Great job, Rachel! I loved reading your perspective on a family I’ve rooted for over the past eight months or so. Glad to know they’ve got great people like you and Uncle Phil behind them.
Beautiful...the secret about how the mundane is the foundation of friendship, that's it! Reading it here I felt like I heard it for the first time. And that pic of Myles meeting his Uncle kills me. So great.
Thank you for latching on to that 😊. I wanted this piece to be three things - a letter, an origin story, and a toolkit. Deciding who to trust, love, and grow with is messy business and I wanted to share something that can at least be groundwork for decision making.
I love the last photo of you holding baby Myles for the first time and him reaching out to you as if he knows. I do believe babies know stuff... they have a sense of things. Great piece!
Thanks so much! I really enjoyed choosing that picture. Him holding my face and my husband’s hand 🥹 too much adorableness to leave off the page. I appreciate you reading and sharing your feedback. 🙂
Oh I see that upon closer inspection now. I hadn't realised he was holding on to your face and your husband's hand. That's amazing, love at first sight. I thought he put his arms around you. Love it even more now.
This must have been lovely for you all. I think there is an important subtext here too. Myles will benefit a lot from what you can read between the lines. The importance of the everyday stuff, especially in high school when it's all so intense.
Right! Selecting friends, even at a young age, is really the first time we choose those that will provide (emotional) safety for us. It’s such a big but small act. I wanted to provide some considerations that can continually be returned to. And you’re spot on - this was a very enjoyable collab. Thank you for reading!
“What made me smile about your Mom was her all-in-ness when it came to a song she liked. She bounced to songs that had a groove, but when a beat really hit, she did her thing.”
I found you & Marc separately and felt immediate love & appreciation for you both independently. Knowing you love & care for each other as family makes me SO HAPPY!
Friendships are the thing I wish somehow I more prepared for with the ebbs and flows it comes with. When I think about my friendships over time especially K-12, I ask myself were we really friends or we just saw each other a lot?
A treasured memory from high school was qualifying at states for the 800m. You know how mid distance athletes had it at Medgar😅
My now oldest friend is my now ex’s sister and I think we first met at an all white party we were going to. Can’t remember if we spoke to each other before then but I think that was the first face to face interaction.
My hometown is technically St. Mary, Jamaica and I visited in December 2023 for my birthday. Hoping to make it regular thing again as the last time before was Summer 2012.
Julissa! Hi! That bit on friendship is super relatable. I think, like you said, proximity makes friendships seem easily accessible and ubiquitous. But there’s so much more. Knowing how to make and be a friend is touches on nurturing and care work in a voluntary way that reveals the true us. You’ve inspired me to think on this more. Thanks for sharing.
Marc - It's wild that you started this piece of sharing your prayer for a sister. It's something I've longed for as well. I'm thankful to have a wife who I can genuinely call beloved but there's always been an appeal.
Rachel - Thank you for a glimpse into ya'lls beautiful relationship and the glimmers of wisdom 🖤😊
I’m so happy you enjoyed, Jamal. This was both the easiest and hardest thing to do lol
Also, I used to want a sister when I was really really young, then it clicked we would have to share things and I became grateful I was the only girl 😂
Rest easy, Myles, Auntie Rae's got you.
😊 The honor is all mine. Thank you for reading, Darin!
A word!
Great choice!
Thank you, Stanley!
Great job, Rachel! I loved reading your perspective on a family I’ve rooted for over the past eight months or so. Glad to know they’ve got great people like you and Uncle Phil behind them.
It’s pretty hard not to be a fan of such a young family truly doing the work. Your readership means a lot ☺️. I’m glad you enjoyed!
What a lovely bunch! Myles is surrounded with good people!
Thanks for reading, Diana.
My pleasure. It was very uplifting, Rachel.
Good people indeed Diana!
Beautiful...the secret about how the mundane is the foundation of friendship, that's it! Reading it here I felt like I heard it for the first time. And that pic of Myles meeting his Uncle kills me. So great.
Thank you for latching on to that 😊. I wanted this piece to be three things - a letter, an origin story, and a toolkit. Deciding who to trust, love, and grow with is messy business and I wanted to share something that can at least be groundwork for decision making.
It did all those things and made me cry, ha! I loved every word.
High praise. Thanks, Deirdre.
That was beautiful writing start to finish. I loved loved loved the part on how friendships are made up of all these mundane moments.
Thank you, Noha! I count this as my best piece to date since it was the most fun to write. At moments it felt like my hand hovered and my heart wrote.
That's a really great description! I love when it feels like the writing is going that way
It’s certainly a rarity I aim to make more common 🌻 I wish the same for your writing process as well.
