CORE: a series on personal identity

An exploration into what makes us whole by examining the parts that we attempt to balance. This is a series on personal identity from a mother's perspective, as written to her children, and healing her soul one theory at a time.

Personal Identity Project: Mother to Men

April 3, 2013 By Vanessa 8 Comments

Could I love A Man? This Personal Identity Project post has been brewing within me for a long time, and with my son's first birthday only a few days away, I felt like the time was right to explore the question: could I love and nurture and raise a boy to be the type of man that I respect? If you asked me a year and a half ago, I would have said no. Because of so many reasons, I didn't think that skill set was in me. A year and a half ago, I was pregnant with our second child and unknowing of the gender. All we ever wanted was a healthy child, and thank the Lord above we are blessed with … [Read more...]

Filed Under: Personal Identity Tagged With: CORE, identity project, personal growth, personal identity

Personal Identity Post: Mother FIRST, All Else…

May 14, 2012 By Vanessa 8 Comments

I am very excited about this guest post from Jennifer of Hybrid Rasta Mama, and the perspective she shares with us today. The question of who you are first, or most, at your core is one that I ponder often. Am I mother first? Wife second? Who holds rank above the other? Is it okay to let your personal identity be consumed with motherhood? Being a product of divorce, two times over, I always swore my husband would come first. My mindset resting in the premise that my children would ultimately benefit from putting the security of my marriage before my identity as a mother. Except … [Read more...]

Filed Under: Personal Identity Tagged With: CORE, Motherhood, personal identity

Personal Identity Project: Your Name, Your Brand

May 1, 2012 By Vanessa 8 Comments

How does your NAME impact your PERSONAL IDENTITY? Whether you like it or not, your moniker impacts your personal identity. Your name announces to the world who you are, aspire to be and can certainly affect much of your life. Often times even before you are born, the world has come to know and judge you solely by the name given to you. A set of values and expectations, hopes and wants, set firmly on your unborn shoulders by the weight of the letters that encompass your name; your brand. Is there any wonder why parents agonize over the decision of what to name their children? Daddy D and I … [Read more...]

Filed Under: Personal Identity Tagged With: CORE, Family History, personal identity

Personal Identity Project: Wife

January 5, 2012 By Vanessa 7 Comments

With my cousin's wedding behind us and Daddy D back to the grind after nearly two weeks at home, I've been doing some reflection on what it means to be his wife. The most loving act I have ever done for myself is marry my husband. By far. Without a doubt. Or a single hesitation. I love my husband, till death do us part.... and probably way after that too. Just to be clear, we do argue and disagree. We don't act like two school kids when we're together, like the world will cease to exist if I couldn't be near him. In the near decade of togetherness, we've had some hurdles that tested our … [Read more...]

Filed Under: Personal Identity Tagged With: CORE

Personal Identity Project: Bilingualism

November 21, 2011 By Vanessa 3 Comments

So. I'm bilingual. My family is Cuban and Spanish was my very first language. My first words were in Spanish and the people that loved and cared for me during my early childhood spoke Spanish. I was the youngest of five generations for most of my life, with a plethora of extended family. So its safe to say that if you were hanging with me and my mom's side of the family, their language dominated. I have always been told that I picked up English from watching Sesame Street on TV. Observing how much Alina has learned from the television, it's not far fetched. That girl absorbs everything she … [Read more...]

Filed Under: Personal Identity Tagged With: CORE

Personal Identity Project: Unveiling Your Roots

October 14, 2011 By Vanessa 3 Comments

I'm a photo and story lover if there has ever been one, so when Stacy-Ann of Weather Anchor Mama emailed me a guest post request for the Personal Identity Project focused on her efforts in exposing their families' history, I was all ears. And I'm so grateful for her message. As I aim to document Alina's eventual quest for personal identity, looking well into her future for inevitable conflicts, I've failed to look back for guidance... like way back. There is so much to learn from our ancestors; so much courage and wisdom and gusto, that can only be truly appreciated with years of … [Read more...]

Filed Under: Personal Identity Tagged With: CORE