I’m sure you’ve seen the trailer of this summer’s must see girl movie Girls Trip. Starring the ever so talented Jada Pinkett Smith, Queen Latifah, Regina Hall, and Tiffany Haddish, you can’t go wrong getting your own girls together for a night out of fun and laughter. The ladies have been seen around and about promoting the movie and I was recently able to catch an interview that Jada Pinkett Smith did with Mamarazzi which was definitely thought-provoking.
Image courtesy of Universal Pictures
Our Children Don’t Belong to Us
Pinkett Smith’s plays a recently divorced mom in the movie so the discussion naturally leads to that of motherhood, parenting, and marriage. I haven’t really watched a lot of interviews with Jada so to see and hear her speaking SO passionately about being a mom was touching and for some reason surprising. And yet as much as she appears to have a very strong and close bond with her children, she says in the interview that she’s merely a vessel, and they [the children] don’t belong to her. I was definitely surprised by that remark, but it’s so true. What she meant is that her kids, just like every one of us, are on this earth for a purpose. As mothers, our job (or assignment) is simply to nurture them to realize their own full potential and purpose.
If you think about it, it’s a massive responsibility that the Lord has entrusted us with. I doubt myself a gajillion times as a mother, feeling there are so many coulda-shoulda-woulda’s that I’ve missed. But realizing that my journey growing up won’t be my children’s journey, and that’s ok, is something I’ve had to come to terms with. What they’re learning and getting out of life as they know it, is what’s shaping them for their purpose.
Also Related: What Are Your Dreams for Your Kids?
No Competition
Another great nugget I took away was that a success for the individual is a success for the family. This came up when she was asked about Jaden’s (her son) acting and Willow’s (her daughter) singing careers. Fostering an environment where no one boasts over their success, but truly one man’s win is everyone’s win is big. Naturally family should never be jealous of one another. But Jada took it step further and said she doesn’t even promote “friendly competition” in the household. And me personally, not being a very competitive person, I think this is great.
As you know though, I have 4 boys and a very competitive husband to add to that, lol. No competition is unheard of in my house. My husband won’t let them kids win in NBA2K just because they’re kids. But on the flip side, they’ll beat him FIFA, lol. He’s also not a believer of “Participation Trophies” which they’ve all been given in the various sports they’ve played. This is because according to him, real life doesn’t work that way. I’m not here to say what’s wrong or right. But simply to point out that a home with NO competition is pretty dope.
Motherhood is Love Language
There was so much more good stuff, and if you have 30 minutes to spare, you should watch it. But I want to conclude with this lesson. Whether single or married, 1 child or 5, famous, Instagram-famous, or not-at-all famous, motherhood is a community that speaks the universal language of unconditional love. Whether we do the happy dance when the kids go off to camp or cry ourselves to sleep when the kids are gone, it’s still all rooted in love. Jada’s character, Lisa, in the movie expresses something to the effect that there’s no love like that of your child. And again, that speaks to this love that exists in a mother-child relationship.
Raising children is hard enough as it is. Beating yourself up about how you’re doing, or worse, having others critique how you’re doing it, just isn’t necessary. Loving guidance is always welcomed, just not criticism. And if you feel like you’ve earned yourself a much-needed break away from mommy duties, get a girl or 6 together and go out and watch Girls Trip which opens everywhere in theaters TODAY.
Happy Friday!
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August 17, 2017 at 8:30 AM[…] Tiffany Haddish, whom to many appeared to be an overnight success after her role in the hit movie Girls Trip. However, upon reading just a snippet of how she’s BEEN grinding, and how her past […]