Mommies & Mimosas

This week the ladies are talking about their different upbringings and experience when it comes to "gender role assignments" in the household. Its safe to say, they both have different perspectives, based on how they grew up and how they operate their homes today. While, we all know women work more than they did 50+ years ago, a lot of people still feel a certain way about women doing "women" things around the house, and leaving the "manly" things for the man. Is the a healthy approach. How do you determine who does what and how do you teach your children? This is one of those episodes where the ladies don't quite agree. BUT, they meet somewhere in the middle. As always :) 

There's seems to be a lot of discussion surrounding over correction and if the current generation of parents are over doing it in some areas. Speaking from personal experience, Tiara and Jaz can agree that culturally we had a lot of generational behaviors to correct. A lot of our "traditional" styles of discipline stemmed from slavery, and overall, we don't have much a cultural foundation. However, in some cases, we may be taking it too far. Our parents and grandparents were very hard on us, because they witnessed the road traveled to get us the basic human rights in this country. Even outside of the black community, we just saw what over correction on Capitol Hill looked like...are we over doing it? 

We still live in a time where working moms are often heavily criticized for “choosing” work over their children. So the conversation about moms who own businesses is just as critical. Even though, in today’s economy in the U.S. its nearly impossible for middle class families to only have one working adult in the household, a lot of people still feel as though women should still be there in the home for their children above all…

Some of us recently watched the memorial service for Kobe and Gianna Bryant. And what particularly tugged at our heart strings more than anything, was watching Vanessa Bryant talk about the loss of her husband/daughter and how we know she now has to move on in life without them. The same thing happened last year to late rapper, Nipsey Hussle and his now widow Lauren London.

Unfortunately, families experience tragedy everyday. Sometimes it results in the loss of life. On a previous episode, we talked to a mom who experienced the loss of her children’s father. On this week's episode, Jaz and Tiara talk to guest, Tiffany Ward about an unfortunate tragedy that her family suffered through a few years ago. Fortunately, for Tiffany and her family, this tragic event didn’t result in death, but the lasting trauma is still painful. 

Everyday families don’t have the world praying with and over them. However, we hope they find new strength within their own family, community and friends.

Listen to hear Tiffany's story and how her family deals with the lasting effects of her daughter's accident and how they're pouring back into the community to help others. 

As we close out Black History Month, the ladies find it only fitting that some light and celebration be shed on back doulas and midwives. The conversation stemmed from an article posted on Lamaze.org titled, Black History Month: The Importance of Black Midwives, Then, Now and Tomorrow. 

Since embarking upon her doula journey, host Tiara has been connected and engaged in the very scary reality that black mothers keep dying during and/or after giving birth at an alarming higher rate than white women. 

Tiara and Jaz talk about why they feel this is happening and how their personal experiences could have gone completely different, without the necessary support in the delivery room. During the episode, they also read and discuss some of the statistics surrounding the topic and share some of their favorite support pages for moms and mamas to be, to follow to help empower them along their journey. 

There are proven phycology studies that show, having a black doctor, midwife, etc. yielded in more positive results and outcomes. Therefore, they deserve a celebration! :) 

On this week's episode, Jaz and Tiara recorded alongside a FB LIVE Broadcast. So in a sense, we have some co-hosts joining us :) 

Mommy guilt, is it just another buzzword? Should mothers and their partners be paying more attention to the subject? Absolutely, one thousand times YES! The ladies discuss the moments where they have experienced severe or mild mommy guilt. They talk about how they cope with it regularly, and the importance of recognizing it as a first step. So many mothers are ashamed to talk about it, ashamed to even say it aloud. But you never know how you're experience or your transparency might help others. Much like this podcast, the point is to have a support group. Having multiple outlets will help you a lot more than you realize. So, don't be ashamed! Mommy guilt is REAL! We all deal with it, we can all help each other through those moments. 

During this episode, the girls finally discuss a topic that co-host Jazmine lives and blogs about passionately, Blended Families. The ladies talk about the immediate challenges and some of the ways Jaz navigated the situation herself. Tiara also sheds some light on the fact that she grew up in a blended household and how it affected her then and now. Jazmine has incredible insight on the situation. As a result of her own experience, she felt responsible to start a blog to help others. The hot topic, the main topic, and the game time (Never Will I Ever), all tie together pretty closely, likely for the first time since this show has aired. The girls turn a mostly challenging conversation into a fun, yet still informative one. In blended families, there are so many people, so many personalities, so many needs and so many road blocks to consider. The road to "harmony" is a long one. Many families unfortunately don't ever seem to reach that point. What are the rules? Who take the lead? So many questions, no one has the complete answers. However, the ladies try to clear the confusion best they can during this episode. 

To continue the discussion, join and follow the Facebook page. Also be sure to check out Jazmine's blog to learn more about the blended family journey (www.blendmorewiththeorrs.com) 

It is incredibly heartbreaking and unthinkable whenever one half of a parenting team is taken away sudden and tragically. We can only hope that the village surrounds the mother or father throughout the entire upbringing of the child(ren)’s life. It truly does take a village. So, when one parent is no longer here, what kind of support do the children and parent left behind need? On this episode, through sharing their stories, we hope the mothers can even grasp another inch of closure (as we know the journey is a long one). We also hope they can help other mothers/fathers with grief and coping mechanisms, not only for them, but how they deal with this matter when it comes to the children. 

Jaz and Tiara have a very challenging conversation with their guest, Tiffany, about the loss of her boys' father. Tiffany is transparent and open about her challenges thus far and how she plans to seek healing for herself and her sons  while they continue to grieve. 

This episode is not an easy one. But a very necessary conversation. We hope mothers/fathers out there experiencing this currently find comfort in knowing how others have been able to push through. We hope this episode helps someone out there listening finally seek outside help and support. "Death is not the opposite of life, but a part of it..." 

We're backkkkk!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Following our holiday hiatus, we're back and refreshed! Both mamas have had some time with their immediate families and friends over the holiday season. They come back to together for the season 2 kickoff to catchup and talk about their decade reflection. They talk about what surprised them in the last decade, and what they learned along their motherhood journey during. 

After the reflection, the mamas talk about their goals, resolutions and aspirations for the upcoming year and decade as moms, wives, in their careers and mostly as individuals that will contribute to that overall big picture! 

In the spirit of the theme for the New Decade (2020 Vision), Tiara lends her recent knowledge and doula expertise on planning for motherhood and the importance of it. The ladies share their birth experiences and the planning process that went along with, in hopes that another mom can pick the information up and utilize it for their own experience. 

Jazmine and Tiara also share what's to come for the Mommies and Mimosas podcast! Hopefully you keep listening and sharing with friends!! Plenty more to come :)