MAY 2019
Celebrity Mothers
You got the look this
Summer!
How diabetes affects women
Women of Strength
The mother daughter bond
In Haiti,
tracing a paradise lost
Top recipes to kick off summer
Pasha Carter Meet
of The VIP Network
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BUSINESS
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ABOUT WEMag
CONTRIBUTORS
Woman’s Essence Magazine (For & About
Claire K. Guerre, Editor-In-Chief
Powerful Women) connects with women
Kwasi Ampadu, Graphic Designer
all around the world and bring them
Tashina Calhoun, Ada Lee Photography
together through inspirational stories. We are women who can achieve it all with the support of other women. When we are one, we become winners. WE always welcome your comments and Our Mission
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We are an online magazine that combines quality educational information with fun content and things you care about. The reason why we have published this magazine is to encourage people to share their knowledge with others by creating good
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articles on any topic they would like to write about related to woman’s life. This should benefit everyone who reads the magazine. Advertise on WEMag/ e-mail. claire.guerre@womans-essence.com
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MAY 2019 | WOMAN’S ESSENCE 3
LE T TER FRO M THE ED ITO R
T
Mothers give up their dreams to help their children achieve their own dreams.
here is a special day in May for people to celebrate their mothers and show them how much they are appreciated. In my opinion, mothers should have that special day every day of the year. Although, I am not a mother, I understand the sacrifices mothers make for their children from the day of conception. Mothers give up their dreams to help their children achieve their own dreams. Most mothers work full time and have the energy to carpool their kids to school, games and family activities. A job of a mother is to give selflessly to their family. They are the rock in their family. Becoming and being a mother is rewarding but challenging. A lot of worrying, doubt, sweat and tears comes with motherhood. I applaud all the mothers around the world for always making sure their babies are loved, nurtured and educated. Happy Mother’s Day.
Claire Guerre
Editor-in-Chief
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MAY 2019 | WOMAN’S ESSENCE 5
WHAT’S INSIDE 8 Health
How Diabetes Affects Women: Symptoms, Risks & more
12 Fashion & Beauty
You got the look this Summer!
14 Entertainment Celebrity Mothers
24 Women of Strength Does Not Repeat Her Mother’s Mistakes
26 Relationship
The Breakdown of The Mother-Daughter Bond
16
Business
28 Cuisine
Top 5 recipes to kick off summer
32
Travel
In Haiti, Tracing a Paradise Lost
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MAY 2019 | WOMAN’S ESSENCE 7
How Diabetes Affects Women: Symptoms, Risks & more
D
iabetes is a group of metabolic diseases in which a person has high blood sugar due to problems processing or producing insulin. Diabetes can affect people of any age, race, or sex. It can affect people with any lifestyle. Between 1971 and 2000, the death rate for men with diabetes fell, according to a study in Annals of Internal Medicine. This decrease reflects advances in diabetes treatment. But the study also indicates the death rate for women with diabetes didn’t improve. In addition, the difference in death rates between women who had diabetes and those who didn’t more than doubled. The death rate was higher among women, but there has been a shift in sex distribution of type 2 diabetes showing higher rates in men. The findings emphasize how diabetes affects women and men differently. The reasons included the following: Women often receive less aggressive treatment for cardiovascular risk factors and conditions related to
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diabetes. Some of the complications of diabetes in women are more difficult to diagnose. Women often have different kinds of heart disease than men. Hormones and inflammation act differently in women. The most current reported stats from 2015 found that in the United States 11.7 million women and 11.3 million men were diagnosed with diabetes. Global reports from 2014 by the World Health Organization (WHO) state that there were an estimated 422 million adults living with diabetes, up from 108 million reported in 1980. Symptoms unique to women include: 1. Vaginal and oral yeast infections and vaginal thrush An overgrowth of yeast caused by the Candida fungus can cause vaginal yeast infections, oral yeast infections, and vaginal thrush. These infections are common in women.
