Since in the United States Mother’s Day is a few short days away, this episode of the podcast will feature Crystal Swain-Bates, the author of Super Mommy. Before I introduce Crystal, I want to give a shoutout to my mother, Florence Richards. She is Mom to my sister and me, grandma to five incredible adult grandchildren and GiGi to eight adorable little ones ages 15 months to 12 years.
I hardly know where to begin to thank my mom for the many gifts she has given me through the years: she drove my sister and me to piano lessons every week, and the ability to play the piano opened many doors for me. She was a girl scout leader when my sister and I were Brownies and Junior Scouts. Some of my fondest memories are the days at summer Girl Scout camp.
Mom loved to ice skate and every winter when our pond would freeze she would take my sister and me ice skating. I loved watching her skate. She was so graceful as she glided across the ice. I loved watching her twirl and skate backwards and was thrilled when she taught me those maneuvers.
Mom taught me to sew. She would cut up old clothes to give me material to make doll clothes. She would help me select fabric to make my own clothes. I made my first outfit – a jumper and a blouse – when I was 10 years old.
Friends always were welcome at our house; they loved my mom and still do.
When I was 16 mom enrolled me in drivers education class and became my behind-the-wheel practice coach. I am sure those excursions aged her quite a bit. Even thought our car had one brake pedal, that didn’t stop her from hitting the passenger floorboard when she feared I would not stop the car in time. Mom survived and I turned out to be a pretty good driver.
Mom insisted on two rules. The first was stand up straight and hold your shoulders back. As a result, I have good posture. If I feel myself slouching, I hear my mother’s voice say, “Stand up straight and hold your shoulders back.” Her second rule was THINK. When she thought I was about to make an inappropriate decision, she would say. “Think. T.H.I.N.K. Think.” I developed strategic thinking skills, and for that I thank my mother.
My mom is 88 years old and according to her physicians is quite healthy and should live to be at least 100 years old. I hope she remains healthy and happy for a long time. I am not ready to say goodbye. I love you, Mom!
Happy Mother’s Day to my mom and all the moms, grandmothers and aunts who wear a mothering hat. We appreciate all you do!
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Crystal Swain-Bates is a celebrated children’s book author and the owner of Goldest Karat Publishing, which she founded to address the lack of diversity in children’s literature. Her mission is to reshape in a positive way how children of color see themselves.
Her children’s books have been featured on CNN and Huffington Post and used as props for BET’s hit television shows “Being Mary Jane” and “The Game”.
Her book “Big Hair, Don’t Care is one of Amazon’s most highly reviewed black children’s books and was named by the Huffington post as one of “21 Children’s Books Every Black Kid Should Read.”
A native of Atlanta, GA, Crystal holds a master degree in international affairs from Florida State University and is an avid world traveler. She is the author of 15 children’s books, including Super Mommy, which is a tribute to her mother.
https://www.crystalswainbates.com
Crystal@goldestkarat.com
https://www.facebook.com/cswainbates
https://www.instagram.com/cswainbates/
https://twitter.com/cswainbates
https://www.publishwithcrystal.com/IG
https://www.amazon.com/~/e/B00EKY2EEC
Goldest Karat Publishing Company
400 West Peachtree St., Suite 4-513, Atlanta, GA 30308
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