In 2018 Beyonce stole summer the year when she shut down Coachella. I am not the biggest Beyonce stan but I do appreciate her craftsmanship and amazing work ethic. Once the full video of the performance appeared on Facebook the day after the show I knew I had to watch it. I played it on the tv in the family room. The then 2 year old was stuck….

I’m talking stuck, stuck. Stuck watching this brown girl dance all over the stage and command a sea of people to dance and sing with her. She was amazed at the choreography and the singing…not to mention the costumes. Lucky for me, the show was a total HBCU vibe. Yes, I know the lyrics aren’t technically appropriate for a 2 year old #judgeyourmom, but here we are, a year later and my baby is still impressed and obsessed with Beyonce.

My daughter’s obsession with Beyonce has now resulted in me listening to Grown Woman multiple times a day and subscribing to only her music while in the car. With the release of Homecoming on Netflix, I can proudly say we have watched the dang movie almost every single day since its release. There are tutus, microphones, and doll babies as Michelle and Kelly sitting in our family room ready to get in formation. Watching my vibrant child sing all about how awesome she is as a “grown woman” made me realize I am absolutely grown. “I can do whatever I want.”

Hear me out…this tiny human has made me feel so much like Beyonce it is ridiculous. I put on my black over the knee leather boots and I get, “Mom, you look like Beyonce.” I dance around the kitchen with her, “Hehehe, you dancin like Beyonce.” The absolute best phrase was when I was changing out of my work clothes. I stood there in a bra and some black tights and got, “You look like Beyonce.” Is this kid blind?! I’m three months postpartum, belly still rolling over and jiggling, and this beautiful child I created has likened me to the demigawd that is, Beyonce.

One thing people don’t warn you about is all the things your kid will teach you. This Beyonce phase that has taken over our lives is now requiring me to get back to being me. Getting back to playing music more than TV. Dancing around the entire house and acting goofy while Bootylicous plays! Recording my kid dancing with her grandma to Single Ladies (see IG for the visual). At three she is teaching me to not only be patient but to find time to just live in the moment and snuggle. The dishes can wait and the laundry will get folded….at some point.

It is important to note that Beyonce isn’t the worst content wise. During the entire Homecoming film I give commentary! “Look at the black girl playing the guitar!” My mini me says, “She’s killing it mommy.” We discuss the importance of HBCUs and I read the quotes from our great black legends. We discuss the dancers and how they are college students. We look up the majorette that twirled the baton on IG. We talk about her career goals to be an astronaut, witch, lawyer and singer. Two of these paths require college.

In essence, my child and Beyonce are teaching me to loosen up and embrace all that this life has to offer. So let us be like Marleigh and Beyonce, the fiercest woman in music at this time. Let us dance in the kitchen with our daughters. Let us sit in the car once we reach our destination just so our girls can sing at the top of her lungs. Let us jump out of the car and blast their songs so they can MOVE!! Let us embrace our big ole belly’s. Let us act like grown women and be the superheroes our families deserve!!

Alexa Play: Grown Woman

Alexa: Turn it Up