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When infection develops in the vaginal area, symptoms include: Itching Soreness Vaginal discharge Painful sex Oral yeast infections often cause a white coating on the tongue and inside the mouth. High levels of glucose in the blood trigger the growth of fungus.
that results in elevated blood sugar levels and increases the risk of developing diabetes. Symptoms in both women and men. Both men and women may experience the following symptoms of undiagnosed diabetes:
2. Urinary infections The risk of a urinary tract infection (UTI) is higher in women who have diabetes. UTIs develop when bacteria enter the urinary tract. These infections can cause: Painful urination Burning sensation Bloody or cloudy urine There’s the risk of a kidney infection if these symptoms aren’t treated. UTIs are common in women with diabetes mostly due to the immune system being compromised because of hyperglycemia. 3. Female sexual dysfunction Diabetic neuropathy occurs when high blood glucose damages nerve fibers. This can trigger tingling and loss of feeling in different parts of the body, including: Hands Feet Legs This condition may also affect sensation in the vaginal area and lower a woman’s sex drive. 4. Polycystic ovary syndrome This disorder occurs when a person produces a higher amount of male hormones and is predisposed to getting PCOS. Signs of polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) include: Irregular periods Weight gain Acne Depression Infertility PCOS may also cause a type insulin resistance visit WOMANS-ESSENCE.com
MAY 2019 | WOMAN’S ESSENCE 9
Increased thirst and hunger Frequent urination Weight loss or gain with no obvious cause Fatigue Blurred vision Wounds that heal slowly Nausea Skin infections Patches of darker skin in areas of the body that have creases Irritability Breath that has a sweet, fruity, or acetone odor Reduced feeling in hands or feet It’s important to keep in mind that many people with type 2 diabetes have no noticeable symptoms. Pregnancy and type 1 and type 2 diabetes Some women with diabetes wonder if pregnancy is safe. The good news is you can have a healthy pregnancy after being diagnosed with type 1 or type 2 diabetes. But it’s important to manage your condition before and during pregnancy to avoid complications. If you’re planning to get pregnant, it’s best to get your blood glucose levels as close to your target range as possible before you get pregnant. Your target ranges when pregnant may be different from the ranges when you aren’t pregnant. If you have diabetes and you’re pregnant or hoping to become pregnant, talk to your doctor about the best ways to manage your and your baby’s health. For instance, your blood glucose levels and general health need to be tracked before and during your pregnancy. When you’re pregnant, blood glucose and ketones travel through the placenta to the baby. Babies require energy from glucose like you do. But babies are at risk for birth defects if your glucose levels are too high. Transferring high blood sugar to unborn babies puts them at risk for conditions 10
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that include: Cognitive impairments Developmental delays High blood pressure Gestational diabetes Gestational diabetes is specific to pregnant women and different from type 1 and type 2 diabetes . Gestational diabetes occurs in approximately 9.2 percent of pregnancies. The hormones of pregnancy interfere with the way insulin works. This causes the body to make more of it. But for some women, this still isn’t enough insulin, and they develop gestational diabetes. Gestational diabetes often develops later in pregnancy. In most women, gestational diabetes goes away after pregnancy. If you’ve had gestational diabetes, your risk for type 2 diabetes increases. Your doctor may recommend diabetes and prediabetes testing every few years. Risk factors for diabetes in women According to the Office on Women’s Health (OWH) at the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, you are at risk for type 2 diabetes if you: Are older than 45 Are overweight or obese Have a family history of diabetes (parent or sibling) Are african-american, native american, native alaskan, hispanic, asian-american, or native hawaiian Have had a baby with a birth weight of more than 9 pounds Have had gestational diabetes Have high blood pressure Have high cholesterol Exercise less than three times a week Have other health conditions linked to problems using insulin, such as pcos Have a history of heart disease or stroke Treatment At all stages of life, women’s bodies present obvisit WOMANS-ESSENCE.com
