Unbreakable

I am an unapologetic mama bear to my babies. At any sign of injustice or untruth, I will feel the roar rising inside me.

From the boy throwing sand at my child, to the adult who took a toy from my child in plain sight, to educators and leaders who turn a blind eye, I am fearless. I know how to cut through the bullshit with quiet, surgical precision and call things as they are.

And I believe I've taught my own babies to do the same. To show courage, standing up not just for themselves, and also for others. For what is right... for what is true.

But the reality is, people let us down.

They tell me about the friend who left them to carry all the work... of the teacher who silenced their voice... of the circle that chose to exclude.

I want to roar for them at the top of my voice. 
But this time, I cannot.

Because my children have their own voices now. Voices they are learning to use... in their own way... in their own time.

So now, I carry the heaviness of all my silent mama bear roars for them in my heart. ৻ꪆ

When they were little, wrong and right was black and white.
It was easy to point out the boundaries where lines had been crossed,
To speak out against injustices,
And make the world right.
Now the lines are invisible.
Felt but not seen.
Cold wars
Cliques
Oppressive tactics
Eroded trust
Hollow hearts.
I see the guides who have lost their map,
Lamps dimmed in their own light,
Dimming the light of others.
But this is not my journey,
Not my battle,
It is not my story.
So I listen.
I understand.
And feel.
Powerless.
The pain feels almost unbearable.
But tell myself to remember,
They are unbreakable.