Mothers, Daughters, Queens, and Princesses
{Guest Post from Deedee Cummings}
A Princess is a Queen in training. A queen is the reigning female of her family- regarded as the most outstanding in a particular sphere or group- according to the dictionary. How better does a young girl figure out her place in the world than by watching her mother proudly proclaim hers?
But moms shouldn’t diminish their bright light either. Moms who work outside the home tend to have a lot of guilt about the hours they dedicate to their professional careers and goals. Oftentimes, what we don’t realize is happening during the rush of parenting and working, is that our fiery drive is being seen and absorbed by our children.
Girls become strong by witnessing the challenges of their mothers. Mothers and Daughters are the Queens & Princesses of modern times.
And that was definitely the case for my daughter and me, all those years ago when I was navigating life and work as a single mom and a mentor for my young daughter
Looking back, I didn’t feel like I was doing any sort of guiding or mentoring back then, but now as my Princess (my daughter, Kayla) has grown into a Queen herself, I now know for sure that my daughter has learned to follow her dreams by watching me chase mine. She is truly my butterfly who has fully emerged from her cocoon in full regal beauty.
It has been fun to watch her dreams come to life. It has been fun to watch her fly. And my heart grows happier each day I watch her achieve success and accomplishment over and over. Kayla’s dream was always to be on stage. To sing. To dance. To act. To entertain.
So, tired Queen Mamas, if you feel like your crown is slipping, don’t give up. Stand with pride, operate from a place of dignity, and ask for help when you need it. Our daughters will carry on our torch of passion and fire when it is their time. We just need to keep embracing the Majesty of our Womanhood and keep it moving.
In 2021, I am releasing the new and updated book about my young Princess’s journey because I know it will be a fun ride filled with pride for you and your loved ones too.
My upcoming diverse picture book, Kayla: A Modern Day Princess was inspired many years ago by my own daughter, Kayla who is now a well-known and successful Broadway actress.
She picked a hard profession. She is a triple threat performer who can act, dance, and sing. This chosen career field is a tough one for anyone, but as a black female, it has come with its own set of challenges. Steep competition for roles is made all the more difficult simply because of the color of her skin. Talent and drive sometimes just do not matter.
Scheduled for release in April of 2021, the updated through text and illustration on the fact that we all need to empower little brown girls to follow their dreams. Little girls of ALL colors need these stories of HOPE and stories that show them what is possible. Dreams give us hope and that is especially true for IBPOC kids.
We must make room for stories about black and brown children. My family story is a unique perspective and Kayla’s is made all the more energizing because of her determination and her drive in a field that will pick you to pieces.
Please share it with girls of all backgrounds who need to be encouraged to follow their heart- even when it is not the popular decision.
Learn more about MakeAWayMedia.com and Kayla: A Modern Day Princess HERE.
About Deedee Cummings
As a therapist, attorney, author, and CEO of Make A Way Media, Deedee Cummings has a passion for making the world a better place. All eleven of Cummings’ diverse picture, poetry, and workbooks for kids reflect her professional knowledge and love of life. In her award-winning 2019 picture book, This Is the Earth Cummings uses bold and bright illustrations to share a message of peace, love, respect, compassion, inclusion, and how everyone is a steward of the world in which we live. Her newest release, In The Nick of Time (November 2019) is the story of a little brown boy who saves Christmas.
Cummings has spent more than two decades working within the family therapy and support field and much of her writing shares her experiences of working with kids in therapeutic foster care. She is also the founder and creator of the Louisville Book Festival; a literacy-based celebration that occurred in Louisville, KY on October 23rd and 24th, 2020.