily with people who would rather do them harm than be obedient. So they are to be very respectful, obedient and keep their hands in plain sight. We cant assume they will u understand that we are safe people, no matter what we look like.--Comment

You are right, we can't assume they will think we are safe. But I've had a father falsely accused for being a wanted man by the FBI, I have been "arrested" as a teenager--accused falsely while being a straight A student and school president, cousin convicted of a crime he didn't commit and sent to prison, a cousin shot and killed in his own home for no reason, and the list goes on and on. The suspicion for black suspects has always been high in this country and the cost are even higher. That's why I had the talk with my sons---history.​--My Response


My dear Ayanna, that was so heartfelt it put tears in my eyes.
May our Lord be w/ your boys and EVERY colored kid.
May our country one day become COLOR BLIND.--Comment

 My heart is settling down, now that they made it back home safely. Yes, may God be with all our children.--My Response

It's so heartbreaking. Mine isn't that independent yet but have had the talk when she started making her own store transactions, even with me, especially with others, to keep her receipt until she got to the car.--Comment

Oh yea--I forgot about the receipt part---I'll remember that for next time!--My Response

#whiteprivilege the inequity it is beyond words that is what has to happen. Ill tell my son about cavities and crossing the street you have to tell yours how not to get shot. I can’t. Thank you for sharing this.--Comment

Yes cavities, crossing the street, and how not to look suspicious, how to interact with police in a way in which they will make it back home---and hope and pray that its enough. But my treasures are back home and all went well this time!​--My Response

I’m literally tearing up. This conversation shouldn’t have to happen. But this conversation must happen. Thank you for sharing for those that don’t know about the talk.--Comment

I didn't want to have the conversation but I wasn't allowing my boys out the house to explore the neighborhood. It was time but wow--it's hard trying to have the balance of letting them know there is a potential for danger but not wanting them to live in fear.​--My Response


What do you think about "The Talk?" 

Tomatoes from My Garden

My heart and mind were so conflicted about the trash problem that the first night in Haiti I penned the following poem in my journal:
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Haiti’s trash is a symptom of many problems and I for one am not knowledgeable enough to tackle it by offering solutions. But as a new lover of the people, I believe that those who live abroad, can do something to help. If you’d like to help one person, one family rise above their current circumstances, please consider purchasing this beautiful Haitian jewelry from Papillon.

​Another way we can move forward  is to stop taking our sanitation services for granted. We should live with grateful hearts that we have the resources for proper and efficient waste management and pray for our brothers and sisters of many lands who aren't as privileged. 

​Robin Nagle in her Ted Talk encourages each of us to “In the flow of your days. In the flow of your lives, next time you see someone whose job is to clean up after you, take a moment to acknowledge them. Take a moment to say thank you.”

And last but not least--we should all try to live in a way where we learn ways to reduce our personal trash by recycling, composting, and reusing goods. If we all make more of an effort things can and will change around the world.

I did not realize that by asking this question and typing in a google search on “poverty and menstruation” that I would be thrust into a the world-wide crises of menstrual management. You see girls and women around the world are struggling with managing their menstrual cycle.

​Some are using old cloths, leaves, wool, feathers, foam, sand, corn husk….anything they can think of to help absorb blood when modern pads are not available or affordable.

Let’s just stop here and imagine the mess of leakage from using sand and feathers! If that’s not terrible enough,  my research led me to finding out that some girls are actually selling their bodies in order to purchase pads so that they can stay in school or go to work. This is inconceivable and yet it is happening in the year 2016! 

​I never imagined it was such a problem and that there are organizations assisting women around the globe with this very issue. So as a result of Ms. Flow showing up uninvited during my trip to Haiti I am seeking out ways to help my sisters.

I want to know how I can assist in helping them get access to affordable sanitary napkins and possibly do some micro-financing so that they can earn income from the  endeavor. Right now I’m just in the research phase but I’d encourage you to join me by doing one or all of the following:

1. Educate yourself on the issue. Check out my Poverty and Menstruation Pinterest Board 
2. Throw a sewing party and make some reusable pads for women in other countries.  Watch this video for more information:

3. Purchase sanitary pads or cups from organizations (Days for Girls , AfriPads , BeGirl . Ruby Cup ) who are supporting  our sisters living in poverty.

4. Every time Ms. Flow shows up, say a prayer for your sisters around the world who are struggling with menstrual management. We need to stick together. Period.

My team’s purpose in Haiti was to travel to textile factories with Share Hope and educate the pregnant factory workers on how to protect themselves from the Zika virus. We were going to be presenting to over 300 women in the course of 6 days and we weren’t quite sure how to dress for the occasion.

​In my mind, I didn’t want to be overdressed and thus communicate a social class difference. But I what I didn’t realize is that although 80% of the population lives below the poverty line, the Haitian people take a lot of pride in their appearance!

