Fly High! The Story of Bessie Coleman by Louise Borden and Mary Kay Kroeger is an inspiring biography about Bessie Coleman, the first Black woman and Native American woman to earn a pilot's license. I read this book with my children and then took them to Charlotte's Aviation Museum. Sadly, they didn't have anything about Bessie Coleman or the Tuskegee Airmen at the time. I hope they have improved since then. Born in 1892 in Texas, Bessie grew up in poverty but had dreams of achieving something extraordinary. She was determined to break barriers despite the racial and gender discrimination she faced in early 20th-century America. She moved to France, where she could pursue aviation training without the limitations she faced in the U.S. She became a skilled stunt pilot, earning the admiration of many. Coleman’s bravery and achievements paved the way for future generations, showing the importance of resilience and courage in the face of adversity. The book highlights her journey, struggles, and the legacy she left for future aviators, especially for women and people of color. This book is available in the Charlotte Mecklenburg Library.
0 Comments
9/8/2024 0 Comments Pillow TalkAs a busy mom, multitasking is my superpower. Whether it's folding laundry while answering emails or wearing my little one while grocery shopping, I thrive on efficiency. On this particular day, I was doing just that—wearing my sweet, sleeping baby in a mei tai baby carrier while navigating the aisles of the local Trader Joe's. Everything was going smoothly. My baby was nestled comfortably against me, and we were nearing the finish line—checkout. As I stood in line, rocking gently to keep my little one snoozing, the man behind me struck up a conversation. He admired my sleeping baby and said with a warm smile, "You've got a handsome little son there." I smiled and nodded, feeling that familiar glow of parental pride. But then he kept going. "My wife tried using a baby carrier with our son, but he wasn’t comfortable. Her chest was too... boney," he continued, and I could feel the train of awkwardness starting to build steam. "Your guy, though, it looks like he’s sleeping on pillows!" Cue the record scratch. The words left his mouth, and I could see the exact moment he realized the compliment had taken a sharp turn into the realm of cringe. His face flushed, and he looked like he wanted to teleport out of the store. I didn't know whether to laugh or hide myself. Meanwhile, the poor cashier clearly picked up on the vibe and was now laser-focused on bagging my groceries at lightning speed. I’ve never seen someone pack eggs, bread, and bananas that fast! I kept it together, though, giving a polite, tight-lipped smile and praying the checkout would finish so I could escape the awkwardness. We’ve all had those moments where someone means well, but the words just don’t land right. 9/3/2024 0 Comments Homework MishapA lot happens around my family’s dinner table. It's where we share important talks, laughter, planning sessions, and, yes, homework time. It's a place of connection, where our busy lives converge, and we can enjoy the simple act of being together. But as every parent knows, sometimes these moments come with a twist—sometimes literally! One evening, my daughter was diligently working on her math homework at the table. We were all in the midst of our usual evening chaos—cooking, chatting, and catching up on the day’s events. Everything was going smoothly until, suddenly, my daughter noticed a stain on her paper. It wasn’t anything major, just one of those little accidents that seem to happen in every home. But this one turned out to be particularly unfortunate. To our collective horror—and eventual amusement—the stain that appeared on her homework was, let’s just say, a bit more anatomically suggestive than one would hope for on a school assignment. We all stared at it for a moment in stunned silence before my daughter let out a groan of frustration. My daughter was mortified. “There’s no way I'm turning this in!” she declared, and I had to agree. No teacher should have to be confronted with that kind of accidental artistic expression when grading math papers. But beyond the initial shock and amusement, this little mishap reminded me of something important. Life around the dinner table—and life in general—is full of these unexpected, often hilarious, moments. They’re the little stories that make family life so rich and memorable. Yes, they can be embarrassing, and yes, they can throw a wrench into our best-laid plans, but they also give us a chance to laugh, to bond, and to teach our children how to handle life’s little curveBALLS. In the end, we all had a good laugh about the unfortunate stain. My daughter re-did her homework (in a different room, far from any potential spill hazards), and we chalked it up as one of those “remember when” moments that will no doubt be recounted at future family gatherings. 8/23/2024 0 Comments A JACK'd-Up School MorningSchool is back in session for my kids, and it's a pretty low-key affair around here—no Facebook photos or special outfits. Our days are much calmer now, which is a sharp contrast to how things used to be. Just the other day, Facebook reminded me of a chaotic morning from a few years ago. We were running late, as usual, with the kids rushing out the door, breakfast in hand, as they piled into the minivan. About two miles from home, my daughter started screaming about a spider crawling on the window. I tried rolling the window down to let it out, but it clung on stubbornly. Thankfully, I had an empty coffee mug in the cup holder from the day before, so I handed it to her to squish the spider. Instead, she threw the cup at it! Both the spider and my mug went flying out the window. I had to pull over and dash to retrieve the mug from the side of the road. When I got back in the car, I told the kids to finish eating. That’s when my daughter discovered she’d been sitting in her toast and jelly during the entire spider battle. I handed her a roll of paper towels, and we just kept moving forward toward school. It was one of those mornings I’ll never forget. I’m not sure when the shift happened, but we don’t have mornings like that anymore. Those wild, JACK’d-up moments are now blurry memories we can laugh about. I share this to remind other parents—there’s another side to the chaos. The days are long and hard, but the years really do fly by. Before I had children, I was an avid gym-goer. The gym wasn’t just a place I visited regularly—it was a part of my identity. I went nearly every day, pushing myself with intense workouts that left me feeling exhilarated. But once I had children, everything changed. I stopped going to