To all my Baby mama's

So as I am driving in to work I hear a mix of songs for mothers that ended with my girl Fantasia’s “Baby Mama”. I have always loved this song but felt kind of guilty about it because I so dislike the term, “Baby Mama”.  Today I thought about it more, when I think of baby Mama I don’t think of morals, values, nurturer, provider and disciplinarian. I immediately think hoodrat, well dressed, kids bummy with $200 gymshoes and no food in the house. But today I thought further in terms of how it’s used by youth today, when girls call their friends their baby Mama. To some it means my girl, my hoomie, someone who cares about me etc so it’s more like an extension of a best friend.

So with my new found clarity,  I now know that I have a few baby Mamas in my life but as a child they were called play Mamas, Godmothers, Auntie (although not related) or just nice people. My neighbor who use to babysit me, Ms. Combs my Saturday sewing class teacher. My Aunt who use to watch me and often comb my hair, my Aunt who had me for a minute when I was a little person. And later in my college years would do my hair when I went to Louisiana for breaks from school.  To all my Aunts who were just cool to be around and taught me through their interactions with me.  A variety of others who at some point were like a “Mama” in every sense of the word.

Later in life after I had children, I had baby Mamas as well. These were people who helped me care for my children, whether it was financial, babysitting, celebrated a birthday, a milestone or was a voice on the phone when I felt tired or had to go to the ER with my children (asthma), or even watching them so I could work on call to provide for mines. To all MY baby Mamas (my big sister, my adopted big sister, cousins, friends and others) Happy mother’s day and thank you.

B-A-B-Y-M-A-M-A THIS GOES OUT TO ALL MY BABY MAMA’S I GOT LOVE FOR ALL MY BABY MAMA’S

Fantasia