stacles for managing diabetes and blood sugar. Challenges may occur because: Some birth control pills can increase blood glucose. To maintain a healthy level of blood glucose, ask your doctor about switching to a low-dose birth control pill. Glucose in your body can cause yeast infections. This is because glucose speeds the growth of fungus. There are over-the-counter and prescription medications to treat yeast infections. You can potentially avoid yeast infections by maintaining better control of your blood sugar. Take insulin as prescribed, exercise regularly, reduce your carb intake, choose low-glycemic foods, and monitor your blood sugar. You can take steps to prevent or delay diabetes, avoid complications, and manage symptoms. Medications There are medications you can take to manage the symptoms and complications of diabetes. Many new classes of medications for diabetes are available, but the most common starting medications include: Insulin therapy for all people with type 1 diabetes Metformin (glucophage), which reduces blood sugar Lifestyle changes Lifestyle changes can help manage diabetes. These include: Exercising and maintaining a healthy weight Avoiding smoking cigarettes Eating a diet focused on fruits, vegetables, and whole grains Monitoring your blood sugar Alternative remedies Women with diabetes can try a variety of alternative remedies to manage their symptoms. These include: Taking supplements like chromium or magnesium Eating more broccoli, buckwheat, sage, peas, and fenugreek seeds aking plant supplements
Remember to consult with your doctor before trying any new treatments. Even if they’re natural, they can interfere with current treatments or medications. Complications A variety of complications are often caused by diabetes. Some of the complications that women with diabetes should know include: Eating disorders. Some research suggests that eating disorders are more common in women with diabetes. Coronary heart disease. Many women who have type 2 diabetes already have heart disease when diagnosed (even young women). Skin conditions. These include bacterial or fungal infections. Nerve damage. This can lead to pain, impaired circulation, or loss of feeling in affected limbs. Eye damage. This symptom may lead to blindness. Foot damage. If not treated promptly, this can result in amputation. Outlook There is no cure for diabetes. Once you’d been diagnosed, you can only manage your symptoms. A recent study found that women with diabetes are 40 percent more likely to die because of the disease. The study also found that those with type 1 diabetes have shorter life expectancies than the general population. People with type 1 diabetes may see their life expectancy lowered by 20 years, and those with type 2 diabetes may see it lowered by 10 years. A variety of medications, lifestyle changes, and alternative remedies can help manage symptoms and improve overall health. Consult your doctor before starting any new treatments, even if you think they’re safe. By Susan Flack, MD and Valencia Higher’s MAY 2019 | WOMAN’S ESSENCE 11
You got the look this
W
ow! Summer will be here soon and we are getting ready with our different colorful outfits to wear for every event. It is always important for you to have that look we want when we attend an event. This summer like every summer you cannot ever go wrong with bright colors. The popular colors to have in your closet are red, royal blue, yellow, fuchsia and lilac. Picture yourself wearing a hot red jumpsuit suit by Fashion Nova at a night time summer event. All eyes will be on you. We all know the color red defines confidence and being bold. Wearing bold and confident colors means you will not have to accessorize too much. A simple pair of earrings and a bracelet will be fine with the outfit. Never be afraid to experiment with beautiful colors. One of the popular bright colors to wear in the summer is white. You can never go wrong wearing white at an all white party event. You can wear a white pants suit, short set or dress and you will look great with any colorful pair of high heel shoes. It is important to keep in mind that the outfit or color do not define you. It is your attitude that will make your outfit pop. Your posture and walk will make that colorful outfit look great on you. Have a blast this summer wearing your bold
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Summer! bright colors to all the summer events. It is always that time of year to enjoy and meet new people looking fabulous. They will not forget meeting you. Go in your closet to do an inventory on the colorful outfits you have and buy more.
By Lovely Haitian visit WOMANS-ESSENCE.com
MAY 2019 | WOMAN’S ESSENCE 13
ENTERTAINMENT
I
n 2018 and early 2019 celebrities gave birth to their babies and shared pictures of their pride and joy on Instagram.
Gabrielle Union welcomed her daughter Kavvia James Union Wade born in November. After many challenges with infertility, she was finally blessed with her baby girl.
