It is true - Auntie swears by Nivea (not the cute bottles of Nivea, that blue jar with the cream nice and think like Crisco and Vaseline mixed), and in the summer Auntie looks like an oil slick and does not give a flip because she is moisturized!
I can't even express how honored I am to have inspired such a beautiful poem. Was especially shook by the last line, "lest we forget, you are a child of the moisturized."
I ADORE THIS. The words are like honey for a sore throat.
I failed in the moisturization department with my bebes when they were little. I applied it here and there but with no consistency. This because I myself never needed to be moisturized and looked about 15 until the day I turned 36 and suddenly looked 50 lol. We are trying to catch up now, especially with my younger son who runs away when he seems lotion on my hands and says things like "so what if my knees are ashy" 😂😂😂
A specific episode of Black-ish seemed to drive home the importance of never going out with ashy knees or elbows. We'll see if the lesson remains.
I am moisturizering right now, Marc...just like your letters... your words inspire us to do anything! My superhero writer! What a lucky little boy Myles is! 😊❤️
When my daughter was young, her hands would get so dry from the soap at her elementary school. She'd come home with papery flaking skin on her hands on Monday and it would get worse every day until finally it would bleed. She hated the feeling of lotion so I would sneak into her room when she was asleep and rub the thickest moisturizer I could find into her hands. By the end of the weekend, with only gentle soap at home and lots of stealth lotion, her hands would be much improved, only to start the cycle over again on Monday. It always felt like such a metaphor to me, the harshness of the world, of school, bullying, all of that hard, caustic stuff, and I'd try to keep it at bay during the week and heal it on the weekends. This post reminded me of that time, when they are little and you care for their bodies as much as you do their hearts and minds. I always tried to make home like that for my kids as they grew - the place where things get better, where they can heal. It's obvious you're creating just that kind of place for Myles. Nice job, Dad.
Amazing job, mom - that's commitment and love - all in one! We are doing our best here. I think a lot about how these routines we are building is as much for us as it is for him.
My son is autistic. Once being moisturized became his job, he didn’t see the need for it on those ashy legs. He might do it if I reminded him. When he started working and bought himself a fancy pair of “Jordans,” I had to object. Boy! You cannot wear Jordans and have ashy legs! We will have to revoke your “black card.”
I found it amazing how being raised by black parents, had very little to do with his choices. He was his own individual self…with no rhythm. 😊 And he is now an incredible young man.
Btw…I’m new here. I found you from the “Cookout” post. Thank you for that.
Karen, so glad you're here. I remember reading your work about the bullying your son experienced. You offer a really unique experiences that isn't often discussed. I'll be coming back to your work soon. Thank you for sharing this we me. Appreciate you!
One of my favorite genres is watching videos of little brown babies getting their face massage/moisture routine done before school.
Back in the day, when Shea Moisture was still Black owned, I delighted in lotioning up my babies in the baby lotions they made. Then I took some for myself because they smelled gooooooooood.
Beautiful words to leave Myles on an important ritual, Marc!
1. Lotion. After showers for sure and often after washing my hands. I’d also recommend trying the body cream “Noir” from Bath & Body Works. It’s expensive (money talk lol), so see if you can catch a sale.
4. Not great. Overwhelmed and a little anxious. Overly eager to progress. It’s been a stressful start. And I sort of feel like the societal norms and pressures of a New Year have contributed to my feelings that I must achieve ‘X’ by a certain date. I’m working my way through it. I appreciate you asking. How are you holding up with everything?
I hear you brother. There is always something to do. Truthfully, I am tired and probably should rest more. But this is the season I am in. I appreciate YOU for asking. Means, a lot.
Myles, you always bring out the dad in me, the one I put in storage when my kids grew up.
True confession: once, when my wife actually trusted me to babysit our daughter, we fell asleep together, I think me more than her, and I didn’t realize she was crying, well, screaming, until my wife came home and woke me up. I do remember my dearly beloved asking me in a rather stern voice, “What’s wrong with you?”
Skin care? I don’t need no skin care. If God wanted me to do skin care, He wouldn’t have made it so my hands crack and bleed in our cold, dry winters.
I don’t know if I was tired, or if it was an evolutionary adaptation that allowed me to sleep through the howling so I would be rested and ready to go to war, if necessary. The male evolutionary adaptation to dirty diapers is a similar phenomenon. The smell evolved to drive men out of the cave and to spend all day hunting down mastodons for meat. We modern men are starting to lose those adaptations now that we are getting more tame.
Lil Myles, I use enough moisturizer to fry chicken at a fast food restaurant, my skin is old and I need it to stay soft like yours!
Na Auntie, this was hilarious 😂😂
It is true - Auntie swears by Nivea (not the cute bottles of Nivea, that blue jar with the cream nice and think like Crisco and Vaseline mixed), and in the summer Auntie looks like an oil slick and does not give a flip because she is moisturized!
A child of the moisturized 🙌🏽 thanks for the love!
Haha indeed. Of course, brother. Thanks for included it in your letter. Means a lot!
Cocoa butter kisses! So sweet.
My book came! Thank you! I love Chance the Rapper! (Not sure if that was a purposeful reference or not)
It was! I’ve been singing it all day ha, you’ll have to let Myles listen. So glad you got your book.
I can't even express how honored I am to have inspired such a beautiful poem. Was especially shook by the last line, "lest we forget, you are a child of the moisturized."
Thank you for making my day—my week!
I had a rough weekend, and when I thought about what to write him, I thought about your poem. So thank you!