It's the alliteration for me!
I love the last photo of you holding baby Myles for the first time and him reaching out to you as if he knows. I do believe babies know stuff... they have a sense of things. Great piece!
Thanks so much! I really enjoyed choosing that picture. Him holding my face and my husband’s hand 🥹 too much adorableness to leave off the page. I appreciate you reading and sharing your feedback. 🙂
Oh I see that upon closer inspection now. I hadn't realised he was holding on to your face and your husband's hand. That's amazing, love at first sight. I thought he put his arms around you. Love it even more now.
It’s certainly a photo filled with details I’ll treasure for a lifetime.
This must have been lovely for you all. I think there is an important subtext here too. Myles will benefit a lot from what you can read between the lines. The importance of the everyday stuff, especially in high school when it's all so intense.
Right! Selecting friends, even at a young age, is really the first time we choose those that will provide (emotional) safety for us. It’s such a big but small act. I wanted to provide some considerations that can continually be returned to. And you’re spot on - this was a very enjoyable collab. Thank you for reading!
I love that. The subtext!
This just took me back!!! Ugh love this so much there’s nothing like a friendship that spans so many life changes!
Took me back too! Little things like the security guards yelling tickled me so much 😂 High school was such a formative experience.
“What made me smile about your Mom was her all-in-ness when it came to a song she liked. She bounced to songs that had a groove, but when a beat really hit, she did her thing.”
Love this one my friend. ☺️🙏
Thanks for sharing what stood out, Dee. There’s something so special about immortalizing someone on the page. It’s a different kind of keepsake.
This really perfectly captures my partner. I have a video I wish I could share lol
I found you & Marc separately and felt immediate love & appreciation for you both independently. Knowing you love & care for each other as family makes me SO HAPPY!
That makes me so happy, Zoe 🥰. Thanks for reading
Same here! Love that they know each other 🌸
Thanks for reading, Temitope. 🌺
This made me smile. Thank you, Zoe!
This is so beautiful 🤩 it’s Aunty Rae’s first impression of Maya that got me. “When she knows, she knows…” 🔥 I love her already 🌸
Thanks so much. It was such a joy to share that portrait from a time that feels so long ago. I’m so happy I did her justice.
Hey Auntie Rae 🤗
Friendships are the thing I wish somehow I more prepared for with the ebbs and flows it comes with. When I think about my friendships over time especially K-12, I ask myself were we really friends or we just saw each other a lot?
A treasured memory from high school was qualifying at states for the 800m. You know how mid distance athletes had it at Medgar😅
My now oldest friend is my now ex’s sister and I think we first met at an all white party we were going to. Can’t remember if we spoke to each other before then but I think that was the first face to face interaction.
My hometown is technically St. Mary, Jamaica and I visited in December 2023 for my birthday. Hoping to make it regular thing again as the last time before was Summer 2012.
Julissa! Hi! That bit on friendship is super relatable. I think, like you said, proximity makes friendships seem easily accessible and ubiquitous. But there’s so much more. Knowing how to make and be a friend is touches on nurturing and care work in a voluntary way that reveals the true us. You’ve inspired me to think on this more. Thanks for sharing.
For the last 10 years I’ve been giving more thought about the nuisances of friendship how to show up better in that space. You’re welcome🤗
Gorgeous
Thank you for reading, Daisy. Your feedback is felt. 🌼
Myles is such a lucky kiddo!
He is in so many ways. Imagine a stack of love letters waiting for you to read over a lifetime? Bruh.
I always say it feels like we are the lucky ones ❤️
I’m asking you both to please stop dicing onions in my home today
It’s not us, it’s the onions 😂
😅🙃 ~passes tissue~
Marc - It's wild that you started this piece of sharing your prayer for a sister. It's something I've longed for as well. I'm thankful to have a wife who I can genuinely call beloved but there's always been an appeal.
Rachel - Thank you for a glimpse into ya'lls beautiful relationship and the glimmers of wisdom 🖤😊
I’m so happy you enjoyed, Jamal. This was both the easiest and hardest thing to do lol
Also, I used to want a sister when I was really really young, then it clicked we would have to share things and I became grateful I was the only girl 😂
🤣
Someone with a sister was telling me all of the cons the other day and I was like "Dang, maybe I need to reconsider." lol
You made a U turn real quick 😂
Naw, I’m still in. Just had to think for a second 🤔🤣
😂 ha! that makes it even funnier
Thanks for reading man. I feel so incredibly to have woman life my partner and Rachel in my life ❤️
It's a blessing for sure!