Rihanna Is Officially In Her Mommy Era
And I'm not mad about it.
On August 3rd, 1997, singer Lauryn Hill gave birth to her first child, Zion David Marley. A year later she released her highly anticipated freshman album “The Miseducation of Lauryn Hill”. The album featured a song entitled “To Zion” that quickly became a favorite. Y’all don’t understand. 12-year-old me would sing this song with conviction as if I was the one who made the choice to keep my unborn son.
After becoming a mom in 2017 I got it, but as of lately, I GET IT.
Conversations with my husband have me separating my career from my purpose. My career is a writer and actor. However, I auditioned for so many roles that I didn’t book last year that it had me questioning my career, which at the time I thought was my purpose. A few weeks ago, my husband broke it down to me like this:
Your career is what you do. Your purpose is who you are. -Just Steve
My purpose is to be the woman God has created me to be. To mother the child He gave me. To love my family and friends. To let people know that God sees and loves them. If I fail to book the role of my dreams it doesn’t affect my purpose.
Last night while watching Rihanna perform I said to myself “This is her farewell concert. She’s officially in her Fenty & Mommy era”. Respectfully, Rihanna ain’t thinking about us. After confirming that she is indeed pregnant with baby number two, I believe for a fact that she gave the people what they wanted, before she go sit down and raise her babies. Or should I say go STAND UP and raise her babies, because what mom gets to sit???
I wish society celebrated women for choosing to mother their children over careers. A few weeks ago I met Pauletta Washington at the closing of “The Piano Lesson” on Broadway and had the chance to tell her that she’s the reason that I still pursue acting as a mom. Pauletta is an amazing actor, but she stayed home and raised her babies, while her husband Denzel was able to achieve his acting dreams. Now that her babies are grown she’s just now stepping back into the acting world. This should be celebrated.
I don’t know when Rihanna will give the people a new album and tour. It could be two years from now, or it could be ten years from now. Or it could be never (yikes!). But, what I do know is her babies will be able to say Mommy was home and she was present, and I love her for it.
Your Favorite Cousin,
Nik