The Black Parenting Journey

Every school holiday, we dream of quality time, laughter, bonding moments… and then half-term shows up like a storm with two hungry children, unpredictable weather, and receipts longer than my patience. As a Black mum of a 13-year-old and an 8-year-old, I’m here to keep it real and tell you exactly how it went down. Spoiler alert: it involves trampoline socks, Morleys, and me asking the universe why I’m paying to watch my own kids run wild. Half-Term Madness: Why I’m Paying to Watch My Own Kids Eat Me Outta House and Home Let me tell you something: half-term rolls around, and suddenly I’m a personal chef, events coordinator, and walking cash machine—all rolled into one. I’ve got two kids: one 13, one 8. One thinks she’s grown, the other thinks I’m her full-time entertainer. And both of them? Eating like I’ve got a secret Nando’s in my kitchen. Now I don’t know who decided that school holidays should be this long, but I’d like a word. Because the second school’s out, they’re looking at ...

I’ve never really been the “boundaries” type. At least, not until I got older and had kids. I never thought the day would come where I’d have to set boundaries with my own mum — their grandma — when it came to my girls. But here we are. I grew up where the “No” came faster than the speed of light. It started with the little things: spoiling them, giving them whatever they wanted, sneaking them chocolate before they even turned one. The list felt endless. At first, I let it slide. After all, that’s what grandparents are known for, right? But eventually, enough was enough. My kids, my rules. Growing up, if I had acted like that or pushed the limits, I would’ve gotten a quick slap. So why were the rules so different when it came to her grandkids? The day finally came when we had to have the conversation. It went something like this: “I’m the parent. You’re the grandmother. What I say goes.” No sweets before dinner. No cake just because they’re cute. No bending the rules we’re trying to te...

 How Do You, as a Parent, Combat Bullying? At some point, every parent either has been there — or will end up there — standing in front of the mirror, fighting the very real urge to squeeze into your kid’s school uniform and go handle their bully yourself. Listen, no judgment. In the heat of the moment, when you hear your child is being picked on, all logic flies right out the window. You suddenly find yourself plotting revenge during morning drop-off, mentally dusting off your old school tie like, “Say less. I’m ready.” When your child is being bullied, it’s hard not to get emotional. I can't lie — when my daughter first ran into issues starting secondary school, I definitely had thoughts of dressing up like a student and handling it myself. Guilty! In some cases, I actually believe that bullying can build character. It teaches kids how to defend themselves and set boundaries. If they don’t, unfortunately, it can continue. For my daughter, she knew she had to nip it in the bud. Sh...

My daughter’s first experience with racism happened when she was just six months old. We were at a GP practice, waiting for an appointment, when a little white boy turned to his mother and said — and I quote — "Mummy, we don't like brown people, do we?" His words hung heavy in the air. His mother’s face immediately turned bright red, but she said nothing — no apology, no correction, no words at all. She simply got up and left abruptly, avoiding any acknowledgment of what had just happened. It was a moment that stayed with me. My daughter was far too young to understand what had been said, but as her mother, I felt the sting deeply. It was a harsh reminder that racism isn’t something children are born with — it’s something they are taught, whether through words, silence, or inaction. This experience was the first of many difficult truths I knew I would one day have to explain to her: that sometimes people will make judgments about her without ever knowing her, simply becau...

Parenting: where sleep deprivation, tantrums, and endless questions meet laughter, love, and adventure. I'm no expert, just a regular parent trying to figure things out as I go. My girls, aged 13 and 8, are my guides, teachers, and favorite people to spend time with. In this blog, I'll share our stories, struggles, and triumphs, in the hopes that they'll make you laugh, cry, or nod your head in recognition. Welcome to my first post, where I'll be diving into the world of parenting and sharing my experiences as a mom to two lively girls who seem to have a permanent debate club going on in our household. From the constant bickering and squabbling to the moments of pure joy and connection, I'll be sharing it all. As a parent, I've learned to navigate the ups and downs of raising two unique individuals, and I'm excited to share my insights, lessons learned, and parenting hacks with you... Thanks for stopping by Till next time  Unapologetically Black  muva