The blogging space can be such a personal space. We share so much and build genuine connections with “strangers”. In the spirit of sharing, here’s the story of me…
Hmmm… where to begin. Let’s start with where I grew up – Detroit. The city of Detroit has been getting a bad horrible rep. lately. It’s not the Detroit I know though. I grew up loving music, interested in fashion and awkwardly tall. The music thing was totally organic. I grew up in Detroit – Motown! I grew up loving and appreciating music in a way different from most people I know. Music became my escape, my companion and my voice. I should mention that I am an only child. Music was kind of my sibling, my sidekick that was with me through everything.
I grew up with cousins but when I was at home, it was just me and my mom. It was great! My mom and I have been best friends my whole life. Being a single mom, she worked her butt off to make sure I had what I needed and then some. My dad has always been in my life but, they didn’t last as a couple so I never got that two-parent household. My mother wanted me to do things differently and stressed the value of marriage to me regularly. I think there were three things she stressed most to me: a relationship with God, education and marriage before babies if at all possible. She would always tell me that being a single mom was doable, but it was far from easy. She didn’t want me to experience the same struggles she went through. Those repeated conversations clearly had an impact on me. I am definitely God’s girl, I earned my degree and I got married. I think growing up in a single parent household has given me such respect for marriage and what it represents.
Growing up, I spent a lot of my time writing. I wrote songs and poems and later began sketching designs. I wanted to be a singer and a fashion designer. If I’m being honest, I wanted to do it all! I even designed my prom dress! That was a seriously surreal moment. To see something I’d drawn come to life so beautifully was amazing.
My real love has always been writing. I didn’t always know it though. For years, I tried to avoid writing like it was the plague. I’m not sure why. It finally hit me that I was a writer during my years living in Ohio. More on that next time…
37 Comments on The Beginning of Me
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I gotta say that you are just so beautiful!
Kristy @PampersandPinot recently posted…Proud Mama
Awww, thanks Kristy! That’s so sweet of you! 🙂
Thanks for sharing, I look forward to more.
You definitely inspire me to share more about myself online. It is great making connections that feel more like friendships. 😉
Love the prom dress!
Optimistic Mom recently posted…Mess with my Child? Are you serious?
It can be a little scary to share yourself online. I’m getting more comfortable now… but not TOO comfortable! 🙂
Very cool!
Erica recently posted…Girls’ Weekend
You are so interesting. I love learning all this about you, and omg, that dress. You have talent.
blueviolet recently posted…The Rasterized Wall – WW
thanks! I think it’s funny that I still like the dress after all these years.
Thanks for sharing a piece of your life with us! You are an amazing writer!
This Cookn’ Mom recently posted…Versatile Blogger Award
thanks mama! I appreciate that!
Great introduction. I have met people online that seem to know me so well that I wonder sometimes where have you been all my life. I can’t wait to hear more.
kita recently posted…What’s the Biz: Discrimination against the unemployed
isn’t it crazy the connections we form online? i love the internet for that alone!
I spent the first 14 years of my life living in Detroit and I still live in the Metro Detroit area and work downtwon, so I totally understnd what you’re saying about Detroit getting a bad rep. It upsets me to no end. Yes our city has problems, but it also has many wonderful things about it too.
But I digress…
It sounds like you have one amazing Mom who definitely raised you right! Thank you for sharing your story!
Lisa
lisa recently posted…Welcome Wednesday: Sherry from The Perfect Pearl Place
thanks Lisa! it’s frustrating that more of the positive isn’t highlighted more.
i love personal stories from bloggers. i enjoy learning about the person behind the words!
i love that you designed your prom dress! very cool… I bet you have a lot of untapped creative outlets you don’t even know about 🙂
keep creating and keep writing!
Denise recently posted…Creativity Killers – Part 2 of 4
thanks for the encouragement!
What an amazing relationship that you and your mom share! Cherish it always. She instilled awesome value in you.
I must say, both of you ladies are stunning. I wish I had “the design bone” in my body. Love the prom dress!
Hugs and Mocha,
Stesha
Stesha recently posted…Wooden Toy Cars
thank you! I feel pretty blessed to have her for my mother. 🙂
Wow! You are so multi-dimensional! That’s why we love you…and designed your own prom dress…mad props to you!
Natalie recently posted…The Birthday Madness
thanks Natalie! I don’t know if I could pull together a design these days. 🙂
Love that picture of you and your Mom!,
Great job on your dress. My parents divorced when I was young so I learned what it was like to grow up in a single parent household too.
Jessica recently posted…Fake The Support If You Have To
I loved reading this post! It’s amazing that you designed your own dress. And what a great mom you have.
Hello Model-Model, It gives me great pleasure to say that I’m proud you. I can accept you being a writer but you’ll always be a model to me. Keep up the good work.
Much luv to you!
I’m an only child too. I come across those that feel like they missed out on having a sibling but your mom seems to have been a lot like mine. Working hard and providing an awesome life.
It was great hearing a little about you. Can’t wait until the next installment. Don’t make us wait too long!
Love your dress! That is amazing! My husband grew up in Detroit as well. He like it when he was growing up, but won’t set foot in the city now–says it is very different then when he was young.
kateri recently posted…New Horizons
Much respect and love to your Mom. Single moms are some kind of wonderful (*wink*). Thanks for sharing a piece of your story with us — social media is great in that way. We can “meet” so many different people and connect in so many different ways. Looking forward to reading more about you…
Alicia @MommyDelicious recently posted…Four Years of Aiden
I agree – single moms rock! 😉
An impressive share, I just given this onto a cleolague who was doing a little analysis on this. And he in fact bought me breakfast because I found it for him.. smile. So let me reword that: Thnx for the treat! But yeah Thnkx for spending the time to discuss this, I feel strongly about it and love reading more on this topic. If possible, as you become expertise, would you mind updating your blog with more details? It is highly helpful for me. Big thumb up for this blog post!
Your mother is a wise woman. She armed you for the challenges ahead – def a blessing! So glad you went back to your passion of writing as well. Will be coming back to read more!