Gradmommy

LATEST ARTICLES ( 94 )

• Childhood Independence and Child Murder

  A few weeks ago, my son asked for permission to walk around the neighborhood by himself. When pressed for details about where he wanted to go, he couldn’t... Read more

  Posted on 27 July 2011 DEBATE, FAMILY, PARENTING

• When Vitamins and Exercise Don’t Work

  Mental Illness is a problem. Not the one you probably think, though. Mental illness is a problem because of the stigma. Yes, it’s tough, but must it be... Read more

  Posted on 26 July 2011 DEBATE, FAMILY, PARENTING

• How Old is Too Young?

  Anyone following the news in Metropolitan New York is aware of the malicious death of an 8 year old child inBrooklyn,NY. Those of you who are not aware, a... Read more

  Posted on 23 July 2011 DEBATE, FAMILY, PARENTING

• Vacation. Staycation. Make It Happen.

  

  Written by CocoaMamas contributor, Tracy M. Bostic I believe strongly in taking vacations. Maybe it’s because I can count on one finger the vacation I remember... Read more

  Posted on 18 July 2011 FAMILY, PARENTING, SELF EXPRESSION, TRAVEL

• Rue is Black!

  

  !This was the email I got from the baby’s godmother. If you don’t have a teen in your life you may not know about Rue and the Hunger Games, but trust, they’re... Read more

  Posted on 12 July 2011 DEBATE, SELF EXPRESSION

• Why We All Can’t Just Get Along

  

  I’m comfortable with who I am and what I believe in. I’ve always wanted to be a lawyer for the same naive reasons I guess a lot of kids say they want to be... Read more

  Posted on 09 July 2011 DEBATE, SELF EXPRESSION

• Avatar

  Color me stupid but I thought I was getting the hang of this parenting thing.I have managaed, despite a notorious reputation of killing all living things (a... Read more

  Posted on 05 July 2011 DEBATE, FAMILY, PARENTING

• Hair Weaves For Little Girls

  I don’t know if it rises to the level of an epidemic, but lately I’ve seen a number of little girls – as in, girls under the age of 12 – wearing hair weaves,... Read more

  Posted on 02 July 2011 DEBATE, FAMILY, PARENTING

• Being Black

  Written by CocoaMamas contributor Mikila. I just read an article about a woman named Sandra Laing who is a black South African born to white South African... Read more

  Posted on 29 June 2011 DEBATE, FAMILY, PARENTING

• Yeah, I’m Young. So What?

  Something that’s really been bothering me lately is all the youth-bashing that has been going on around me lately. Not the typical “teenagers are young and dumb... Read more

  Posted on 24 June 2011 DEBATE, FAMILY, PARENTING

• You Know What?

  

  Written by CocoaMamas contributor HarlemMommy You know what’s dangerous? It’s dangerous to speak your mind as a Black child in an inner-city school. I’m an... Read more

  Posted on 22 June 2011 DEBATE, FAMILY, PARENTING

• Don’t Talk To Strangers

  

  Written by CocoaMamas contributor Tracy B. I have two beautiful Black sons. And, yes, I am biased – but they are also truly beautiful. Read more

  Posted on 18 June 2011 DEBATE, FAMILY, PARENTING

• I Believe The Children Are Our Future

  

  Teach them well and let them lead the wayHas education in this country ever properly served black children? Sadly, the answer is no. Read more

  Posted on 14 June 2011 DEBATE, FAMILY, PARENTING

• Mothering Without Shame

  

  Written by CocoaMamas contributor Rachel B. “I don’t want you to make the same mistakes I did.” There is not a black mother on Earth who has not said those word... Read more

  Posted on 09 June 2011 DEBATE, FAMILY, PARENTING

• Mistakes and Blessings

  Issa Mas of Single Mama NYC got many of us single moms on Twitter thinking when she tweeted: “Such a strange thing, to have the best thing that ever happened... Read more

  Posted on 06 June 2011 DEBATE, FAMILY, PARENTING

• Children of Privilege

  

  Written by new CocoaMamas contributor Mikila. Welcome her to CocoaMamas! I recently read an entry regarding children of privilege.  The writer discussed an issu... Read more

  Posted on 04 June 2011 DEBATE, FAMILY, PARENTING

• My Brown Boy?

  

  Written by new CocoaMamas contributor HarlemMommy. Welcome her to CocoaMamas! As a Black woman, I was prepared to nurture my brown child. Showering her with lov... Read more

  Posted on 31 May 2011 DEBATE, FAMILY, PARENTING

• Blessed to Be a Blessing

  

  Written by new CocoaMamas contributor Tracy B. Welcome to CocoaMamas Tracy! I am blessed in that I am surrounded by beautiful Black men. Read more

  Posted on 26 May 2011 DEBATE, FAMILY, LIFESTYLE, PARENTING

• Black Teachers Are Umm…Black Too

  My mother is a teacher. She has been a teacher all my life, first at day cares and preschools, then at a family day care in our home. A few years ago, she... Read more

  Posted on 24 May 2011 DEBATE, FAMILY, PARENTING

• Kids and Money

  A few years ago, while visiting the home of a friend, I noticed a book on her kitchen counter about raising kids without a sense of entitlement.It made sense... Read more

  Posted on 18 May 2011 DEBATE, FAMILY, PARENTING