Naleighna Kai's Literary Cafe Magazine NK Literary Cafe 2018 Mother's Day Issue | Page 9

The Gift of Motherhood
and the competition. I learned the power of my own
voice and its relevance in asking for what I want in
every aspect of my life.
They taught me how to cook, when to bake from
scratch, and when to order carry-out. And how to
present everything so that it was irresistible. They
taught me when to take shortcuts, so I’d have time
to do what mattered on any given day.
From them, I learned how to appreciate other
cultures, how to be flirtatious without being crass,
how to be sexy without being obvious, and
how to laugh without being self-conscious.
They taught me how a good song and a
dance could help me work out any number
of issues.
They taught me when and how to pray,
when to cuss, and when to seek forgiveness.
They taught me how to apologize, even
when it hurt like hell. How to let bygones
be bygones because life is too short to hold
on to dumb stuff.
I learned how to make my mark, so I’d
be missed when I’m gone; how to make
peace and when to wage war; how to be
comfortable in my own skin, to wear
the perfume that compliments my body
chemistry, to use shopping as retail therapy,
and to indulge without apology.
I learned everything about being a woman
from eight mothers and I don’t tell the ones
who remain often enough, how they have
impacted my life.
The best way to honor them is to do, live,
embrace, celebrate, and be everything they
imparted about womanhood. Especially
my mother who gave me the greatest gift
of all.
She shared her sisters with me.
Victoria Kennedy writes fiction. She contributed to The Dating Game anthology and
wrote a short story collection titled, Where Love Goes. She is also the founder of Zora’s
Den, an online writers’ group. Her latest book is a novel, Sometimes Love, published by
Brown Girls Books. www.victoriaadamskennedy.com
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