Instead, I took things in a different direction. I decided to create my own publishing company- Modern Mosaic Publishers. I created the name, filed the LLC and designed the logo.
The idea is to create and publish many more books, of course, but the larger reason goes beyond me. I've heard so many people over the years tell me they have a great idea for a book, but just don't know how to get started or what the first thing to do is even.
Getting published by a large publishing company is very difficult but doing it all yourself? Infinitely more so. You have to think of everything and then actually execute on it all.
What if you knew of a publisher that could help? What if that publisher had the same values as you, invested in the community and was dedicated to the BIPOC experience and reflecting our community into the world?
What if...
]]>Be it in literature, painting, television, etc., it's necessary and important to see yourself reflected back. It is vital to know you aren't alone in the world. That you are seen. That you are special.
One thing I know for sure when it came to my book was that the main character would be a girl and she would be mixed/brown. Brown is beautiful, ethereal, magical. And those are all things my book and it's setting are. So, I wanted to make sure all kids- especially those that usually have to seek out stories with kids like them in it could open the book up and verbalize "Wow! She looks like me!".
We are all special.
We are all unique.
We are not alone.
]]>In addition to running Mosaic, I also have a career in publishing that I've been dedicated to since college. I know what a good publisher can do for an author, but I also know the downside. I know your book can get shelved, what can happen when you sell the rights, when adjustments and edits go from suggestions to mandates.
I had a specific vision for my book- for the story, for my readers. I wanted to ensure that remained true and that I'd always have the power to make necessary adjustments.
Power is the reason I decided to publish my work on my own- pure and simple. The power to make decisions that were right for me as the author and as the business owner.
The power to allow my creative vision to take me where it wanted to go. The power to ensure my story came to life the way I wanted it to. The power to bring this story- and hopefully many more- to readers around the world.
]]>I frequently crafted stories or poems for people like my mother, grandmother and great grandmother. All of whom, have since passed and upon which time, I was given back the writing I had given them- they kept it for years and years.
All my life I've wanted to be a writer. I wrote non-stop but I did it more so for me and those around me. Not for any accolades or money. I come from a line of writers- an inherited gene, I guess. My Mother was a writer- it was her profession at many of the places she worked- copywriter, copyeditor, proofreader, publicist. Her Father had also been a writer. Not by trade but for the love of it.
I took a creative writing course in college (as an English major it was necessary) and my Professor encouraged me. Said I had real talent and to keep at it. That meant the world to me- to be told I had talent and a unique voice was much more than I had hoped for.
My first book is written for all the kids out there who never saw themselves reflected in the stories they read. It's for my daughter, my younger self and for that part of me that never stopped writing.
]]>Using affirmations can be a helpful practice for anyone, regardless of their race or ethnicity. However, as a mixed-race individual, affirmations can be particularly powerful because they can
Traveling when you don't look like your parents or match your kids presents some unique obstacles. And while you may not face them all the time, you most certainly will face them at least once or twice if you are part of a multiracial family.
I remember traveling with my Uncle to England; he was a darker shade of brown than me, I was in college and he was in his 50's. Leaving NYC was no problem but trying to get into London was not so easy.
The customs agent began to go down a line of questions that assumed I was being kidnapped/trafficked. Thank God I was older and could speak for myself but it flustered my Uncle who was an immigrant and conscious of his accent (and his skin color especially while abroad). We were finally able to move through but not before I told the lady what it was in my finest NYC attitude.
𝗧𝗜𝗣 1: Always Travel with Documentation
My first tip in this series is to always travel with documentation. If you are the parent of mixed kids, make sure you carry a copy of their birth certificate that proves you are the parent/parents. I always carry my daughter's just in case and I have, believe it or not, been asked to produce it. It's a simple thing but it can really help out should you find yourself in a tough spot.
TIP 2: Be Timely & Organized
When traveling, be as timely and organized as possible. Having more time will allow a buffer in case you are questioned or detained.
As a person with the last name Mohammed, I can tell you that I am always randomly checked, have my luggage randomly searched, and am always randomly selected for more screening of any and all kind. If I did not allow myself time- these checks would make me miss a flight.
