I was thinking about the old saying “it takes a village” the other day. I come from a blended family. My parents divorced when I was a toddler and a decade later, my mother married another man and they had a son. I am beyond grateful to have a wonderful step-dad and a loving little brother. Before they came into our lives, a group of incredible women helped my mom raise me.  

My mom formed a fitness team of young women in the early 2000s. She competed in many fitness shows and won several titles such as Ms. Fitness Universe. She wanted to help other women in Louisiana train for the shows. Little did we both know, they weren’t going to be just her team. They became her sisters and I was the child of the sister tribe who ended up being very loved. 

Each of them helped my mother tackle single motherhood. There wasn’t a time where we had an empty spare room, and whether it was to help mom get me to school or help her keep up with the house, one of them was always there. There was never a moment of boredom. Most of them were in their twenties back then, and their lives were more than complicated. 

“I don’t know what I am doing with my life….”

“Why did I choose a difficult major?!”

“Guys are such assholes!”

Even though mascara raccoon eyes was the norm, their spirits were never really broken. They always pushed forward together no matter what. They all ended up becoming successful career women and amazing mothers. Seeing them overcome their challenges has always inspired me to thrive to overcome my own. 

I learned the true meaning of friendship and female empowerment at an early age. I am surviving my twenties pretty well. I have no fear of being unapologetic myself. I love the woman I am becoming. I can’t be more grateful for the lessons and skills I received from my village.