UNPOPULAR OPINION
I Am My Child’s Friend BY AARONICA COLE
Growing up, I can’t even count how many times I heard my mom yell the words, “I’m not one of your little friends.” In fact, it’s now a running joke in the Black community because I’m pretty sure all of us heard these words growing up. But as a mom who’s doing things differently with my own kids, this isn’t something I say. In fact, I let them know, with intention, that I am their friend—their very first one.
THE DAMAGE OF NOT THINKING OF MY MOM AS A FRIEND
Let me preface this section by saying that I love my mom more than I can put into words. She did the very best she could as a mom, and using her example as a starting point has made it so my own journey in motherhood is something I’m proud of. But there was some room for growth. Why? I learned about my period from reading the book Are You There God? It’s Me, Margaret. I learned about sex from movies. When I was raped, I didn’t tell her. Growing up, I felt like I was an outsider in my home— never quite comfortable or able to really let