Claire Holt gave birth to her son James Holt in March. Last year the actress suffered a miscarriage. She is very grateful for her son.
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Teresa Palmer is a mom for the third time. She gave birth to a baby girl named Poet.
Rachel Platten The “Fight Song” singer and welcomed her first child, a daughter named Violet Skye, on January 26. Four days later, Platten shared the news with a mother-daughter pic on Instagram.
They had a lot of their fans gushing over the pictures and showed nothing but love. Here are a few Actresses and Artists who were happy to share their baby with the world through Instagram. Happy Mother’s Day!
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MAY 2019 | WOMAN’S ESSENCE 15
Pasha 16
WOMAN’S ESSENCE | MAY 2019
Carter
P
asha Carter is the co-founder of The VIP Network Inc., a member of The Forbes Coaches Council Business, a Strategist, Speaker and Author. She had a vision and made it her reality to share with the world. She has coached people in business and motivated them to achieve their goals. WEMag knows how busy Pasha’s life is with being a mother, wife and a successful business woman. But she made time to answer our questions for women to be inspired and motivated. What were your core values growing up in your family? Both of my parents were educators for over 30 years. They valued education, standing up for what’s right vs. what’s popular, and being the best version of yourself. My mom always taught me to stay in my own lane, because all the other lanes are crowded.I remember coming home from school crying one day because of some high school “girl drama.” My mom told me, “if you can’t bring the girls in your circle up with you, for God’s sake, don’t let them bring you down.” Who were the influential women in your life who helped prepare you to be successful? I learned so much from my mom. She was an educator, an activist, and a businesswoman. The educator in her taught me always to be a sponge for learning. The activist in her motivated me to always stand up for what’s right, and the businesswoman in her taught me never to be satisfied working for someone else.
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When did you start walking in your purpose? When I was 23 years old, I fell in love with entrepreneurship and leadership development. When I walked into my first leadership seminar, it felt like home. I immediately knew that I was born for this world. What were some of the challenges you faced while achieving your goals? I started my business at a very young age, 23 years old. My first 5 years of business, I was sleeping on the floor of my best friend’s one-bedroom apartment. I had my car repossessed. I remember having a negative bank account. On top of that, I did not have many people supporting me because they felt like I made a big mistake not finishing college and walking away from the job that I had. I had to people ridiculing my business and laughing at me because they saw me working hard and going to all these leadership meetings, which they referred to as “hype sessions,” and I still was struggling financially. What kept you motivated when you were struggling to survive? My vision board always kept my dreams of the future in my face. It was the first thing that I saw every morning and the last thing that I saw before I closed my eyes every night. I made sure that my vision board didn’t only have the material things that I wanted, it also had quotes and affirmations so that I could see the future feeling I would have when I accomplished my goals.
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When I was 23 years old, I fell in love with entrepreneurship and leadership development. When I walked into my first leadership seminar, it felt like home. I immediately knew that I was born for this world.
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At 29 years old, I started earning six-figures from home. From there, people started asking me to coach them. It felt so good to wake up in the morning and know that I could stay in my pajamas all day and out-earn most doctors.
What were the tools and skills you used to become a successful entrepreneur?
What is the secret to making your dreams come true?
Books, seminars, and real-life experiences. Everything that you need to know to succeed is in a book somewhere.
Knowing your “why” and finding your passion. I tell my kids all the time that their number one business goal needs to be to figure out what they are passionate about and find a way to monetize their passion.
How long did it take for you to achieve success? At 23 years old, I paid $500 to get started in my first Direct Sales business. Almost everyone that I knew at the time told me that it would never work and that I was wasting my money and my time.
What are your most important attributes that played a major role for you to go after what you wanted? My dad went to work every day for 30 years. He always talked about how he couldn’t wait to retire so that he could just enjoy himself and slow down. He died suddenly of a stroke, early on a Monday morning not long after he retired.
