What does #Optin #Leanin Mean for Black Moms?

I was a stay-at-home mom for about 5 years.  While I treasured the experience, it was just unrealistic for me.  My husband and I made a commitment to having one parent present in the home until the kids were old enough for preschool.   During this time we experienced financial difficulty that sometimes broke us. But living in NYC and paying for daycare just wasn't an option.

Once we moved to Pittsburgh I went back to work.  But quickly realized I missed my kids way to  much to commit to a full-time job.  This combination of wanting to spend quantity time with my kids mixed with my need to creatively express myself  (I work as a journalist and commentator) led me to lean half way in.  I work part-time and hold a plethora of freelance gigs, that allow me the flexibility of working and being a full-time mommy.  Motherhood can no longer be defined, especially for Black women who are less likely to have livable incomes and spouses to help out, in a traditional way.  And, neither can careers.  For Black women leaning in often means utilizing the skills you are naturally gifted with to make income sufficient to raise a family; while remaining a mainstay in your children's lives.

In the African-American community Black mothers are the last slither of a strand holding the community together.  Most of us still have structure in our households, go to work everyday and love, love, love our kids.  So opting in for us does not necessarily mean climbing the corporate ladder or trying to make six figures a year.  In my opinion, leaning in needs to take on the form of running the best beauty salon in your community or being the president of the PTA.  In many ways we cannot afford to give corporate America our all while our community continues to die.  @KuaeMattox provides a great example in the way she presides over Mocha Moms.  Taking the things you are passionate about and making a career for yourself can yield great rewards for not only your family, but for the community as a whole.