It's been couple of weeks since my wife and I dropped our son off for college for his freshman year. I have to say only now are we beginning to adjust. Even with our very vocal daughter still under our charge the quiet emptiness our son has left behind is palpable. For years I salivated over the idea of getting him out of the house. He ate too much, slept too much and did too … [Read more...]
Search Results for: blended families week
Healing Before Starting Over; It’s Hard Work but Necessary
by Michelle G Cameron I am a divorcee. I was married for 9.5 years to the father of my son, and it was difficult to stay, yet harder to leave. Disappointments, discouragement and a broken heart from the many situations I faced throughout the marriage left me questioning my sanity. The pain was raw. I was angry and disillusioned. I had fleeting thoughts of suicide from … [Read more...]
Man Officially Adopted 20 Years After Being Taken From Parents
It's never too late to adopt a child you feel is truly yours, right? Twenty years after being taken away from his foster parents, 32-year-old Maurice Griffin has been officially adopted. Abandoned as a baby, Griffin was adopted at age 3 by Lisa Godbold and her husband, Charles. However, by age 13, Griffin was taken away from them due to unidentified circumstances and placed … [Read more...]
Let God Provide Your Blueprint for Marriage
by Sonya L. Williams Any two individuals can plan a wedding, but a successful marriage requires more than a one day celebration; it requires a successful blueprint. Media, friends and family paint a variety of images for us to reflect. But when we choose to reflect the image we were created in (God's image) we will set the blueprint for generations to come. Here are a … [Read more...]
A Woman Unknowingly Married Her Father, and You May Have Done The Same
There are some pretty outrageous stories posted online, but a recent story I came across in the Huffington Post may be one of the strangest. Valerie Spruill, a woman from Ohio, learned her deceased husband was actually her biological father! Yes, she married her father, and had no idea until after his death! The most disturbing part is family members knew, and, for … [Read more...]
5 Things I Wish I Had Known Prior to Blending My Family
In today's age, there are a lot of divorcees finding love again and people are choosing to place their desires for a successful career before marriage. Naturally, the prevalence of blended families is becoming increasingly popular. If you are considering blending your family, ask yourself if you have taken the necessary steps to ensure that everyone in the family … [Read more...]
4 Easy Things You Can Do To Make Your Family Unit Stronger
What are your family goals? While there are different types of family goals, at the end of the day, we all want the same thing. We want our families to be happy, healthy, and strong. Also, we want to strengthen our unions (which is what you find yourself on this site), and we want to be the best possible parents. Here are a few tips you can try. My hope is this list of family … [Read more...]
My Boyfriend is a Deadbeat Father, Should I Marry Him?
Dr. Buckingham: I hope you and your family are doing well. My boyfriend has three kids with three different women. The first two he had when he was 20 and the kids are 7 months apart. He said he did not know the other woman was pregnant until the first baby was one year old. He lived with the mother of his second child for 5 years and they broke up because she wanted him to … [Read more...]
Black Panther: Parent Leadership and Wisdom From Wakanda
By: Alexandria Barabin Harris Breaking box office records of $404 million worldwide in a single holiday weekend, Marvel’s Black Panther has already made a profound impact on film, culture, and the community of thousands who have bought tickets in advance, stood in long lines, coordinated outfits, and even returned to the theatre for a second helping of the visually stunning … [Read more...]
Recap: 13 Most Pivotal Moments in Black Culture in 2016
[tps_header]With weeks away from 2017, we wanted to look back on the year of 2016. For many African Americans, there were several monumental events in 2016 that have influenced our world. We've had some highs (an introduction to the Simones) and some lows (the deaths of our legends). So here's our tribute to 2016. Let us know what moment in history touched you the most. 13 … [Read more...]
My Trials as a Distant and Overwhelmed Stepmom; and What Changed It All
The day God revealed to me his plans for my stepmom journey was the day my life took a much-needed turn! I remember standing in my light blue dining room and staring out the window with tears rolling down my face as I told God… "I am so tired." I was tired of feeling like I wasn’t being the best mom to my biological children. I was tired of the pressure to be mommy to my … [Read more...]
Why Do People Say Marriage Is So Hard?
I am constantly hearing people say “marriage is hard.” And although I agree with the sentiment, I think it paints a picture that marriage is all about surviving the struggle. I don’t know about you, but I didn’t get married just to survive a constant struggle. I could survive a struggle all on my own. So why do some people focus on the hard parts, neglecting to share the … [Read more...]
Our Best Vacation Ever: 3 Ways Disney Brought My Broken Family Back Together Again
Last month, I was invited to Walt Disney World (along with 2 other mothers.) We were there to create a video where we would share our most memorable family experiences/vacations at Walt Disney World. And the videos that we made will be displayed on ESSENCE.com's newest editorial destination, Mommy Den. Launched in March of 2015, Mommy Den is ESSENCE.com’s newest editorial … [Read more...]
Interview: Jewel Tankard Co-Star, Thicker Than Water Discusses Life After the Children Move Out
Last week I got to sit and chat with Jewel Tankard, reality TV Star of Thicker Than Water, and wife of Gospel Jazz musician, Ben Tankard. Check out the interview below as she talks about the show, marriage, how they deal with a blended family, and more! BMWK: For those that may not be familiar with Thicker Than Water, can you share what the show is all about? Jewell: We … [Read more...]
The Ultimate Black Family Empowerment Set
Add New Row Edit ElementClone ElementAdvanced Element OptionsMoveRemove Element THE ULTIMATE BLACK FAMILY EMPOWERMENT SET Edit ElementClone ElementAdvanced Element OptionsMoveRemove Element … [Read more...]