At 25 years old, I started to think that maybe they were right. I was spending time going to meetings, missing events with my friends and reading all of these self-help books and my business was in the toilet. His life being cut short made me realize that we aren’t promised longevity. I made a decision to At 29 years old, I started earning six-figures find a career that I truly enjoyed and to spend from home. From there, people started asking the time with my kids that he never got to spend me to coach them. It felt so good to wake up with me. in the morning and know that I could stay in my pajamas all day and out-earn most doctors. What advice would you give to women who are looking to be their own boss? In my Mid-30’s, my husband and I built a Multi-Million dollar business and were ranked Do it now. Don’t wait to get everything in orin the top 1% money earners in the world. Every der. Don’t wait until you have the money. Don’t woman deserves to know what it feels like to wait until your kids are older. Don’t wait until earn more money in one month than she earns you know everything. Just, start before you are in a calendar year. I would always say to myself ready. during the tough times, “If it takes me ten years, but I end up making more money in one month Email: PashaCarter@mac.com than I am making all year working a job, it would Website: PashaCarter.com be worth it.”
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my
FAMILY
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MAY 2019 | WOMAN’S ESSENCE 23
A Woman of Strength:
Does Not Repeat Her Mother’s Mistakes
G
rowing up was very difficult for me because even though I had both my parents they were definitely not the best role models. My father was the eldest boy of 7 children, born and raised in Ireland with a good foundation of married loving parents and a very good athlete. He received a college scholarship for track but had to drop out because his father passed away in his junior year so he had to work to take care
of his family. My mother was the eldest girl of 9 children, born and raised in North Carolina by an alcoholic mother, many fathers running
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in out of her life, very promiscuous and no education. Since her mother was always drunk and abusive she had to drop out of school and take care of her younger siblings. There were plenty of times my mother said they barely had food to eat and sometimes had to go to bed hungry. My mother left the house at an early age due to the abuse, constant hunger and resentment. At age 18 she found an apartment in the projects, got on welfare, met my father (he was 21) and they had 3 children together but her resentment and experience growing up took a toll on my father where she started drinking heavily, abusing him physically and verbally and various men coming in and out of the house while my father was at work. He finally decided to leave my mother when she was 5 months pregnant with his second child and fell in the loving arms of another woman who later got pregnant with his third child. After my mother gave birth my sister came out with fetal alcohol syndrome and that is what made my father come home. They hatched out their differences and 4 years later I was born.In the beginning my father was an epitome of what a father should be. He worked, helped us with our homework, took us to our grandmother’s house with the big backyard, took us to amusement parks and made sure every Christmas was memorable, but as we got older it became very difficult to take care all of us as he used to before. In the
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80’s, Cocaine was a big drug at that time and everyone was using where my parents use to hold cocaine parties in their livingroom while us kids would be playing in the bedroom. They became addicted to drugs and that’s when the struggle and the abuse became all too real. When my mother use to get into her drunken stupors and got high she use to drag me and my sister out of our beds in the middle of the night and beat us for no good reason until my nose bled. I use to be so fearful for my life because I had a serious bed wetting problem and would try to cover it up by hiding my sheets in the closet so I wouldn’t get my behind beat to death.pic1