Have all your paperwork neat and orderly, and ensure your luggage is the same way in case of checks.
TIP 3: Rehearse Possible Questions with Your Child
If you are traveling with a child, this tip is for you.
Before you set out, rehearse with your child possible questions they may be asked. If your child is verbal, ensure they can reply if spoken directly to.
A lot of the time, agents will ask the child a direct question and they expect a direct answer from the child- not the parent.
This actually happened a few weeks ago to us- we were moving through TSA and the agent asked my kid her full name and age. Had she not been able to respond, I can see us having been pulled aside.
If your child doesn't know it by now, be sure to teach them your/your partner's first and last name (real name, not Mommy/Daddy), a phone number, their full address, their full name and their ages. For the trip, tell them where you are going and why (Mexico for vacation, or Texas to see family). Practice asking them a question and them answering it. Have a discussion about traveling and if an official asks them a question to answer it loudly and clearly.
It may seem like overkill, but these are all important pieces of info to know- why not teach them now rather than later?
TIP 4: Just Go!
Our last tip is to JUST GO!
We know it can be daunting traveling with kids period but it's so worth it. They get so much out of the experience and the more you do it, the more experience you'll have and learn what works and what doesn't.
For us we know we can only get on direct flights. We also know our kid is a morning flyer and she loves snacks. We run her out before we get on the plane to reduce her energy and we reserve special things just for travel (like she can only watch movies on an iPad when she's on a plane, she can get a little ginger ale while on a plane, etc.).
Travel is a great way to teach kids about diversity, geography, respecting customs and traditions, manners, the list goes on and on.
So, get out there and explore!
]]>In conclusion, starting or running a business as a single mom can be challenging, but with the right mindset, preparation, and support, it can be a rewarding experience. Remember to
prioritize your goals, create a flexible work environment, build a support network, seek professional help, and take care of yourself. With these five things in mind, you can achieve your dreams of being a successful entrepreneur and a loving mother.
Written By: Minister Jalisa Hardy, HHP
The Holistic Health Plug
www.jalisahardy.com
Affirmations are positive statements that can help to shape and change your thoughts and beliefs about yourself. By repeating these statements to yourself, you can start to believe them and create a more positive outlook on life.
Affirmations can help you to manifest the life that you want and develop a better relationship with yourself and the world around you. Affirmations work by changing the way that you think, allowing you to focus on the positive aspects of yourself and developing a more positive outlook on life.
When you repeat these affirmations to yourself, it helps to retrain your brain and create new neural pathways that lead to positive thinking. This can help to reduce stress, increase self-confidence, and improve your overall wellbeing.
Use our Affirmation card set to add to this list!
]]>To implement them into your everyday, start by writing down positive affirmations that are meaningful to you. These can be anything from short mantras to longer statements of personal encouragement.
]]>To implement them into your everyday, start by writing down positive affirmations that are meaningful to you. These can be anything from short mantras to longer statements of personal encouragement.
Once you have written them down, you can use various methods to incorporate them into your day.
One way is to print out your affirmations and place them around your home or workspace, so they’re visible throughout the day. For a more portable and ready-made option, check out our Affirmation card set that you can carry with you, so you can look at them when you need a pick-me-up.
You can also use your affirmations as reminders for your phone or computer, or even have them appear as notifications throughout the day.
Remember to be creative and find what works best for you!
]]>Affirmations have been used to increase self-confidence, heal emotional wounds, and manifest physical and spiritual well-being. In modern times, affirmations have become more widely used for a variety of purposes. They are often used to help people achieve goals, reduce stress, and create positive changes in their life.
Affirmations can be used to help people focus on the positive and to create a more positive outlook on life. Affirmations are also used to overcome fear and doubt, increase self-confidence, and create a sense of purpose and direction. Affirmations can be used to help people reach their goals, create a healthier lifestyle, and to create a more fulfilling and meaningful life.
]]>Affirmations are a powerful and effective tool for improving your life. They can help you
We here at Mosaic the Label are all about wearing your identity on your sleeve. Expressing your identity every day. Here are some tips on how you can express your identity.
