gratitude, grace & growth.
If everything around seems dark, look again,
Rumi
you may be the light.
Guaranteed congratulations
Quick and friendly reminder: When we enthusiastically ask you to get married and have a baby, what we really mean is, we will cheer, we will clap and declare that your home is blessed. What we don’t mean is free babysitting, midnight crisis management or any form of support for tiny humans 😬😂. So make…
Things Life Has Taught Me (The Hard Way)
My name is Armandine. Some people call me strong. Others have even called me “superwoman.” I’m not sure I agree with either title but I do know that life has taught me lessons I can’t unlearn. And maybe sharing them will save someone else a little time, a little heartbreak, or a little confusion. Let’s…
Almost a decade of motherhood unfiltered
I’ve never been the type to romanticize motherhood. It’s not the bane of my existence, it’s also not the shiny “greatest achievement unlocked” badge people love to hand out, in my humble opinion. I can absolutely imagine a life where I didn’t take this path. And yet…here I am, 8 years in, realizing it’s quietly…
When a mother needs a mother
I am sick. Again. Body heavy with tiredness that settles in every corner of me. And all I want, in the quiet between the coughs, in the breath that feels too heavy, is my MOTHER. To be small again. To be gathered. To let someone else hold the weight of my trembling. But there is…
Why Do We Give Men Grace and Give Women Grief?
There’s a pattern I’ve noticed, one we don’t talk about enough – We hold our girlfriends to higher standards then we hold our boyfriends. we demand emotional intelligence from our sisters and make excuses for the emotions immaturity of men. A homegirl forgets to call back and she’s “inconsistent”. she sets a boundary and now…
The Whisper of God in Ordinary Life
It didn’t happen in church. It didn’t come through a sermon. It was not the big life changing prayer or the dramatic breakthrough moment. Although I equally find God in these big moments, but most times I find him in the smaller things. I find him in the way the sunlight hits the mirror as…
Lessons from Love: Embracing Self-Discovery and Growth
There was a time when I thought love was about holding on and holding down. Clutching tightly, even when my fingers were sore. Even when the rope burned and it unraveled me. He was not all bad. In fact he was – he is a good man. He made me laugh. He knew how I…
The Myth of Strength: A Single Mom’s Reality
This week has been so long. A week full of trials and tribulations. You ever have someone look at you with admiration and say “Wow, you’re so strong! How do you do it?” And in your head, you’re thinking, I don’t know, Karen, I’m literally hanging on by a thread and some caffeine, but thanks…
Super Mom vs. Super Daddy (of Social Media)
Ah, the dual life of a single mother – by day, a full time employee, bill payer, grocery shopper, chef, chauffeur, teacher, therapist and bedtime storyteller. By night? Well, still all those things, just with a little extra exhaustion and a cold cup of coffee I forgot to drink seven hours ago. Meanwhile, somewhere out…
The Duality of Human Functionality: Thriving and Drowning simultaneously
There’s a strange kind of strength that comes with always being on the edge of collapse. It’s the duality of human functionality – the ability to perform, to meet expectations, to be everything for everyone, knowing that you could fall apart at any moment. For many, especially single mothers like myself, who work full time…
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