Times got extremely tough especially when I got into high school because that’s when I had to travel by public transportation. Since I lived within a mile of the school I was only eligible for an 1/2 fare metrocard. I only needed $1.50 a day to get back and forth to school but due to a drug addiction my father could not afford to give me carfare everyday so I had to walk 20 blocks each way. After getting tired of not having any lunch money or car fare I had no choice but to get a job. I got a job working in a movie theater as an usher which gave me an opportunity to take care of myself and move out on my own at age 17. But of course juggling both school from 8:30am-2:30pm and working 4pm-12am became extremely difficult which affected my grades and I got held back an extra year. After graduating high school, I continued to work 2 and 3 menial jobs at a time just to make ends meet but realized I was heading nowhere fast. So in 2003 I decided to enroll into college and received my Associates Degree in Business in 2005. It was a very proud moment to walk across that stage because I was the only one in my family to actually graduate college. My
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parents were so proud of me they made me believe that battling their addiction had finally stopped but I was totally wrong. There were a few incidents that occurred from time to time but the biggest one happened on June 2013. After taking 7 years off between both degrees, I finally completed my Bachelor’s Degree on April 2013 and decided to throw myself a graduation party at my cousin’s condo on June 2013. Everyone was enjoying themselves and having a good time until my mother got a hold of some liquor and that’s when all hell broke loose. She got so drunk and so belligerent she was asked to leave. Moments later she was found laid out in the hallway with her breasts exposed and it took 6 people including my 15 yr old nephew to carry her back into the house. At that moment when I saw my mother being carried in from one of her drunken stupors and tears started rolling down my face I realized I HAD NO CHOICE but to be a better woman than my mother because I never wanted to be anything like her. The reason why I’m able to share my story and not be ashamed of my life is because I made it. This hard knock life made me who I am today an educated, independent, 32 years old with no kids and a good job so there’s no excuse why no one can overcome any obstacle. This experience taught me what not to do and gave me the tools to survive. I am who I am because God only gave me what he knew I could handle and we all know He doesn’t make any mistakes. I am truly blessed to be able to make it through the struggle and live life like it’s golden!!! I definitely count my blessings everyday. By Ebony Williams
MAY 2019 | WOMAN’S ESSENCE 25
The Breakdown of The Mother-Daughter Bond
A
s a little girl I would spend hours looking at my mother’s beautiful dresses and sorting through her jewelry box, and I thought my mother was the most amazing woman living some sort of magical adult life. I wanted to emulate her, be like her and receive her love. I even remember the joyful moment she bought me boots that matched hers, and still treasure a photograph of us together in our matching boots, jeans and jumpers. I THINK MOST LITTLE GIRLS LOVE AND IDOLIZE THEIR MOTHERS, IT’S OUR FIRST EVER RELATIONSHIP WITH ANOTHER PERSON, AND OUR TENDER YOUNG HEARTS ARE OFTEN DEVOTED AND FULL OF LOVE. As we grow and become more aware, that early veneration often changes into other emotions. For some daughters it becomes a more realistic version of that prior adoration – love, mutual respect and friendship. For others though, their relationship with
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their mother starts to move in another direction entirely. I know many women whose relationship with their mother has broken down, with little love, respect or positive feelings left. Some complain that their mother nags them to change their ways, their clothes, their hair or looks, their parenting or lifestyle, the list is endless. Some have mothers that interfere, demand or try to control their lives. Some have mothers who judge and compare them to others or to themselves. Many women are resentful there isn’t the relationship they want, wishing for a more loving, caring or supportive mother. Yet many still try to please or pacify their mother, to meet her expectations no matter how it makes them feel or the impact it has on their own family, all to continue to receive approval and love and ensure their mother’s happiness. Here’s the real truth. When you do this you are contributing just as much to the breakdown of this