In fact, when our team arrived at the factory office we all felt under-dressed! The Her Health educators were dressed professionally and looked beautiful! ​

Needless to say,  I was completely surprised by how well dressed the people were and at the amount of clothing on the streets of Haiti. As we drove around Port au Prince  I was thinking “Where on earth did all these clothes come from?”
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That’s when I learned about Pepe or the journey of second hand clothing from the United States. So as I understand it, when thrift stores like the Goodwill and Salvation Army get rid of clothes they sell them to companies who buy them in bulk. These companies then sort the clothing and put them in huge pallets to sell to developing countries around the world.

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What I found interesting was that ​although the streets were crowded with vehicles, according to the World Factbook of Haiti, only 5 out of 1000 people own vehicles. Most Haitians travel by motorcycle or tap taps which are colorful buses and trucks which serve as public transportation. For a ride, the people  pay about 25 cents and travel throughout the city. ​​

I have lot's to share about my time in Haiti, so make sure to check out the other post in this series! 

My kids really have no idea how far technology has come in the last 30 years. When I was growing up my dad use to own a computer store. He would build and fix computers and we grew up with the latest technology. But if my kids were to see those same computers that I grew up with, I’m sure they would respond the same way as the kids in the following video: ​

1. Successful Parents Do What Unsuccessful Parents Are Unwilling to Do. In order to have a strong family, the Prats say you have to make your marriage relationship first and foremost. It’s really easy to get distracted with life, kids, career and as a result put your marriage relationship on the back-burner.  

“Strengthening and maintaining a marital relationship is an active process. Passivity and complacency will not allow a marriage to nurture and grow. It takes continuous effort, but we reap what we sow.” A strong marriage gives the children a strong sense of security and can lay a healthy emotional foundation.

2. Shared Parenting and Family Management is a Must! There are many women who feel like their husbands do not actively participate in the daily raising of the children. This mentality is the fastest way for burnout and can plant a lot of resentment in the relationship.

I totally agree with Joe when he stated “I feel strongly that family must be a shared responsibility. I’m often amazed at husbands who expect their wives to do it all, and then wonder why their wives are frustrated, tired, angry, and unaffectionate.” Joe--it amazes me too!

I am really blessed to have a  husband that is extremely helpful around the house and with the kids. So Cathy’s perspective was surprising and refreshingly challenging to me  when she wrote, “If your Dad’s willing to fold clothes or fix dinner, then I should be willing to mow the lawn or wash a car.”

 I honestly had never thought about doing some of my husband's "chores."  However, this past winter when we ordered wood for the fireplace---we were all out there stacking and loading together as a family! It felt really good working together as a team. Even if you are a single parent---make sure you gather a good support network--don’t try to do everything by yourself--build your network and involve your friends in  “village parenting.”

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3. Treat Each Person in Your Family as an Unique Individual without pressuring them to be like someone else. There are no favorites in a good family. As a parent you might be tempted to favor one child over the next because they have similar interests or personality.

“We do not pressure them to be a doctor, play a certain sport, or march to a certain drummer. They each have God-given talents and must find their own path to follow.” I think this is one of the best ways to ensure jealousy, comparison, and insecurity don’t sneak their way into your family culture. When each child is valued--each one will be a supportive team member.

4. Discipline Should be a Positive Learning Experience. Some parents do not discipline their children and let them get away with any type of behavior.  The Prats discourage this kind of parenting strategy and wrote, “One of our responsibilities as parents is to assist our children in all areas of their development. When one of the boys acts or speaks in appropriately, we don’t say, ‘It’s just a phase,” or ‘That's’ the way boys are,’ or blame someone else. We deal with the situation up front and right away. If the boys have been unkind or acted out of line, we let them know how disappointed we are and what we think needs to be done.”

The authors went on to explain that all discipline should be done in a manner that will never give your kids the impression that  they are unloved. 

Recently, my boy’s were running through a museum (yes my kids act up!) and the security guard came and let me know that he spoke with them, but they ignored him. I brought the boys to the security guard and had them apologize and then handed out consequences once we got in the car. Before we left the museum, the security guard pulled me aside and thanked me. He said, sometimes he’ll tell parents their kids are acting up and the parents don’t do anything. He reassured me that although my boys were running through the museum (so embarrassing)  I was doing a good job by dealing with the behavior. 

​Well, I definitely thought my boys needed some more home training, but it was really good to hear that the simple act of redirecting them and having them apologize was a good thing. Sometimes it's really easy just to ignore my kids when they are misbehaving. Sometimes, it takes so much effort to get them in line, so it was really encouraging to have that man let me know I was on the right track.

Now one of the last things I learned from the Prat family was to:

5. Teach by Example. In other words, be real. Don’t be fake--live out the life and character you want your kids to have. If you are materialistic, dishonest, hard to please, selfish but you put on the opposite face in public, don’t be surprised when your children mimic the same behavior.

I am so proud of all of my kids but I want to give a shout out to my eldest daughter Jayda. She loves to draw, design, create, build--she is always doing something with her hands. This past month she really stepped up when she willingly agreed to design and sell t-shirts as a way for her to contribute to my father’s kidney transplant fund. ​

She was so excited throughout the designing process and because of her willingness to share her gift of drawing she was able to raise over $200! I am a firm believer that God gives us gifts to bless others and Jayda definitely did that. A big thanks to everyone who purchased a shirt you have encouraged her to keep giving to others!!

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