Happy St. Patrick’s Day Eve!
It was recently brought to my attention by a friend that I’d lost my glow and carefree attitude. While trying to process her assessment, I had to dial it back a bit and consider if what she said had some sort of truth or relevancy. In doing so, I realized that she wasn’t lying or hating. She was correct. If you're like me, self-care is something that I often forget to do. Like most mothers, I tend to neglect my own needs and wants while placing my child’s well-being at the forefront. I’d become so engulfed in being a mother that I forgot that I matter too. The words neglect and self-care grabbed ahold of my heart like a vice grip. Isn’t it funny how we think we have everything under control and God sends someone to remind us that we have nothing under control? In this instance, God used my long-time friend to remind me that I should care for myself more than I realized. So, in the spirit of reflection and change, I prayed for guidance and decided to start doing more for myself. Once I came to that conclusion, I began to think about my budget and how to navigate this newfound self-care without breaking the bank. As a single mother, budgeting is not only important but sometimes impossible. So, I decided to start my new self-care routine using things that I already had at home and wouldn’t need to purchase. Since starting to take better care of myself, I’ve begun to regain that glow I once had and I’m loving it. I encourage every mom, single or not, to take a little time for themselves and find that glow. If you need a little help with ideas, here are a few that I think you may enjoy. Let’s glow up, moms!
- Written by Ashley Williams
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It’s Hump Day, Moms!!
Spring is near, Moms. As we near the end of the winter season, I’ve begun to clean and organize my closet in preparation for the upcoming spring season. As I was swapping out boots for sandals, I found myself wondering if I was moving prematurely in doing so. Let’s be honest, here in Memphis, we frequently experience all four seasons in one day. If the winter weather isn’t quite over, am doing myself a disservice by getting rid of what I may still need despite the seasons changing? Am I doing the same in my personal life and possibly causing more harm than good? As moms, we all know the importance of cleaning and organizing. My son’s playroom has 1,000 toys strewn across the floor at any given time, so cleaning up is routine in our home. However, there’s something about having to reorganize an entire closet and wardrobe that doesn’t sit well with me. Having to decide what to keep and what to get rid of is a difficult decision for me. Those boots I haven’t worn in years seem to stare me down as I throw them in a bag to be given away. That faux fur jacket I never wear starts to look like an expensive mink coat that I should keep just in case. Honestly, I don't know what my “just in case” is, but it seems as if these irrelevant things have a stronghold on me. However, I won't act like this doesn’t also apply to more than just material items. I often find myself struggling to get rid of people and things that I know bring nothing of value to my life. Why can't I part with things that look nice but serve no purpose in my life? That's the exact question I found myself asking God in prayer. I needed answers because it wasn’t adding up. The elders say that when we pray, we should look and listen for the answers we need. So, as I prayed and sought God, I began to wait for God’s response. What I got was more than I expected. It was as though a lightbulb went off and I realized that once again the answers were already in my heart. Remember, God always internally equips us with what we need to navigate this thing called life. What I found was that I’d been allowing fear to control me. The fear of the unknown, the fear of rejection, and most importantly, the fear of trusting my own decisions. How am I a mother raising a child, yet I doubt myself? At any rate, I know I’m not alone in this self-sabotaging behavior. How often do we know deep within that a job no longer serves us, but we stay because we’re scared to trust God’s plan? What about staying in a relationship, whether platonic or romantic, because we don’t believe we deserve better? It’s funny how God will use an everyday situation, such as spring cleaning, to open our eyes to the raw reality that we’ve been emotionally hoarding. Just like the material things we refuse to part ways with, holding on to things that don’t serve us clutters our spiritual closets. What a revelation! Moving forward, I vow to begin my spiritual cleaning and start by removing anything or anyone that doesn’t serve me or my child. Will you join me, sister? -Written by Ashley Williams Happy March 2nd, Moms!
