IT’S ABOUT TIME WE HAD A CONVERSATION ABOUT MENTAL HEALTH; I’LL GO FIRST

Four years ago, I experienced my second miscarriage in as many years. The first loss caused me great anguish. I kept wondering why. What had I done wrong? What was the matter with my body? But I carried on and became pregnant again. The second miscarriage was devastating. It happened a mere three days after my last doctor’s visit—a visit in which I’d heard my baby’s heartbeat and took home an image of the sonogram. I’d never known pain like that before and I will never get over it.

THIS MONTH, MAKE MENTAL HEALTH A TOP PRIORITY

I just love the month of May. Typically during this time of year, the weather is consistently warmer but not too, too hot. In Atlanta, all kinds of festivals take place including the Atlanta Jazz Festival and Caribbean Carnival. It’s my birthday month! This week is National Women’s Health Week but the entire month of May is Mental Health Awareness Month.

FELLOW MOMS, I SALUTE YOU. YOU GIVE ME LIFE.

Mother’s day is this Sunday. All across the nation, children are fervently working on rose-adorned projects that may or may not include letters, poems or odes on the subject of motherhood. Most of these little gifts will be hilarious. Come Sunday, there will be breakfast in bed for some and post-church buffet for others. The rest of moms may experience a much-needed spa day, or at least a full blessed hour of silence in a candle-lilt bath. Moms everywhere will appreciate whatever gift their day happens to bring and recognize the sentiment behind every gesture. It’s what mothers do.