This took me back to when my grandma would lotion me. Her large palm rubbing from shoulder to wrist in one swoop. This one hit for sure.
Those hands were so so soft.
I ADORE THIS. The words are like honey for a sore throat.
I failed in the moisturization department with my bebes when they were little. I applied it here and there but with no consistency. This because I myself never needed to be moisturized and looked about 15 until the day I turned 36 and suddenly looked 50 lol. We are trying to catch up now, especially with my younger son who runs away when he seems lotion on my hands and says things like "so what if my knees are ashy" 😂😂😂
A specific episode of Black-ish seemed to drive home the importance of never going out with ashy knees or elbows. We'll see if the lesson remains.
Noha, your 15-36-50 sentence had me rolling 🤣 I think we all have that moment with pur mirrors at some point!!
hahaaa yes...
Haha! It's never too late to start! I use to love Black - ish! Their skin will thank them later.
Oh my gosh, Noha. Me tooo! And now I moisturize like I’m making up for lost time. 🤣
You and me both!! 😅😅😅
saturate that boy!
You already know!
I am moisturizering right now, Marc...just like your letters... your words inspire us to do anything! My superhero writer! What a lucky little boy Myles is! 😊❤️
Joan, your words are always the kindest! Don't forget those elbows haha!
😁😅
Miles, thanks to your Daddy
You’ll never be ashy.
A little coca butter rubbed into the skin
Is the perfect place to begin.
Stan
The
Poet!
When my daughter was young, her hands would get so dry from the soap at her elementary school. She'd come home with papery flaking skin on her hands on Monday and it would get worse every day until finally it would bleed. She hated the feeling of lotion so I would sneak into her room when she was asleep and rub the thickest moisturizer I could find into her hands. By the end of the weekend, with only gentle soap at home and lots of stealth lotion, her hands would be much improved, only to start the cycle over again on Monday. It always felt like such a metaphor to me, the harshness of the world, of school, bullying, all of that hard, caustic stuff, and I'd try to keep it at bay during the week and heal it on the weekends. This post reminded me of that time, when they are little and you care for their bodies as much as you do their hearts and minds. I always tried to make home like that for my kids as they grew - the place where things get better, where they can heal. It's obvious you're creating just that kind of place for Myles. Nice job, Dad.
Amazing job, mom - that's commitment and love - all in one! We are doing our best here. I think a lot about how these routines we are building is as much for us as it is for him.
My son is autistic. Once being moisturized became his job, he didn’t see the need for it on those ashy legs. He might do it if I reminded him. When he started working and bought himself a fancy pair of “Jordans,” I had to object. Boy! You cannot wear Jordans and have ashy legs! We will have to revoke your “black card.”
I found it amazing how being raised by black parents, had very little to do with his choices. He was his own individual self…with no rhythm. 😊 And he is now an incredible young man.
Btw…I’m new here. I found you from the “Cookout” post. Thank you for that.
Karen, so glad you're here. I remember reading your work about the bullying your son experienced. You offer a really unique experiences that isn't often discussed. I'll be coming back to your work soon. Thank you for sharing this we me. Appreciate you!
Thank you for checking out the Cookout!
One of my favorite genres is watching videos of little brown babies getting their face massage/moisture routine done before school.
Back in the day, when Shea Moisture was still Black owned, I delighted in lotioning up my babies in the baby lotions they made. Then I took some for myself because they smelled gooooooooood.
Wait -- I never thought about even looking this is up. Sharifa, you really have all the gems yo!
Beautiful words to leave Myles on an important ritual, Marc!
1. Lotion. After showers for sure and often after washing my hands. I’d also recommend trying the body cream “Noir” from Bath & Body Works. It’s expensive (money talk lol), so see if you can catch a sale.
4. Not great. Overwhelmed and a little anxious. Overly eager to progress. It’s been a stressful start. And I sort of feel like the societal norms and pressures of a New Year have contributed to my feelings that I must achieve ‘X’ by a certain date. I’m working my way through it. I appreciate you asking. How are you holding up with everything?
I hear you brother. There is always something to do. Truthfully, I am tired and probably should rest more. But this is the season I am in. I appreciate YOU for asking. Means, a lot.
No doubt. One day at a time, right? Your fatigue is understandable. But keep pushing bro!
I moisturise from the inside - I drink like a fish - water, all day long.
That water is so key! I need to drink a lot more. Room temp or frigid cold?
Oh, if only I could train myself this way, but time and again, I fail miserably only to discover myself with Sahara tongue in the night. :)
What gets me in the sign off. Love, Daddy 🥹
My favorite part honestly. So happy you are here Kelsey!
Myles, you always bring out the dad in me, the one I put in storage when my kids grew up.
True confession: once, when my wife actually trusted me to babysit our daughter, we fell asleep together, I think me more than her, and I didn’t realize she was crying, well, screaming, until my wife came home and woke me up. I do remember my dearly beloved asking me in a rather stern voice, “What’s wrong with you?”
Skin care? I don’t need no skin care. If God wanted me to do skin care, He wouldn’t have made it so my hands crack and bleed in our cold, dry winters.
Sounds like you were TIRED! Haha Your skin care comment is so Switter. Appreciate you, man!
I don’t know if I was tired, or if it was an evolutionary adaptation that allowed me to sleep through the howling so I would be rested and ready to go to war, if necessary. The male evolutionary adaptation to dirty diapers is a similar phenomenon. The smell evolved to drive men out of the cave and to spend all day hunting down mastodons for meat. We modern men are starting to lose those adaptations now that we are getting more tame.