the gym, but I never stopped exercising or fueling that essential part of who I am. Recently, I was reminded of that time in my life when I was a busy mom to small children but still yearned for that post-workout high. I came across a note I wrote to myself, and it took me right back to those days: Since I can no longer get to the gym, I have taken over our neighborhood park. It's actually a great workout! I hold the baby between my legs while hanging from the monkey bars and move my legs in circles while doing leg lifts. I do walking lunges, squats, push-ups, dips, and jump rope while my daughters are on the swings. When they need another push, I sprint over to them and then sprint back to my workout area. Yesterday, I actually climbed a wall! It's not as fun as the gym, but it will do for now. I've gotten over all the stares I get from the other parents and kids. For added fun, I chase the kids around the park while lugging my 20-pound baby with me. A fun time for all! I wonder what other workouts I can do there. If I could do unassisted pull-ups, that would be a great addition, but I can't yet. I'd like something to work the lats. Maybe I can take my resistance bands and hook something up. Hmmm... Looking back on that note, I realize how much that time shaped me. Even though I wasn’t in a gym, I created my own space to stay fit and maintain that connection to physical activity that I loved so much. But what’s most striking to me is that, at no point in my note, did I mention wanting to “get my body back” or “drop the baby weight.” Those goals never crossed my mind. For me, exercise has always been about enjoying physical activity and challenging myself. It’s the feeling of pushing my limits, discovering new strengths, and finding creative ways to stay active—whether that meant gym sessions or playground workouts with my kids. So, now I pose this question to you: how do you refuel? What drives you to move, to stay active, and to nurture the parts of yourself that need attention? Whether it’s running around with your kids, sneaking in a workout during nap time, or finding moments to connect with your body through movement, I hope you find what excites you. Because when we let go of external pressures and focus on the joy of movement, we’re refueling more than just our bodies—we’re refueling our spirit. How do you find ways to move and thrive in your busy life? 8/14/2024 0 Comments First-Day Fashion FailWhen my children first started school, we had some memorable experiences. I vividly remember my oldest child's first day of kindergarten. I made sure she went to bed early, prepared her school bag, and carefully selected the perfect dress from her new back-to-school wardrobe—a cute little dress with frogs wearing pink bows, perfectly capturing her personality. The next day, I eagerly awaited to hear about her first day. When she climbed into the car, I asked, "How was your day?" "It was great!" she replied. "Did anyone like your dress?" I asked. "Yeah! Elloree said she has the same one at home, but hers is a nightgown," my daughter said, matter-of-factly. My eyes widened in disbelief. I casually checked the label on the back of her dress. Sure enough, it read, "Flame resistant SLEEPWEAR." Yes, my daughter had worn a nightgown on her very first day of school. In my defense, nightgowns should not be sold on hangers! 8/14/2024 0 Comments First Day FolliesMy back-to-school experiences have been a series of memorable mishaps, like the time I unknowingly sent my daughter to her first day of school in pajamas. But perhaps the most unforgettable was Back-To-School 2014. My kids were starting at a new school, and we were all a bit anxious. We had missed the open house, so we hadn't met the teachers or seen the classrooms. I dropped my children off in the car line that morning, watching them walk into their beautiful new school, filled with possibilities. By the end of the day, I eagerly picked them up, relieved to hear that they had loved their first day. Once we got home, I began tackling the mountain of back-to-school paperwork. Among the forms, one in particular caught my eye. As an introductory activity, my daughter’s 4th-grade teacher had asked the students to write about their families, favorite foods, colors, and future aspirations. I smiled reading that my daughter’s favorite food was sushi and her favorite color was yellow. But my heart stopped when I saw her future aspiration: to dance on a pole! On the back of the paper, in red marker, her teacher had left a note. She explained that she had asked my daughter more about her desire to live in the mountains and work as a pole dancer. My daughter clarified that she was referring to the acrobatic pole dancers in Cirque du Soleil—not the kind you’d find at Club Nikki. What a first impression! 7/21/2024 0 Comments Playing with Food
7/2/2024 0 Comments Swinging with Ant-ticipationThere’s something magical about the simple joy of pushing your child on a swing. The rhythmic motion, the wind in their hair, and the pure delight on their face as they soar through the air—it's a cherished moment for any parent. But sometimes, even the most idyllic scenes can take an unexpected turn. One sunny afternoon, I found myself at our neighborhood park with my four energetic kids. The swing, as always, was a favorite. Our park had a large, circular swing that could hold my whole crew. With a gleam of excitement in their eyes, they hopped onto the swing and asked me to push. I began pushing gently, gradually building momentum. Laughter filled the air. They kept asking to go higher and higher. Eager to oblige, I gave one strong push, sending the swing into an exhilarating arc. But in my enthusiasm, I stumbled, lost my balance, and was thrown into the air. My fall, unfortunately, was cushioned not by soft mulch but by an unsuspecting ant pile. The shock of the fall was quickly overshadowed by the sharp, stinging bites of the disturbed ants. I glanced up to see my children doubled over in laughter. Once the initial chaos subsided, we all found ourselves laughing at the absurdity of the situation. It was a reminder that even in the midst of a perfect moment, life has its ways of keeping us grounded—sometimes quite literally. So, the next time you’re at the swing, remember: push with care, mind your footing, and always check for ants. Life’s little surprises are inevitable, but they’re also what make our stories worth telling. 3/22/2022 0 Comments Ha Doula Matata ... I Got You, Sis |
AuthorKira Kimble is a doula trainer, certified doula and doula mentor. She is the owner of MINE-R-T Doula Company in Charlotte, NC Archives
October 2024
CategoriesAll Books Breastfeeding Cooking Doula Health Parenting Placenta |