We Are Family…

Weather caused the cancellation of a few plans this morning, one being football practice. The “free” time afforded us the opportunity to attend the Black Achievers’ event to discuss the diversity of the Black family. India Reaves, a North Carolina Central Alumna, and very impactful and popular teacher returned as the speaker.

India took a poll to see how the attending students’ families were structured. She showed clips from sitcoms that really made me smile. The first was from the *The Cosby Show. In my mind, I was Rudy…the baby of the family who was always missing teeth. I wanted to live in a Brownstone because of the Huxtables AND General Hospital. Aye, I was a latchkey kid, so General Hospital was turned on when I got off the bus and I was typically finishing my homework as The Oprah Winfrey Show was ending 🤷🏾‍♀️. India then showed clips from Moesha and The Parkers, and discussed other ones such as Black-ish and Family Matters.

She included the Achievers and asked them questions about what shows/movies they felt impacted Black families. One thing about India, she always smiles, another is she always tells her truth. What stood out to me today was a story of what her mother, a single parent, told her as she dropped her off at her first day at Carver High School. “You’re going to college, and I don’t have the money to send you, so you better go in there and do all you can so you can get it paid.” (Loosely quoted)

Me from my room to Michai in his room: YOU HEAR THAT?!?

Michai: *silent*

India’s Momma spoke the same words to her, I speak to him. My student loans tell me to tell Michai, “Find a way.” They get me up so I can get him up at 530a/6a to catch up on school work. They keep me on my knees and in meditation speaking life over my household trying to make myself believe we are going to get through this school year. Someway. Somehow.

Sis is tired. I am Sis. I also can’t quit because of words that have been spoken to me by my diverse family who’s successful with and without degrees. Family who is loving, married or single. A family who has no respect of person (a term my Grandma used all the time) of who can be included as family as long as they are honest, willing to love and willing to be loved.

My immediate family’s diversity, as seen in the pic, can be described as my biological parents (now divorced), and a sister, who is technically my half-sister (although she always says, “Ain’t no halfs around here”). She’s the resident shoe tying teacher; she’s taught most of our cousins, Michai, and kids of other families. Each of us lives life according to our personalities. My Dad lives life like it’s a 24-hour party. He’s brilliant, a hustler, athletic and cusses…A LOT. My Mom is a Virgo; you figure out what I mean by that. She is cussing a tad bit now, as she ages, because people get on her nerves 🤐. My sister has an old person’s spirit but will always be the life of the party. She believes in coloring INSIDE the lines, she’s respectful, all about family until you make her mad, smiles all the time, is a talker, wakes up early and goes to bed right after the 6p news 🤭. As for me…don’t worry about me, worry about yourself 💁🏾‍♀️😂.

Not pictured: My brother-in-law of almost 17 years: I won’t say much about him because he will try and make me pay him for using his name 🙄. Michai: Y’all know about him. He’s out with a young lady for Valentine’s Day. What he doesn’t know is, I’m getting ready to turn into my mother by telling him, “If you can get up and be on time for your lil’ date, you can get up and get this school work done. 💁🏾‍♀️💁🏾‍♀️💁🏾‍♀️”

Seriously, love on your family, however diverse it is! Offer grace, laugh a lot, be kind, be honest and pray. In the meantime…17 weeks of school left and Sis is still tired. 🥺😢

*My support of the The Cosby Show should in no way be assimilated to the Bill Cosby accusations*