By Tiya Cunningham-Sumter My local morning news informs, entertains and recently provided me with a great topic for discussion on BMWK. This week Jo Frost (the Supernanny) was featured. Jo was originally scheduled on the program to create national awareness for EIB (a form of asthma that is common but rarely discussed), and of course the news anchors were not going to let … [Read more...]
Other Races Want To Know…
by Tiya Cunningham-Sumter Last week I had this great article in mind, but as my research began I was thrown off course by a few questions. The original post was aimed at discussing African-American children's hobbies and extracurricular activities. ABC World News reported that Blacks are 3 times more likely to drown than Whites and I wanted to learn more. But as I entered … [Read more...]
Those Bad Habits Existed Before You Got Married
by Tiya Cunningham-Sumter He has the tendency to step out of his clothes and leave them on the floor. She is custom to talking a mile a minute and sharing every single detail of her day, every day. He is prone to saying he's listening, but somehow can't recall a single word you have said. She has a pattern of giving in to anger and completely shutting down. Bad habits like … [Read more...]
When He Can’t Lead
By Tiya Cunningham-Sumter Over the years I have heard wives express concern for their husband's leadership skills. They will often admit they allow their better halves to take the lead and he just won't step up to take the wheel. Of course it causes certain frustrations and results in the wife pulling back her willingness to allow her husband to lead. I have found that … [Read more...]
Should Parents Put Their Dreams on Hold?
By Tiya Cunningham-Sumter I have a couple of girlfriends who have children heading off to college. My friends, of course, are extremely excited. But a common phrase I hear is "now I can finally do me" which leads me to believe they were holding off on doing "them" for a time such as this. I understand if the "doing me" consists of going out every night, clubs, partying … [Read more...]
Do Better, More Often In Your Marriage
by Tiya Cunningham-Sumter There is a popular saying, "when you know better you do better" that I find to be very true, but not listened to very often. With all the relationship books, counselors, coaches, blogs and workshops, couples everywhere have either read or heard some of the best tips and advice on creating peaceful homes and lasting marriages. Yet, for some reason … [Read more...]
How To Be Confident in What You Have
by Tiya Cunningham-Sumter Our relationships are mirrors of how we see ourselves. The insecurities, the doubt, and the lack of self love all play out in the partnerships we create. Their existence is based on our self beliefs. We expect to be treated a certain way based on the views we hold of ourselves. Sometimes it's positive and sometimes it's negative. Some of us nag our … [Read more...]
What Relationship Messages Are We Sending Our Children?
By Tiya Cunningham-Sumter My friend asked the question "are single mothers raising their daughters to be single?" She said that question was brought up in the beauty shop (you know we talk about any and everything at the shop). She surprisingly had to admit that she thought she just might be, but not intentionally of course. My friend recalled walking around her house being … [Read more...]
The Hunted: “Married Men”
By Tiya Cunningham-Sumter When one goes hunting, it is planned and there is certain artillery needed. How you will get there is all mapped out as well as what will be hunted. And there is a purpose for the hunt. Currently, there are women who actively pursue married men. These women are using lust and seduction as their artillery and are definitely on the hunt for married … [Read more...]
Are You Easy to Love?
By Tiya Cunningham-Sumter "And let us consider one another in order to stir up love and good works" (Hebrews 10:24 NKJV) A few weeks ago my husband said something to me that really struck a cord. He asked a simple request of me and I was very slow in taking action to meet that request. His perception was that I was only thinking of myself. As I thought more about it later, … [Read more...]
Spouses at the Class Reunion?
By Tiya Cunningham-Sumter Picture this; you are attending an event with a room full of people you don't know with the exception of your date. This room is filled with people who already have a familiarity with one another and everyone in this room is sharing a story or memory with another person there, all except for you. This event is your spouse's class reunion. … [Read more...]
Too Nit-Picky
by Tiya Cunningham-Sumter "Your hands are too ashy" "Your lips are chapped" "Are you really going to wear that?" "Can't you dress up a little bit more?" These are all the things I have recently heard other wives complain about in regards to their men. In church the other day, I heard the couple behind me having a sweet debate about his ashy hands. The … [Read more...]
Black Women, It's the Attitude
by Tiya Cunningham-Sumter My day time job consists of working with an underserved population; young, single moms and individuals with criminal backgrounds. The responsibilities of my job include coaching, job readiness training, resume writing and interviewing techniques. What I've learned in preparing people to re-enter or initially enter the workforce is that, it's … [Read more...]
An Arranged Marriage Is Not Such a Bad Idea
by Tiya Cunningham-Sumter My husband and I are raising two great girls who are going to (prayerfully) grow up to be two great women. Based on the values we are teaching, GOD first, self-love and self-respect, family and education are just a few of the many values we want our girls to walk away with. As they get older we hope that they will continue in the way that we've … [Read more...]
Beautiful Wedding, Now What about the Marriage?
by Tiya Cunningham-Sumter Experiencing two weddings this month has not only brought a smile to my heart, it also served as a reminder that love is still very much in the air. Attending one of the weddings as a guest was wonderful, but being a coordinator for the other was more than a notion. After being married for almost 12 years, I had almost forgotten about the … [Read more...]