FLM: Compare what your actual experience has been raising two girls to what your expectations were before motherhood.
BA: Stepping into motherhood, I set an expectation of perfection for myself. I wanted everything to be perfect: the matching bows for every single outfit, the softest of the softest bamboo cotton
fabrics. I wanted so badly for
every aspect to be perfect. On
the other side of that, I worried so much that I would fail miserably. And I’ll be honest, some days feel like failure. But as I found my groove on this journey of motherhood, I learned the art of
giving myself grace. I made space for the “no-so-perfect” moments of raising children. With that grace came a shift in perspective, and today, I am so confident in the mom that I am. Not only that– I’m proud of the woman I’m becoming. I was once afraid to show the imperfect parts of me as a mom, but now I’m proud of those imperfections. They speak to my growth, my grind to be a better person. My only hope is that my girls soak it all up and can see the example that I aim to set for them. I am the mamma I am because of them.
FLM: Share how your job as a teacher led to your involvement and the creation of Anderson’s League of Leaders.
BA: I believe that knowledge and education is a tool that can be used to empower people, especially those in underserved communities. This is what led me to the classroom as an English teacher. I love the idea of creating a lane for students to express themselves, and I appreciate the impact that teaching allows me to have. So, when my husband and I began our organization, Anderson’s League of Leaders, we felt a sense of responsibility to bring similar tools of empowerment to individuals who live in underserved communities, specifically youth who are impacted by violence. Lending our support to communities that are impacted by violence is our passion, and our support goes beyond the dollar amount that we donate each year. For us, the best kind of support is the kind that’s offered through forming and building relationships with the people in the communities that we serve.
FLM: As a millennial mom explain how you wish to see the Anderson’s League of Leaders impact youths.