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relationship as your mother. Your mother may be placing her expectations on you, yet you are doing the same in return by expecting her to be the ideal of what you think your mother should be like. IN ANY RELATIONSHIP, YOU CAN’T CHANGE ANOTHER PERSON. YOU CAN ONLY CHANGE YOURSELF AND YOUR RESPONSES TO THAT PERSON. AND THIS CERTAINLY APPLIES IN THE RELATIONSHIP WITH YOUR MOTHER, EVEN WHEN IT IS YOUR FIRST AND OFTEN LONGEST RELATIONSHIP. If you try to think of your mother in a more objective way, as a woman rather than your mother, then perhaps you can gain some perspective. Try to see your relationship with her not as a mother/daughter one but as a relationship between two women. She is a woman placing her expectations on you and you feel hurt because she is not meeting the expectations you have placed on her. If it were a friend and your relationship had reached this point, how long would that friendship last? Just because it’s a relationship with your mother, doesn’t mean you should sacrifice your own feelings to make her happy. You are not living life for her. Neither should you feel resentful that she is not living up to your ideal of a mother. EXPECTATIONS KILL A RELATIONSHIP. JUST AS WITH ANY RELATIONSHIP, BEING OPEN AND HONEST WITH YOUR FEELINGS, NEEDS AND WANTS IS IMPORTANT TO IMPROVING A DAMAGED BOND. In some cases, your mother may not be truly aware of what she does and how it makes you feel, and just bringing it to awareness can be enough to instigate some positive changes. In other situations, you may need to firmly and lovingly set boundaries about what is good for you in your relationship with her. Feeling resentful of your mother, complaining or feel sad about a poor relationship with her is only detrimental to you. It doesn’t change anything, and hurts you more than anyone. I’m not advocating ending the relationship with your mother just because it doesn’t meet your ideal, nor visit WOMANS-ESSENCE.com
to become demanding about what you want or force change to happen. Instead, first practice acceptance of what the situation has become, accept that your mother is her own person free to act how she chooses. Then understand that even if you make the first move in trying to improve things, it may still not be perfect. As with any relationship, you may need to set healthy boundaries, or occasionally take a “time-out”. Also, understanding why a mother can become demanding, nagging or judgmental helps to view the situation with less emotional entanglement. See her as a human being, a human being who may also be experiencing a whirlwind of emotions. Perhaps, she is feeling, a void in her life that they are expecting their child to fill. This void could due to any number of things – sadness, fear, resentment, low self-esteem, anxiety etc. But it not up to you to heal, fix or change her. It is vital that in this very first relationship of our lives, we honor the love and gift that is that bond, but that as relationships grow and change, we are also true to ourselves. By Leinai Fisk About the Author: LEIANI FISK I’m a queen and a goddess, a wife and a mama (3 boys aged from 8 to 21). I’ve been many things in my life, and have come to see that I don’t fit one mold. I’m constantly changing. One thing I’m always focused on is health both mental and physical, and to help people celebrate being a unique person in a world that doesn’t always appreciate uniqueness. I aim for myself and others to enjoy their life and journey, and live their life to the full. I’m constantly working to achieve a balance in life, with work, family and self needs. It’s an ongoing journey! Yet one I love. I write and blog for the love of writing and to share experiences with other women that will make them feel that we all go through similar things and to celebrate our similarities as well as our uniqueness.
MAY 2019 | WOMAN’S ESSENCE 27
Top 5 recipes to kick off summer M
mmmm…summer food! It’s one of the best parts about summer. Summer food is all about fresh and fun flavors, bright and lively dishes, and ways to celebrate a wonderful season. Here are ten of my favorite go to recipes that can help anyone kick summer into gear! Enjoy! Just click on the titles to take you to the recipes.
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Black Bean, Corn and Avocado Salsa This fresh, tasty salsa is always a hit at any summer party when served with tortilla chips. Not in the mood for munchies? Serve it over grilled chicken!
Southwestern Gazpacho What makes me happy on a really hot day? A big bowl of fresh, cool gazpacho. Make up a big batch and treat yourself to this fresh and healthy soup for lunch all week!
MAY 2019 | WOMAN’S ESSENCE 29
Almond Crusted Chicken and Peach Salad with Buttermilk-Balsamic Dressing Salads for dinner? Yes! Yes! Yes! This salad is both satisfying and delicious, and puts those roadside peach stand peaches to good use!
Panzanella Salad This is, hands down, my favorite summer salad. Fresh, fun, different, and oh so tasty. Make one of these up for your next BBQ, and your guests will thank you.
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Grilled Zucchini Ribbon Salad Looking for a creative way to use up all of that zucchini in your garden? I can’t think of a better way than in this amazing salad.
By Chew Nibble Nosh
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MAY 2019 | WOMAN’S ESSENCE 31
In Haiti, Tracing
H
aiti is a fixture in my mind, as permanent as memories of high school graduation or the weekend I first met my wife.
