Did your dolls look like you when you were growing up?

Chances are, they didn’t.

I remember playing with white Barbie dolls and originally thinking nothing of it until I noticed that I didn’t have a single doll that looked like me.

Those days are over.

Representation is key, and while there’s still room for improvement, now our little black girls are starting to have it.

Check out these 13 black dolls that we absolutely love.

Who comes first, your mother or your wife?

Many men struggle with the issue of who to put first – their wife, or their mother.

We’d put our money on the fact this has been an issue since the beginning of time… and a contentious one in many households and families.

As it stands, both wife and mother have their places in the life of a man, of course.

But, the question remains, why has this caused so many complications in marital and family relationships?

Let’s look at how you should go about choosing between wife and mother.

Motherhood is one of those universal cornerstones of societies big and small. Pregnancy can bring a variety of trans-formative and life-altering experiences that shape mothers from all different cultures and backgrounds. The rites of motherhood can vary in different places, but expectant mothers throughout the world all share a desire for help and communal support.

While the majority of women find comfort within their networks and known doctors, others choose to find support within those who study and become experts in this field. For these people, their search extends to alternative services. Some cultures have a name for these professionals. Depending on where you go, they are called midwives or nurses, and they are widely known as essential figures in the child birthing process. A lesser-known figure in this world is a doula, and they are growing in popularity and influence in the western world of motherhood.

Okay, so you’re sitting staring at your toddler/pre-teen and feeling proud that you were able to raise such a wonderful being. You’re seriously thinking about going down that road again.

Oh, the joys! Those stubby arms gleefully reaching for you, that lovely baby smell, those wet kisses, those toothless, gummy smiles, the outstanding book report.  Then you also remember the broken toes, grazed shins and knees, the sleepless nights, teething, the damaged furniture and the almighty tantrums, and suddenly you’re not so sure.

Continue reading for some advantages and disadvantages of having a second child. Hopefully by the end of reading this article, you are able to make a decision about what’s best for you and your family.

What becomes of wanderlust once baby makes two, three, four or more? Are those strong desires to boldly traipse the world packed away – sealed in a box labeled ‘before the kids’ along with your weekly nail salon appointments and stiletto heels? Despite the popular expectation that a passion for travel should be extinguished or at least repressed once you become a parent, legions of families remain committed to regular departures from everyday life. And their journeys are creating extraordinary learning experiences – unleashing new levels of creativity and fostering personal growth.

Nicole Grimes, a self-professed travel maniac and founder of the popular travel blog Geek Trek says, “when I am away, I am eager to consume everything around me. I refuse to spend one waking moment seated in a hotel room or lobby, passing [the] valuable time.”

It’s a digital world and most of us have gotten used to capturing moments of our lives on social media. From relationships to work to friends and family, we share all this information widely, especially on Facebook and Instagram. However, there’s a growing concern regarding parents posting pictures of their kids online.

Is it right? Will it affect the child in any way? Let’s find out.

What do you think of when you think about “daddy issues”? Most people think of strippers and sex workers. They think that daddy issues are something that only women on poles have.

But that’s not true, and daddy issues are much more common than people want to admit. In fact, you might have them, and they might be ruining your relationships.

It’s not uncommon to have some family members who are the absolute worst. They can abuse you, use you, or discourage you from having personal prospects. Their actions can take a serious toll on your emotions and mental health.

So how do we keep ourselves from succumbing to their bad influences? We look at that below.

The relationship between mother-in-laws and their daughter-in-laws can sometimes be tense, to say the least. You’ll often hear married women telling each other horror stories of their unpleasant experiences with their mother-in-laws. With such kind of information floating around, most black women expect the worst from their in-laws even before they say I do.

Well, this doesn’t have to be the case. By following the steps outlined below, you can learn how to deal with your MIL and have a good relationship with her. Let’s get positive girls. 🙂

If you’re thinking of adopting a child, whether as your first child or to extend your existing family, adopting from Africa might be something you’ve considered. Some African American individuals or couples have made the choice to welcome a child into their home and lives forever, and maybe you might follow in their footsteps.

In this article, we’ll give you plenty of information and resources so you can check out whether adopting a child from Africa is a decision you and your family might take.