{"id":15883,"date":"2025-05-01T15:44:41","date_gmt":"2025-05-01T15:44:41","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/wordpress.thetruthtoledo.com\/?p=15883"},"modified":"2025-05-01T15:45:04","modified_gmt":"2025-05-01T15:45:04","slug":"parenting-yourself-a-sister-to-sister-conversation-at-franklin-perk-cafe","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/wordpress.thetruthtoledo.com\/index.php\/2025\/05\/01\/parenting-yourself-a-sister-to-sister-conversation-at-franklin-perk-cafe\/","title":{"rendered":"Parenting Yourself: A Sister-to-Sister Conversation at Franklin Perk Caf\u00e9"},"content":{"rendered":"

\"\"By Asia Nail<\/strong>
\nThe Truth Reporter<\/strong><\/p>\n

At the heart of Franklin Park Mall, tucked near center court, is a small gem called Franklin Perk Caf\u00e9<\/strong> \u2014 a cozy, inviting coffee shop where the aroma of fresh brews fills the air. And oh, the perks! The warm, relaxed setting created the perfect environment for a deep and thoughtful conversation about a topic that touches every parent\u2019s heart: Parenting Yourself<\/strong>.<\/p>\n

Hosted by Stayce Fowler<\/strong>, publisher of Stalwart Magazine<\/em>, and Amy Hall<\/strong>, life coach and business leader, the Sister-to-Sister Conversation<\/em> was open, honest and full of relatable wisdom. Fowler and Hall both believe in creating spaces where community and conversations grow together, and this gathering was no exception.<\/p>\n

As mothers, leaders and lifelong learners, Stayce and Amy understand that parenting isn\u2019t just about raising children \u2014 it\u2019s also about raising yourself<\/strong>. \u201cIt\u2019s not just about what we tell them,\u201d Amy said. \u201cIt\u2019s about how we show up for ourselves every day.\u201d<\/p>\n

The conversation kicked off with Amy sharing a recent \u201cah-ha\u201d moment she had while driving. \u201cIt just hit me,\u201d she said, \u201cOne day, my sons are going to bring women home. And who they choose is going to reflect some part of me \u2014 good or bad.\u201d<\/p>\n

That realization has made her even more committed to becoming the best version of herself, not just for her own sake but also for her boys. \u201cI have to keep doing the work. Because the example I set will live on through them,\u201d she said.<\/p>\n

Digging deep into the meaning of Parenting Yourself<\/strong>, the evening unfolded with honesty and reflection \u2014 the idea that before you can fully pour into your children, you first have to pour into yourself. It\u2019s like the airplane rule: you have to put on your own oxygen mask before helping others.<\/p>\n

The audience, a mix of mothers, daughters and even one awesome dad, leaned in closely as the conversation deepened. One mother shared her perspective as a Jamaican woman. \u201cIn Jamaican and African cultures,\u201d she explained, \u201ceducation is extremely important. You\u2019re expected to get at least one professional degree. It\u2019s just part of our upbringing.\u201d<\/p>\n

But she also shared how important it is to balance those high expectations with grace. \u201cWe have to guide our children,\u201d she said, \u201cnot push them so hard that they lose their sense of self.\u201d<\/p>\n

This balance \u2014 between high expectations and loving guidance \u2014 fit perfectly into the idea of Parenting Yourself<\/strong>. As Stayce Fowler pointed out, \u201cWe\u2019re raising individuals, not mini versions of ourselves. We have to leave room for them to become who they are.\u201d<\/p>\n

\"\"
Amy Hall and Stayce Fowler<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Stayce\u2019s words resonated deeply. It’s easy as a parent to want to steer every decision, to want our children to avoid the mistakes we made. But sometimes, the best parenting is knowing when to step back<\/strong> and allow them the space to grow.<\/p>\n

Throughout the conversation, Fowler and Hall modeled the same open-hearted honesty they encouraged from the audience. They didn’t present themselves as having all the answers. Instead, they invited everyone to think, to reflect, and to share.<\/p>\n

\u201cIt\u2019s not about being perfect,\u201d Fowler said. \u201cIt\u2019s about being intentional. How am I showing up every day? Am I parenting myself with patience and grace? Because if I\u2019m not doing it for me, it\u2019s hard to do it for them.\u201d<\/p>\n

The audience nodded along, some wiping away quiet tears. Parenting in today’s world \u2014 filled with social media, pressure, fast information, and even faster judgments \u2014 feels harder than ever. But this conversation reminded everyone that the real work starts inside<\/strong>.<\/p>\n

There were moments of laughter too, as everyone shared relatable parenting struggles \u2014 the messy rooms, the forgotten homework, the eye-rolls at family dinners. One woman joked, ‘I\u2019m raising teenagers at home, and then I have to parent my co-workers and mother them too. Some days, it feels like negotiating peace treaties with tiny dictators… and full-grown ones!\u2019<\/p>\n

But even in those funny moments, the message stayed clear: Parent yourself first<\/strong>. Show yourself the patience, forgiveness, and growth you hope to see in your children.<\/p>\n

Throughout the evening, coffee cups clinked and pens scribbled notes. It didn\u2019t feel like a lecture; it felt like sitting around the kitchen table with old friends. Each voice mattered. Each story mattered.<\/p>\n

By the end of the evening, it was clear that this conversation \u2014 and others like it \u2014 are essential. As Stayce Fowler said in closing, \u201cWe have to keep creating spaces like this. Places where we can be honest, where we can lift each other up, and where we can learn how to do better \u2014 for ourselves and for the next generation.\u201d<\/p>\n

Hall nodded, adding, \u201cIt starts with parenting ourselves. That\u2019s the real secret. That\u2019s how we change families, communities, and maybe even the world.\u201d<\/p>\n

As the crowd lingered after the conversation, swapping numbers and hugs, the spirit of the night stayed strong. Parenting is a journey. Parenting Yourself<\/strong> is where that journey begins.<\/p>\n

May 12, 2025 Marks 5 Years of Sisterhood! <\/em><\/strong>Join The Conversation<\/em><\/strong><\/a>.<\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

By Asia Nail The Truth Reporter At the heart of Franklin Park Mall, tucked near center court, is a small gem called Franklin Perk Caf\u00e9 \u2014 a cozy, inviting coffee shop where the aroma of fresh brews fills the air. And oh, the perks! The warm, relaxed setting created the perfect environment for a deep […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":15886,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[6,17],"tags":[],"wf_post_folders":[291],"class_list":["post-15883","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-economy","category-local"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/wordpress.thetruthtoledo.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/15883","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/wordpress.thetruthtoledo.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/wordpress.thetruthtoledo.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/wordpress.thetruthtoledo.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/2"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/wordpress.thetruthtoledo.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=15883"}],"version-history":[{"count":1,"href":"https:\/\/wordpress.thetruthtoledo.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/15883\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":15887,"href":"https:\/\/wordpress.thetruthtoledo.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/15883\/revisions\/15887"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/wordpress.thetruthtoledo.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/15886"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/wordpress.thetruthtoledo.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=15883"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/wordpress.thetruthtoledo.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=15883"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/wordpress.thetruthtoledo.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=15883"},{"taxonomy":"wf_post_folders","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/wordpress.thetruthtoledo.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/wf_post_folders?post=15883"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}