I lived there twice as an American diplomat for a total of four years since 2000, but its hold on me is not a function of time. Of all the countries I lived and worked in, Haiti stood out as the most beautiful, the most colorful and the poorest. It melds French, African and Caribbean cultures into something truly unique, less than two hours
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from Miami. Yet it also resists easy definition. It is an open, free place filled with secrets. Today there are conflicting signs about where Haiti is going. The U.N. Security Council decided recently to close down the peacekeeping mission it has maintained in Haiti since 2004. The U.N. Secretary-General’s final report on the mission concluded: “The many setbacks and challenges notwithstanding, including the disaster caused
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a Paradise Lost
by the January 2010 earthquake and at least six major hurricanes, substantial headway was made, and today the Haitian people enjoy a considerable degree of security and greater stability.” The last day of the mission was Oct. 15. (A successor mission will have a much smaller footprint.) Since then, the United States has revoked the temporary protected status of nearly 60,000 Haitians in the country, citing Haiti’s
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recovery as the reason for doing so. However, Haiti remains one of the poorest countries in the world, according to the World Bank, with a G.D.P. per capita of $846. Fifty-nine percent of Haitians live under the national poverty line of $2.41 a day. Economic growth is low, and political strife is constant. The State Department “warns U.S. citizens to carefully consider the risks of traveling to Haiti,” an admonition that has been in place for as long as I can remember.
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This November, I returned to Haiti as a tourist, curious to see the country after a five-year absence. I had heard that the highways had improved, and so planned a weeklong road trip, starting in Port-au-Prince before moving on to the southern and northern coasts. Tourism and Haiti may not seem like they go together, but in the years after World War II, the country belonged to the Caribbean highlight
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reel. A 1947 New York Times articlewith the headline “The Pleasures of Haiti” described it as “fiercely independent, riotously colorful, and surprisingly inexpensive” and recommended hotels, bars and places to visit. I found similar articles from the 1930s through the end of the 1950s, all extolling Haiti’s exceptional culture and many attractions. Cruise ships and planes unloaded tourists in Port-au-Prince, where they would stroll through downtown and buy souve-
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nirs in this “shoppers’ paradise,” according to an article from 1956.
Port-au-Prince, and American has begun a daily flight to Cap Haitien.
It has been several generations since Haiti was a major tourist destination, but it may become one again. International hotel chains have arrived, and the number of flights to the country has increased substantially. For years, American Airlines was the only U.S. carrier flying in or out but now JetBlue, Spirit and Delta also serve
When I arrived this fall, my friend Pierre Esperance picked me up at the Port-au-Prince airport. I’ve known Pierre since 2000, a year after he was attacked and almost assassinated due to his occupation as Haiti’s most prominent human rights activist. Despite the attack and other threats, he’s still in the same line of work.
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MAY 2019 | WOMAN’S ESSENCE 35
Pierre is optimistic, even ebullient, yet also a cleareyed observer of Haiti’s dysfunction. That evening, when I asked him to assess the country’s current situation, his amiable disposition shifted to neutral. Haiti was in an uncertain place, he said, facing a mix of progress and setbacks. Road infrastructure had improved, as had the police, but Haiti’s institutions were much too weak and the political will to support them did not exist. The justice and prison sectors were particularly problematic. ADVERTISEMENT We chatted on his terrace, filled with pink, white, red, and orange bougainvillea, and waited for the electricity to come on. Pierre’s house gets power only a few hours every day, and he is one
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of the lucky ones. It is a stark reminder that in some ways Haiti has progressed very little. Pierre was born on nearby Gonâve Island, and grew up without any electricity during the dictatorship of Jean-Claude Duvalier. Near the end of our evening together, I asked Pierre to compare that dictatorship to the current moment. He laughed and looked surprised. “It’s night and day,” he said. “Because today we have liberty of expression. Under Duvalier’s regime, you could not come here to sit and talk, because there’d be people listening to us and they’d come to arrest us. But today you can walk down the street and speak however you want.” By Peter Kujawinski
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