Have we become our parents?

Have we become our parents? 

Growing up I can recall my parents asking me “what are you listening to?” Or  “you call that music?” As a child I was insulted. How dare they question the musical voices of my generation. Yes this is music, just as much those records you listen to. They would question the lyrics or the style of dress of my musical “idols” all the while forgetting the odd lyrics and/or the outfits of their own musical influences. I don’t think I’ll ever forget the first time I heard the song “Strokin” by Clarence Carter in its entirety (WHAT DID HE JUST SAY?!).

Have we become our parents?

I often ask myself this when I hear a song or music that I consider noise or wonder why the young person driving next to me just has to have all their windows down and the car stereo turned up to 10.

Have we become our parents?

I often think about that when I see a young lady with practically nothing on (where are your shorts little girl)- forgetting that during my high school days “daisy dukes” became Super popular (I never wore those).

Have we become our parents?

I can only speak for myself and while I don’t think I have fully morphed into my parents; I can see the maturity, along with the laugh lines forming that I see in/on my parents sprouting up on me. I can appreciate dinner and drinks with friends versus clubbing to 3am. I understand that while I want to “Turn Up!”- I better chill out- it’s Sunday and I have to be at work by 8am.

I recognize that noise pollution is just as annoying as any other form of pollution so I try to be courteous to my fellow drivers while riding home. Now, let me apologize in advance if you roll up beside me and “Power Trip” by J Cole is blasting because right now that is my “window down blast song”.

I also understand that any 90’s hip hop mix tape is great cookout music just like my parents knew that anything by Maze featuring Frankie Beverly was great cookout music.

Who would have known that becoming our parents would be such a smooth transition? It’s enough to freak the shit outta you. I thought there would be a ceremony or something. I think I’m still pretty hip though. I can’t imagine ever being completely like parents. I’m too cool for that.

Now let me go and get these kids because obviously they think I want to air condition the entire neighborhood, with all this running in and out of the house.

Peace and Peanut Butter. 

I'm a Grown Woman!

"I’m a grown woman/I can do whatever I want/I’m a grown woman/I can do whatever I want"-          
                                                                         Beyonce- Grown Woman


Understanding who you are as a woman takes years of  (1) learning about yourself (2) trusting yourself (3) trusting a higher authority (and I'm not talking about Oprah)
(4) belief...in something. All these things happen through eye opening, life changing experiences.  There's a reason it's called "getting grown" -it doesn't happen overnight. 

It takes nights with tears rolling down your face. 

It takes days of looking up towards the sky and soaking up the sunshine and God's grace smiling down upon you. 

Heartbreak and heartache. 
Love. Love lost. 

Becoming a woman is a process and it doesn't have shit to do with your age, your boobs, or your period. Hell I know a slew of older, menstruating, big chested Little Girls. 

Becoming a woman changes your walk. 
Your back gets straighter and you hold your head a little bit higher. 

Becoming a woman changes your language because you are comfortable with expressing yourself- good, bad, or indifferent. 

Becoming a woman makes you sexy...almost instantly because you love yourself and carry yourself as such and that makes you desirable. 

Becoming a woman is like raising a garden, it takes watering, nurturing, and love. 
Then when you blossom, its like the most beautiful sight. 
People notice, even if you aren't aware. 

Your smile and the way your eyes shine and dance even though you could be going through some of your toughest times...grown woman. 

Making tough decisions and facing the reality of your situation (relationships, weight, education, professional, financial)...grown woman. 

Setting up a payment plan for an overdue bill (seriously, stop lying to them people)...grown woman. 

Recognizing your faults and then, working on them...grown woman. 

Loving yourself even if no one else does (but trust me, someone does!)...grown woman.

It really is a beautiful thing when you recognize a grown woman. 

I can't wait until I'm grown!   

Pop Pop Pop vs pop pop pop pop pop pop pop pop

I really don't understand. What is wrong with restricting high capacity magazines? Oh they are gonna take away our liberties and the right to bear arms. That's right because the "founding fathers" were killing their meat with assault rifles that pump out 50 rounds per squeeze. Come on. Like for real.

*sigh* I am pro Gun. Surprised ya didn't I! I think every woman should know how to properly handle a weapon. If she is going to own one, I think that heifer needs a background check, especially the crazy ones that I know.

Seriously man, can't we agree to something? It's like we just want something to be pissed off about. Most of the people complaining probably have never even handled a weapon (a 9mil, let alone a MP5<--and don't even know what that is).

They just talking but not saying nuffin.

That's Just My Baby Daddy

Seriously I hate the phrase and the phrase "baby momma". Now with that being said, I know I can't be the only person that wants to check out Shawty Lo's potential reality television about his 11 kids and 10 different *sigh* "baby mommas". Okay so I watched the trailer and honestly it didn't seem off putting. The mother's all have a working relationship not only with Carlos <--his real name-->but with one another. They even have nicknames. And people are likening that to Flavor Flav nicknaming his potential ladies but I think this is different. They know each other's names but they also have a nickname for one another. Like when your grandmother calls you Peanut or Buckethead. And well if you act like the "Baby Momma from Hell" then dammit that's what people are going to call you. Hell better that than bitch, right? Right.

I don't know, given the current state of reality television as a whole, not just those with black casts, this show would fit right in. Critics say it glamorizes a situation like this, funny 16 and Pregnant is still on the air-with a spin off (Teen Mom) mind you. People say the word exploitation...have you seen Toddlers and Tiaras? Fact is you know at least one person that has had to deal with a situation like this. One of my best friends....her dad has like 50 children. Five- Zero. I know he can't name all them jokers. At least Carlos is providing not just financial support but emotional support for his children. I say let's not make him a scapegoat and don't pull a Spike Lee- watch it before you criticize the hell out of it.

I know that if this show had a different title, it wouldn't have even made this much noise. They should rename it and put some variation of the word "wife" in it or the letter K and it would go to the top of the ratings board. You know The Real Non Housewives of Shawty Lo or Girlfriends that didn't become Wives...or Keeping up the Kardashians, Shawty Lo style.

"Mad Monday"

sigh...I know that I can be very cynical and even pessimistic at times -yes, it's true, I can be a "Charlie Brown" while being a Linus for others. Yet even I have to say that reading comments on online article posts can leave me feeling like "what the French?" is wrong with people? 

Cyber gangsters are THE WORSE! They sit at home in front of their computers (iPad, MAC, PC) and proceed to blast and spew their negativity all over the comment box. I have seen negative comments on things dealing with the military and I think to myself, if it wasn't for these very same people you wouldn't be allowed to make such comments. Long gone are they days when people would write to the newspaper- leaving their name and city. See cyber gangster don't have the balls to be an editorial gangster; because an editorial gangster will have to back up what they say. If they get caught out there in the streets then-they will argue in person- GASP!- yes in person. I know the internet has made it impossible for some people to know how to carry on a face to face conversation. It's something we used to do in the "olden days". Editorial gangsters have conviction in their beliefs and will stand up for them. They won't say things online behind the guise of a made up name (not realizing their IP address makes them traceable)...sigh. 

On most occasions I try to avoid the comments sections because I already know...and it doesn't even matter...human interest story, finance story, US story, entertainment, sports etc- a cyber gangster will be there with their little gang of merry men leaving dumb, asinine comments for all the world to see