~ L. Renee’ Chubb

I’m telling my age in the title here, but indulge me a moment. 31 years ago, LL Cool James, whom the ladies still love, was rapping about an “Around the Way Girl” and why he needed one. Back then I took that song for granted but as I got older and yes, wiser, and became a mother of a fully adult son almost as old as this song, I realized, that boy wasn’t looking for a booty call. He was looking for his mama!

Look, you know just as well as I do that our kids cannot function without us. They can’t breathe without us, and to let them tell it they can’t find a damn thing without us. You know what and who I’m talking about ladies.

Fierce, Black mothers. We are the ties that bind. We nurture communities, activism, change, faith and all of the other things in between. Most of us don’t even realize all of the hats we wear, nor are we often fully cognizant of all the people who depend on us. Even the ones we don’t physically see or come in contact with on a daily basis. Our “other” children.

There are a lot of you out there doing it alone right now. Tutor, Chef Boy-R-Dee-Dee, Accountant, Coach, Cheerleader, Nurse, Guidance Counselor, Defense Attorney, Mom, Dad, Uncle, Aunt. You get it. You do it thanklessly, tirelessly, and with unconditional love. For those of you who have a support system, consider being that support system for a mother who doesn’t have one.

Love on yourself, pamper yourself and don’t forget to protect your peace at all costs. You can’t be good to your children or your community if you are not at 100% mentally or physically. Get a workout buddy and get your body-ody-ody together. We want you around for a long time.

Stop a sister this Sunday, 6 feet away of course, and tell her you love her, you SEE her, and most importantly Happy Mother’s Day!

We all we got! To MY mother, Christina, Happy Mother’s Day. I love you with all of my heart and I SEE you this Mother’s Day!

Call your mom every day, tell her you love her, or “Mr. James” will be singing this to her, in his tracksuit, in the driveway. You know it’s true!

“She likes to dance to the rap jam
She sweet as brown sugar with the candied yams
Honey coated complexion, using Camay
Let’s hear it for the girl, she’s from around the way”

LL. Cool J – “Around the Way Girl”

Come bring your mom in for a full spa day at Stewart Boutique, the only Black female-owned/full-service boutique in Gahanna, Ohio. #WheretheMagicHappens.