Trayvon Martin's Stepmother Speaks Out on the Dr. Phil Show

Yesterday I watched an episode of the Dr. Phil Show which featured Alicia Martin, stepmother of Trayvon Martin, along with best friends of George Zimmerman - the man charged in Trayvon's death.


Photo Credit: http://miami.cbslocal.com/2012/04/12/121914/

What really caught my attention was the way in which Zimmerman's friends tried to portray him as this upstanding guy who was not the aggressor, but a man who feared for his life at the hands of young, innocent Trayvon. To me it just seemed like such BS. I was saddened by the fact that Trayvon's stepmom, Alicia Martin had to sit through all of this talk. She had her turn to speak and it brought me to tears as she poured her heart out about the young man who she helped raise when his parents divorced. She was a part of his life for many years and he was a part of her family. For the last five years, Trayvon stayed at Alicia and his father's home during summers, and numerous holidays. She was helping her mate, who is Trayvon's father, and Trayvon was close to her children as well. At one point she stated, “I didn’t give birth to him but he was my son, to know that he died the way that he died, he shouldn’t have never died like that.”

Why I wanted to share about Trayvon's stepmother and what happened on the Dr. Phil show here on Baby Momma Love, because here we discuss raising children from past mates, being in a relationship or married to someone with children - and our influence in these children's lives.

I want to remind all women who are biological mothers or a mother because you are helping to raise your mate's child(ren) that you are a big part of that child's life, and if something tragic should happen that you are just as much affected as the actual parents. I couldn't imagine my stepchild being with me or staying with me and a tragedy like the Trayvon Martin case happens. Life is short, we never know what could happen - take the time to tell your child(ren) you love them everyday, and if you are a stepparent do everything in your power to nurture the relationship with your stepchild(ren). I could see it in Alicia's eyes, she loved Trayvon, and I am sure she treated him as if he was her very own.



I salute Alicia Martin for her strength, and dedication to making sure that justice is served in the death of her stepson. Thank you for being a great example of a stepmother, and for the love you have provided to Trayvon over the years.

God Bless You!

Peace and Always Love,
Team Baby Momma #22

Something to Make You Go Hmmm...

I love visiting other blogs and reading posts related to parenting, single mothers/fathers, family and the like. Tonight I came across an interesting read and wanted to share with my BabyMommaLove Family. Please visit the following link and check out the post, it's entitled Raise Your Hand High - I found it to be very thought provoking, and it was definitely something that made me go...Hmmmmmmmm.

Happy Reading, Discovering & Growing!

http://www.weddedblissinc.com/Wedded_Bliss_Foundation/Marriage,_Please_Blog/Entries/2011/9/22_Raise_Your_Hands_High!!.html

Harlem Church Hosts Celebrity Panel On Fatherhood

This past Friday, August 31, 2012 First Corinthian Baptist Church (FCBC) located in Harlem - New York City, hosted it's first ever Celebrity Panel Discussion on Fatherhood. It was a huge turnout for a topic that certainly needed to be addressed within the Harlem community, where there is a large population of single parents, as well as young parents who most definitely benefitted from a panel disucussion of this kind.

The celebrity panel consisted of Hip-Hop Artist - Styles P., Amare Stoudemire of the New York Knicks, NBA Veteran/Author - Etan Thomas, New York Knicks Assistant General Manager/Retired NBA Player - Allan Houston, Actor/Singer-Songwriter - Chaz Lamar Shepherd and American Sports Analyst for ESPN - Chris Broussard. FCBC's Pastor Michael A. Walrond Jr. served as the moderator for the evening.



Families of all sorts gathered to hear stories, get advice, begin the healing process within their own lives, as these celebrity fathers shared their stories of fatherhood or their survival from growing up in a single-parent household. Mother's were able to gain insight on issues that have plagued their families for generations, words spoken allowed women and men to examine certain feelings that they have either buried deep within or have been to angry or hurt to express. For some women it was a relief to be a part of a discussion that we have been having amongst our sista-friends for so long, so to hear from the men on fatherhood was a treat.

The questions were relevant, thought provoking, solution centered and appropriate. The panelists were well spoken, answered from the heart, provided great information as well as a deeper insight into the role they play as fathers.

Three amazing spoken-word artist set the tone when they kicked off the evening with their powerful poetry/prose based on the evening's topic. Spoken-word artists: J. Ivy, Messiah Ramkissoon and Julian Thomas.

Thank you to FCBC and Pastor Michael A. Walrond for putting together such a wonderful event which was so beneficial to the community-at-large. We need events such as this which serve to make an impact through real dialogue, useful information, relatable people and a forum for healing.

Ladies, my words to you - love and respect yourself, allow growth to take place in your life, be smart in your quest for love, seek help if and when needed, if you already have children - be the best parent you can be with what you have, and if you are co-parenting - do it in the most harmonious way as possible - allow the father to be a father; if you don't have children - make sure you take the time to be with and get to know the man you intend on having children with - make wise decisions. And remember all actions have consequences...

Panelist Etan Thomas wrote a book entitled Fatherhood - Rising to the Ultimate Challenge which is what brought this group of committed fathers together. Pick up a copy as a gift to your child's father, husband, boyfriend, friend, or any man or young man in your life who is a father.

Peace and Always Love,
Team Baby Momma #22