Easter Fun with the Girls

By Mashaka Williams

My Babies dying eggs

Easter was so much fun this year that I wanted talk about some of my traditions and why I continue to do them.

For those of you who are new to knowing me I love doing arts and craft projects as well as planning an event or dinner. I take holidays as an opportunity to do both of these things. So this year was particularly special because we invited another close family to join us for dinner that day.

As a Christian it has always been important to remember the purpose of Easter. We sometimes get caught up in the commercial aspect of it and not stay focused on the true meaning. Don’t get me wrong I still give my girls and their friends candy baskets, have an Easter egg hunt and die eggs. I also go to Church during the Lenten period more regularly and only eat fish on Fridays. I want them to have a true understanding of this holiday so it was important for me to make certain that there was true balance in the holiday.

As always we had a great time and I used this as an opportunity to bond with my children and have some quality family time. We talked about Jesus and his resurrection, we talked about fasting and new beginnings. And as an adult the concept is pretty daunting sometimes, because of that I feel that this is something that needs to be imbedded in my children as a norm. That way the tradition is embedded in them.

We invited another family that we hold near and dear to our hearts and it is at these times that we gift our children with memories and experiences. I love being able to do that for my girls and know that I am blessed with the ability to not only do it but enjoy it also.

Hope everyone Enjoyed there Easter as much as we enjoyed ours.

A Father's Answers

By: Mashaka Williams

In a society that is so driven by all that the fathers don’t do. Let’s talk about the ones that do and why they do.

I am lucky enough to have some male friends who make a point in being a part of their children’s life. In an attempt to not change his words I will simply post the questions and responses. Thank you for your honest answers. Just so you know these are his answers, not every male has the mother issues. In this case he does and yet he is there.

Hardest part of being a single dad? You can give me more than one example.

Initially it’s trying to explain to the kid(s) why they are no longer going to be living with both parents.

Dealing with the mother.
The finances (if you’re paying child support)
Getting involved in their emotional and academic development
Being in a serious relationship with someone other than their mother and making sure their needs remain 1^st and foremost.
Lastly not killing the mom (LMAO)!!!!!

What drives you to do this- lots of guys just say to hell with it? If you say my kids elaborate. I know your kids give me more.

My faith

Being raised by a single mother
Realizing it’s not their fault. I created them it’s my job to take care of them.
I enjoy them.

What would you tell someone that is about to be in your situations and just don’t want to deal with the fight? Give me an answer from however you want to interpret the question.

It’s what you make it like everything else in life. If you see it as an inconvenience then it will be. Make the most out of the limited time you have with them because the quality outweighs the quantity (though that is important also). If you can get along with the mother great but if not then become more involved with every aspect of their life school, extracurricular sports, and the days you don’t see them then call. A phone call goes a long way. 

Have a great day,

Shak

The Positive Vibe

By: Mashaka Williams

Tulips make me smile.

With all of the things that’s happening in the world today it is so easy to fall victim to criticizing people and things. As a parent you want your children to grow up prepared for everything that can happen and we tend to forget to talk it out in a positive way.

I have been lucky enough to have an uncle who as long as I have been alive which is longer than I would like to admit has never said a harsh word about anyone or anything to me. He has been through so much over the past 3 to 4 years and with all that is still able to find a positive spin. If something goes completely wrong and none of us could find a good thing to say. He would say, “Okay guys let’s just do what we have to do as a family, don’t take that on now.”

He has been dealing with nerve damage that could have made him paralyzed. He is here today walking with nerve damage. And with all of the pain that he is in daily his saying is, “Feeling the pain is a good sign, it means that I am still working.” He gets up and makes breakfast, cooks dinner and lives life with such a brightness. Yes there are days when he has a hard time and would express it however he make a positive remark like “tomorrow will be better.”

I hope that as a parent I would be able to express myself as positive and heart-filled as he does with all of us whom he has helped raise. I am so thankful that I have such a strong base from the adults that has played a role in my life.

So today I would like to us my uncle’s words and say, “Everything will work out as it always does. Not too worry.”

Have a great day,

Shak

Smile it's Daycare

By: Mashaka Williams

Photo Credit: Webneel

It’s not easy being a mother who has to wake up every morning and send your kids to a daycare provider. This is especially difficult to do when you have kids under 5, because they still struggle to express themselves clearly.

I have been lucky enough to find someone outside of my family who not only takes care of my children well, but treats them like family. It is a great feeling to know that when they aren’t in your care you can rest assured that they are being taken care of.

One of the things we as parents do is worry about someone else raising our child. Technically they are, however if you and them have the same game plan and the job gets done correctly what’s to worry about. You just tag team out and in during the day. It’s called doing our part to make sure we are taking the steps to teach our children how to be good citizens. We have to be parents and not friends.

We have to help our children understand the rules and discipline them when they have done something wrong at day care. I know that some of us want to spend time cuddling or coddling however we have to make certain that they understand the rules do not change just because we are at home versus daycare.

My daycare lady’s name is Nona and if I could clone her and send her out in the world for all parents to have one I would. She takes care of a few kids with mine and they are all treated the same. And let me just state for the record my baby is no easy breeze kind of child. Nona earns her money and then some, but she is awesome. I’d have to say her and her family were a gift from God. She has helped us with both of my children and the first one turned out great. Let’s hope that the second will follow suit.

Take the time to be parents, but make sure that the person who is taking care of your child wants to do it and enjoys it. Trust that gut feeling you have. My gut feelings told me that Nona was the right choice for my kids.

Have a great day.

Shak

Organization Blues

By: Mashaka Williams

As we prepare for another work week, we begin to think of all the things we have to do and get overwhelmed.

So we research ways to organize ourselves in order to get everything done. And for the most part we do the planning lunch and dinners, take out the clothes for the week and get all the kids’ stuff done. You go to bed ready for the next day. And then the next day the alarm did not go off. So I guess planning was done for everything but the clock and then the haste begins. Oh well, you have tonight to fix this hiccup.

My point is this, do whatever you can but know that you're human and things happen.

Have a great day!!

Shak