Can you believe that we’re already in March? It seems like we were just ringing in the New Year. Time flies when you’re a mother but when you’re a single mother with little to no help, time is almost a fantasy. It seems as if there aren’t enough hours in the day and we’re often stretched thin. Between making sure our kids are loved, well-fed, educated, clothed, and happy, there is little time for mom. I mean, throw in our careers and personal aspirations for a little razzle-dazzle, and what is time? Time is defined as the indefinite continued progress of existence and events in the past, present, and future regarded as a whole. Indefinite continued progress of existence sums up my life as a mother. There are days that I put my son to bed and just lay staring at the ceiling wondering how I even made it through the day. Other days, I’m lucky to have even been able to account for the moments of the day because the entire day was a long, exhausting blur. At times, it seems as if I’m just existing day to day and only living to take care of my son and “be a mom”. Honestly, I’m often running on fumes alone. My spiritual gas is low and I’m barely making it to my next stop. However, it is in those moments that I realize that God has been carrying me the entire way. That day that I had 1.5 million things to do, I did them all. That day that I had to rush out of the door to be on time, despite my son having a fit over what shoes he wanted to wear, I did it. That day that I was so overwhelmed with life and wanted to run away, I still showed up as Mom. That day I experienced heartbreak, I wiped my tears and persevered. What I wouldn't give to have someone step in as the parent so that I can escape life even for a short moment. However, that's not the reality for many single moms. While I’d like to think it was my superhuman strength that got me through some of my most trying moments, it wasn’t. In fact, despite what my son thinks, I'm not Supermom. There's no cape and there aren’t any superpowers. God has equipped me with exactly what I need to make it during times of exhaustion, adversity, and pain. Even when I feel alone and weak, he gives me the fuel I need to push through. Without God’s help, I don’t know where I’d be. He is the real superhero in my life. If we're being honest, he's the superhero in all our lives. I encourage every mom that reads this to remember that even when we’re running on fumes, God is riding right beside us on a full tank. He’s our 24 hr roadside assistance and tow service. He’s our mechanic and our technician. So, the next time you find yourself on “E” and stranded on the hard and often lonely road of single motherhood, remember where your help comes from. Let’s also remember that we’ve all been stretched thin so when you see a mom that could use a hand, be kind and offer one. It takes a village, and we must show up for one another. Let’s continue striving for balance and peace. Be blessed, sisters. - Ashley Williams Happy Wednesday, Moms!
Over the past weekend, my five-year-old son noticed a few flowers that had begun to bloom and mentioned that Spring was right around the corner. Always amazed at his attention to detail, I began to think about the many transformations that nature must make to prepare for new seasons. As I sat outside thinking and basking in the warmth of the sun, I noticed the dried-out, molted skin of a spider. There was no spider inside and I could tell that it’d been abandoned for quite some time. After many minutes of staring at this seemingly discarded shell of what once was, it came to me that we as single mothers also endure many transformations as the seasons in our lives continuously change. In fact, like the spider, we’re always in a continuous state of molting or shedding of our old skin to make room for the ever-changing versions of ourselves. Most single mothers didn’t set out with the goal of being a single mother left alone to raise a child while simultaneously balancing the weight of the world. It’s just the way the cookie crumbled in our worlds, and we were left to put it back together. While I’m sure that motherhood isn’t easy for any mother, single or not, there’s a different type of hardship that comes with having to do it all by yourself. As a single mother, I can attest to the fact that we’re almost always overworked and underpaid, stressed, struggling with our faith, physically and mentally exhausted, and just longing for a break from the daily struggles that life has presented. Simple things like sleep, stable finances, and peace of mind are like urban tales to us. Do they exist? How do we obtain those? As you can imagine, that begins to wear down on not only our minds but our physical bodies as well. This is where God steps in every time. Like the molting spider, when I’m most uncomfortable and busting at the seams with life’s craziness, I began to shed my old skin. It doesn’t feel great but it’s vitally necessary. God has a way of stretching us so thin that it feels as though our skin is tearing. It hurts. It burns. It’s uncomfortable. We question “Why me? Why my child? When does it get better?”. God says “I know it hurts. I know it isn’t easy but it’s time to leave that old skin behind. For you can’t take it with you to the next level. The next level requires a thicker, more durable skin.”. If God allowed us to remain in our old skin, we’d never be able to conquer the next level of life. We’d never be able to keep our heads above water as we navigate the treacherous oceans of single motherhood. Although we may not always realize it, God is always stretching us to prepare us for the next level’s battles. At our weakest moments, he snatches off our old skin to remind us that he lives in us and that we already have everything that we need internally. Let’s start preparing for battle by shedding old skin that weighs us down or prevents us from moving fluidly. The next time you’re outdoors and see a bug living its best life, ask yourself what it has had to endure to get to that point. Consider that maybe, like you, God gave it new skin to carry on and endure. Being a single mother is hard but it’s not impossible. Keep shedding, Moms! -Written by Ashley Williams Happy Wednesday, Keepers! ❤
