Before moving to Florida, I had a job that required me to commute every morning and every evening for about 40-60 minutes depending on the traffic. It wasn’t a bad drive for those that are reading this like Daaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaang. Lol When you live in a large city, this is the norm for many. Podcasts became my new form of media to find motivation, ways to make me laugh, and even get the weekly dose of ratchetness. I have a few talented friends that are the stars of some of these podcasts and I love where this is taking the next chapter of their lives (check out Mogul Motivation and The Baesics).

But as I was listening to one of my favorite podcasts Side Hustle Pro, the topic of support came up. Side Hustle Pro is a podcast that “teaches you how to build and grow a side hustle from passion project to profitable business”. The episode I was listening to was early in the series and focused on entrepreneurship. This is one of our #MommyDaughterAdventures as I’ve had my own art company as a college student and now assisting Rhi with her bracelet company, I started to think who supports us? Who is on our team? But more specifically………Who are our starting 5?

So below (in no specific order) is my shoutout to my Starting 5 (cue Bulls music – SEE RED).

• The Big Brother and first friend
• The actual best friend
• The Coleman group text (only 2 people but b/c of the group texts they both get the same info at the same time)
• The Washington’s
• US

AEH3 is my big brother and we have been through good times and bad times like most siblings. Six years separate us and it wasn’t until we both became adults that we began to like each other. You love one another because you know you’re supposed to, but our like for one another grew once we started respecting each other. He is a great male figure for Rhi and keeps us laughing.

L’Erin is my best friend. We met on the 11th floor in Siddall Hall at the University of Cincinnati (GO BEARCATS) some xjdfljlakjj years ago. Lol It was the quiet floor but I don’t remember it being that way often. We’ve supported each other through life and death. My family is hers and her family is mine. We took a vow to always be ride or die for each other. She’s my sister from another mister.

The Coleman group consists of J and AD. I’m not really sure how our group text started but it’s one of two that I participate daily. The other is my family group text so that says a lot of my circle. Yes, the group is called Coleman out of the bond we share. J is my Soror and AD is da bruhz. Our days from IU to OSU to living and traveling to the region and everything in between to now, has developed a bond so strong. I am inspired by their drive to be successful in their careers. And their love for Oreo’s is as strong as mine.

The Washington’s are our actual family. My aunt is the reason I chose to attend and graduate from the University of Cincinnati for my undergraduate career. My uncle is another great male figure in Rhi’s life and we even made a song for him. And every time we talk to him – phone or FaceTime – we have to sing it 🙂 Their sons, our cousins are quietly our favorites. I’ll just leave that there to avoid additional family sideeye. Like any other family members, we have our differences in opinions, but love and support the drive we all have to be better every single day. We’re so proud of their accomplishments with Starstrukt and Garra Fish Spa. Yeah we just plugged the fam, but they deserve it.

Finally, the last point should be obvious. We have one another. In sports terms, I run the point and she is the two-guard. Rhi is my world, and I am hers. Everything I do, I do for her, and she is quite aware of that. It’s just the two of us (did you sing the song too?). We have a unique mother/daughter relationship. I know she appreciates it all and I appreciate her love, patience, and curiosity of the world. I want her to feel comfortable talking to me about things. So, I have an anxiety attack in my closet and then discuss teenage issues. Because it has been just the two of us, she has had to become more independent and mature than her peers. And I think she handles it well. As she gets older, we discuss having more experiences instead of physical things. Which is how this blog came to be. #MommyDaughterAdventures is our story – flaws and all.

The above group not only is our starting 5 for this journey, but so much more.  This is the group that will pray for us while fussing for something we didn’t do. They have our back in all situations and help make sound and concise decisions. We are so honored to call them our Starting 5!!!