I thought, “How am I supposed to raise my kids with an even more diverse cultural history thanks to my husband’s added heritage?”
It’s important to me that my kids have a good understanding and appreciation of their cultural heritage. I really believe that this will help them grow up with a stronger sense of identity and self-worth as they learn to celebrate who they are and where they came from. So, since life is already hectic, I looked for a way to simplify it all and found three main ways to naturally incorporate culture into their upbringing.
Celebrate culture with everyday living.
The more my kids are exposed to their cultures in our home, the more it normalizes them so they’re not obscure ideas. So, we celebrate our cultures through simple everyday things like the recipes we cook, the home decor we use, the crafts we make, and the music we listen to.
Educate with purposeful teaching.
It can’t be enough to passively showcase our cultural pride to our kids. So, we educate our children about their cultures through the books we read, the languages we speak, the traditions we celebrate, and the family history we tell them and preserve for them through heirlooms, photos, and journals.
Participate in cultural communities.
Being a multicultural parent can be overwhelming and confusing at times, but thankfully there are so many cultural communities designed to help. So, we participate in cultural communities online and on social media, travel to cultural landmarks, support multicultural groups and businesses (hello, Mosaic the Label!), and learn from other multicultural parents we personally know.
I hope that these three simple things can help my kids grow up to say they’re proud to be Japanese/Caucasian/Danish Americans. Now, if my husband and I could only agree on what languages to speak to them. He speaks fluent Spanish, but we all know that Portuguese is better 😉
Erika Sargent is the founder of Multicultural Parenting, an organization that helps parents raise their children with a better understanding and appreciation of their cultural heritage.
]]>my tiny bundle of energy
]]>Mystique is the Founder of Mocha Lifestyle.
]]>I am inspired by my daughter to keep my business going and growing for a few reasons.
I know a lot of children of immigrants, first-generation kids, mixed-kids, BIPOC don't ever dream of starting their own business. Not because they don't think they can but because growing up it was just never really an option. It wasn't forbidden- worse, it was just never on the table to begin with.
But I am here to tell you that it is on the table. If you want to, you should! Getting started is the hardest part. When launching Mosaic the Label I relied on businesses that were easy to use, had fast shipping times and low production quantities.
Sticker Mule has been my sticker manufacturer for a while now and not only are they all of the above, their quality of product is amazing, their customer service and outreach is unmatched and they always have awesome deals which allows me to try out new products with no risk!
Start your business now with Sticker Mule by creating your own custom stickers. See where it takes you!
]]>In some cultures, much significance is placed on the meaning of the name, and some even pay professional naming experts to name their children.
For parents of mixed-race kids, coming up with a name for your kid can have an added layer of complexity. When my husband and I were preparing to welcome our first child who would be part Korean and part American (and entirely awesome!), we had a lengthy discussion on how we would go about considering names. My Korean heritage is a prominent part of my identity, and it was something I wanted to pass down to our kids.
For many families that are first or second generations Americans, it seemed customary to give their kids an ‘American’ first name while having their middle name being something from their cultural heritage. When I started thinking about how to name our first-born, I couldn’t help but begin to question this practice. To me, using conventionally ‘American’ names as first names felt like prioritizing and assigning the other heritage as the lesser of the two. Would my child not feel as connected to her Korean heritage? Would giving her names from different cultures make her feel torn when she thinks about her cultural identity?
Something else that bothered me was the subtle implication that you could only be real ‘American’ by adopting a name from a list of preconceived names. Why couldn’t someone named Tae-hyeok be just as American as someone called John?
Despite all the angst and debate, we did succumb to the common practice of using an ‘American’ name as the first name and Korean name as her middle name. Culturally identity aside, we didn’t want our kid to have to endure 20 kids butchering her name every year at school and commit her to a lifetime of spelling bee, always having to spell out her name each time she meets someone new.
It is my sincerest hope that my kids grow up embracing all of themselves and find the world to be just as welcoming which ever name they choose to go by.
At Portmanteau Home, we make cultural and visual portmanteaus. With each collection, we feature iconic textiles from different regions of the world to show how different cultures can come together to create something new and amazing. https://portmanteauhome.com/
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