AND Happy Post Valentine's Day! 🥰 This past week was a "Week in the Streets" for our Founding Keeper. We are ALWAYS on the move supporting other orgs and single moms all over Shelby County! - Wednesday was "Girl Talk" with the young ladies of MAM (Memphis Athletic Ministries). - Friday was JAM packed with activities. Making Valentine's Day bags with Alcy Ball CDC, "Let's Rap About It" with the single moms of RDUM (red Door Urban Missions), and our weekly Learning Session with the moms of IAMSK (y'all should know what that means by now 😉). Don't forget! We are STILL having our Annual Fundraising Brunch! March 13 from 11-1 at MAM on Ball Road. Go purchase your tickets here! As always, we are grateful for each and every one of you, without you all none of this would be! 🤍 Til next time... - I Am My Sister's Keeper 🤍 Happy Wednesday, Keepers! ❤
We are sending lots of love your way. 🥰 Do you remember two weeks ago when we revealed our BIG SECRET? Well this week, we're going to SHOW you! AHHHHH! We made a short video showcasing what our new space looks like! You can watch that video here. 😎 We are so excited and can't wait to serve our moms better through this space. 🤍 As always, we are grateful for each and every one of you, without you all none of this would be! 🤍 Til next time... - I Am My Sister's Keeper 🤍 Happy Wednesday, Keepers! ❤
We hope today has been treating you well. 🥰 This past Saturday we had a PARTY! We decided to have a 2022 Vision Board Party! The new year is a great time to sit down and visualize your goals for this "fresh start' also known as the New Year. What better way to visualize your goals than with a vision board! Our special guest, Ms. Lauren Norton, was gracious enough to provide us with some necessary supplies for our boards! She also gifted us with gift bags and shared some kind words to motivate us for the new year. We ate, created our boards, and had a great time! We even had a section for the kids! Overall, this night was one for the books and we cant wait for the next activity! We are grateful for each and every one of you, without you all none of this would be! 🤍 Til next time... - I Am My Sister's Keeper 🤍 Happy Wednesday, Keepers! 🥰
Today is FINALLY the day! The cat is finally out of the bag! ... ... ... WE HAVE A NEW OFFICE SPACE! AHHHHHHHH! 🥳🥳🥳 This has been in the works for some time now and we’re so happy to finally share the news with you! Our first official day at the office will be TODAY January 31, 2022 from 10am-2pm. Office hours will be Monday-Thursday from 10am-2pm and Friday’s by appointment ONLY! Feel free to swing by 3318 N Watkins Street Memphis, TN 38127 or give us a call at our OFFICE number (we’re official OFFICIAL 😭) 901-509-2908 🥰 Also, HUGE SHOUTOUT to Pastor Crawford and Pastor Jackson for dedicating our office ❤ *Head over to our social media accounts to see more pics!* Stay tuned for next weeks blog to see the inside of our new space! We are grateful for each and every one of you, without you all none of this would be! 🤍 Til next time... - I Am My Sister's Keeper 🤍 Happy Wednesday, Keepers! 🥰
We have something HUGE to share with you! But first, a few housekeeping things to get out of the way... Our 3rd Annual Fundraising Brunch Eventbrite link is now fixed! Click here to order your tickets today! The last day to purchase tickets is March 12, 2021, so get yours while they're still in stock! Our Bundle Deal is still going on! Grab a Black History Calendar + IAMSK T-shirt for the low low price of $25! Feel free to reach out and contact us if you're interested in purchasing! Now for the FUN stuff... ... We have been working on something MAJOR for the past month! If you're interested in finding out what that is STAY TUNED! We will be sending a surprise email next week revealing what our HUGE SECRET is. I hate to leave you all on a cliffhanger like that, but just be on the look put next week to find out the BIG NEWS 😁 We hope this day treats you well and we are extremely grateful for each and every one of you! 🧡 Til next time... - I Am My Sister's Keeper 🤍 Happy Wednesday, Keepers! 🥰
We have a few announcements to make today... Our 3rd Annual Fundraising Brunch will be POSTPONED til March 13th, 2022. The COVID-19 cases have been on the rise lately, and because of this, we decided to postpone our brunch to a later date. If you have already purchased your ticket, there will be no need to repurchase a ticket for the new date! We STILL have some Black History Calendars we need to sell. We also have some Kente cloth logo tees as well. Because of this, and due to next month being Black History Month, we are offering a bundle deal! Woot, woot! 1 tee and 1 calendar for $25 (in town) and the same bundle for $35 if shipping is required. Reach out to us if you are interested in ordering! Check out our online shop here! Single moms still need you in 2022. Thanks in advance! We will forever be grateful for all of your support. 🤍 Til next time... - I Am My Sister's Keeper |
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