The Women I Do It For...

The women I do it for are the STRONG women and the women who don’t realize how STRONG they are! The women who wake up every day ready to take on any challenge, defy all the odds, create a structured environment for themselves,their families/communities, and look great while they are doing it. The woman who has an innate ability to be present and supportive for others while she is still trying to regulate her own emotions. The woman who is told, “Girl, you are so strong” and “Girl, you always have it together.” The little girl who had to grow up before her time because she had to help raise her siblings, take care of her parents, go to school,get good grades, and was told “Girl, you have a good life.”

My Superwoman, My Mother, but I call her “Ma.” Growing up, I watched my mother

work tirelessly to ensure that my sister and I had everything that we needed and wanted. My mother worked double-sometimes triple overtime, held a ministerial position at our home church, ensured that my sister and I were engaged in school as well as church ,and was and still is one of the most fashionable people I know. While my mother was at work, my sister and I would spend time with our great grandmother. My great grandmother, Reese Lucille Morrison, was the most dedicated wife, the best mother/grandmother, the best cook, and a rule stickler. If it was thundering outside, we had to turn off all the lights,televisions, and radios. I would say,” Mom” (What I called my great grandmother because I heard my mother calling her Mom) “ Why do we have to turn all the lights,televisions, and radios off when it's storming outside?” She would look at me and say, “We have to let the Lord do his work!” I would say, “But Mom, Moesha is about to come on!” She would say ,” You don’t need to be watching that mess anyway!”

Looking back, I don't remember seeing my great grandmother sad or emotional. She always appeared to be satisfied. I remember her being consistent,loving, and STRONG. My great grandmother stuck to her daily routine:

• Morning praise and worship

• Praying and Reading her word

• Cleaning

• Making her own preserves

• Watching her stories

• Washing clothes

• Ironing the sheets

• Preparing all our meals

• Watching Jeopardy/Wheel Of Fortune

• Getting us ready for bed

When my mother would come to pick my sister and I up after working double- sometimes triple overtime, she would drive from Downtown Philadelphia to West Philly (to get us), and then drive all the way home to Darby, Pennsylvania. Although she was tired, she would make sure that I had my school clothes out for the next day, packed my lunch, and tucked us into bed. She would say ,”Sleep tight, don’t let the bedbugs bite, see you in the morning!!” My mother’s commitment to seeing my sister and I succeed echoed true love, sacrifice, and compassion. Watching my mother love hard, give freely, empower others, and sacrifice, helped me discover my passion to serve others at a very young age.

My great grandmother raised my mother. I admired the bond my great grandmother and mother shared. Two strong Christian women who love unconditionally, gave candidly, and advocated for anyone facing adversity.

I can recall one of the hardest times for my mother, my sister,and I. It was when my great grandmother made her transition to heaven. I was a freshman in high school and my sister was 3 years old. My great grandmother was diagnosed with Pancreatic Cancer and it felt as if her health was declining rapidly. During this time, my mother, my sister, and I moved in with my great grandmother so that my mother could take care of her.This was a challenging time for me, but I also knew that my mother’s heart was breaking. In the midst of her pain, My Ma interacted with all of my great grandmother’s doctors and nurses, kept her uncle and close family up to date with procedures and health checks, and made sure that my sister and I were okay.

One day, I went into Mom’s room to talk with her. She was sitting up in her favorite rocking chair. We were having a good conversation and then she went to say my name ,but she couldn't remember it. That same night, my sister,Victoria (who was 3 years old at the time) got into my great grandmother’s rocking chair and said ,” Mom’s going to heaven soon.”

The following day my great grandmother “Mom” passed away. My mother came into the middle room where I stayed and told me that she had to talk to me. My mother told me that my great grandmother had passed and she was going to take me to see her. I went into my great grandmother's room and saw her laying in the bed. She wasn’t in pain anymore. She was at peace because God called her home. My mother said ,”Mom’s in heaven” as she held my hand tight and embraced me. Throughout my great grandmother’s sickness, treatment, and ascension to heaven, my mother’s strength,courage,will power, and faith never wavered.

Me 1st LLC is for every woman. The STRONG and courageous and for those who need to be told how STRONG and courageous they are! The STRONG and courageous women like my mother. Women who are protectors/caregivers for their families who need a safe place to cry, decompress, be HEARD, loved on, encouraged, and empowered.

Thank you Ma for being my advocate, my protector, and my voice when I couldn’t form the words. You are a strong and courageous mother not just to Victoria and I, but to girls and women all over the world. I want you to know that Me 1st is a product of everything you’ve invested in me:Faith, Love, Tenacity, Sophistication, Perseverance, and Compassion for ALL women and girls all over the world.