Author: kosmeticskai@gmail.com

A Message to My Mom – by Phoenix Rising Dear Mom, Let me start by saying thank you for all the sacrifices, and I’m sorry for being an ungrateful brat about it. I held a grudge against you for years—many, many MANY years— because I always had it in my mind that you didn’t care about me. I always felt like the odd one out because I grew up a million miles away from you. Then, coming to live with you finally was completely the opposite of what I was hoping. You were always at work and barely home. I…

Being Real with Your Kids – By Phoenix Rising  Hey empresses!  So today we’re diving into something that makes most parents want to suddenly remember they left the stove on, need to check their phone, or have an urgent appointment with literally anything else. Yep, we’re talking about those difficult questions our kids ask that we dread answering every. Single. Day. “Where are you?” “Why are you never home?” “When will you be back home?” And my personal favorite gut-punch: “Mommy, is your job more important than me?” Insert the sound of my heart shattering into a million pieces here.…

Rebellion to Redemption – By Phoenix Rising  Hey beautiful souls,  Phoenix Rising here, writing to you from behind these concrete walls that have become both my prison and my classroom. I’m 26 years old, a mother of two precious babies I can’t hold right now, and I’m learning life lessons the hard way. Today I want to talk about something that literally changed my entire perspective on life: authority. Yeah, I know – authority. If only you could see my face when I first started writing about this topic. It was as stale as 5-week-old bread, and trust me, I’ve…

God Appointed Authorities – By Phoenix Rising  Let me tell you something that every Haitian mama knows but might not say out loud: the road from the classroom to the cell block is shorter than you think, and it often starts with how we treat the teachers God places in our children’s paths. I’m writing this from a place I never imagined I’d be – behind bars, watching my two babies grow up through video calls and weekend visits. My name is Phoenix Rising, and at 26, I’m learning lessons I wish I’d understood when I was sitting in those…

Animals Teach Us – By Phoenix Rising  Hey, my beautiful empresses!  Your girl Phoenix is back with another Gem of the Week, and honey, this one has been burning through my head like wildfire. You know how I am – when something hits me, it HITS me, and I can’t let it go until I’ve broken it all the way down for y’all. So, here’s what happened: I recently had to part ways with someone whom I genuinely considered a friend. Now, being back here where I am, you hear all kinds of stories – some real, some not so…

The day she snapped is a day she’ll never get back. It should be a memory embedded in the past, locked in a memory bank, and the key thrown somewhere in the back. Her journey isn’t anybody else’s; just as no one’s life is hers. The world is entirely oblivious to what she carries in her heart’s purse. Love, Anger, and Fear are like the three musketeers. The only thing that ties them together is their ability to leave you in tears. These emotions only heighten the deeper you push them into your mind’s rear, Leaving you alone to deal…

November 15, 2004 – Miami, FL  Dear Little Phoenix (my 6-year-old self),  Happy birthday, baby girl. I know you’re trying so hard to smile today as you blow out those candles, but I see that sadness in your eyes. I know how you’re fighting back tears because the one person who could make this day perfect isn’t here. Mama. Our Queen. I know, sweet girl, I know. I’m writing this from a place you can’t imagine yet – I’m 26 now, a mama myself to two beautiful babies, but I’m away from them just like mama was away from us.…

Real Talk About Toxic Relationships from Someone Who’s Been There By Phoenix Rising Let’s discuss something that’s been on my mind lately—something that’s often mentioned in conversations, memes, and advice columns, but I’m not sure people truly understand it. I’m talking about leaving when it feels like it’s “too late.” This topic is widely discussed, but is it truly understood? Now, when I say “leaving,” I’m not just talking about packing your bags and dramatic door slamming (though sometimes that’s precisely what needs to happen). I’m talking about extracting yourself from any situation that’s slowly poisoning your soul—whether that’s a…

Life Lessons from a 26-Year-Old Mom Who’s Still Figuring It Out  By Phoenix Rising You know that feeling when you’re trying to parallel park and your passenger keeps saying, “Turn left, no right, no LEFT!” and you’re sitting there thinking, “I got this, but also, please don’t let me hit that BMW”? That’s pretty much what guidance feels like as a kid—except the BMW is your entire future, and everyone’s got an opinion about how you should park it. The Great Guidance Debate As a child, you look up to someone to “guide” you and show you the way/path of…

Or: How I Learned to Stop Worrying and Love the Pause Button By Phoenix Rising A 26-year-old mother of two Let’s be honest here – we’ve all been that person. You know the one I’m talking about. The person who hears something immediately goes from zero to nuclear meltdown faster than you can say “Wait, what did you actually mean by that?” Yeah, that’s the reactor. And if you’re reading this thinking, “I don’t know anyone like that,” congratulations – you ARE that person. Welcome to the club. We have stress-eating and regret as our main refreshments. The Instinct Trap:…