Hey Mamas! My name is Darlene Waller and I’m a stay-at-home-mom to 3 girls; Dayna, my college girl, Faith, my teenager and toddler Elaina Rose, (Rosie). Raising my daughters is the most challenging job ever, but the pay is great!
{Down With Detroit}
I was born and raised on the west side of Detroit back in the days when the Vernor’s factory still thrived on Woodward Ave. My mother was a secretary and my dad was a Ford factory worker and mechanic. I spent my childhood swimming at the pool in Palmer Park and riding my bike through the trails, riding the giant slide and camping with family on Belle Isle. Recently, our family past time has been the Woodward Dream Cruise, and since we’re a Ford family everyone meets on Mustang Alley!
Living in Detroit has many challenges, as does any major city. People have asked me why I stay and I simply tell them “because this is my home and I love it.” I enjoy the small hidden parks, shopping at the Eastern Market on Saturday mornings and telling my girls about the rich history of our hometown; Berry Gordy and the Motown Sound, Henry Ford’s gift to the world that was built right here, and many other beautiful and exciting historical sites that prove the strength of Detroit and why my pride runs so deep.
{My Life}
As a rebellious kid, I was often grounded and left with nothing but books in my room, no tv or toys. I thought it was torture then but as a result I love to read and that love has passed on to my kids. They enjoy everything from history books to comics like Emily the Strange. I guess they get it honest because I’m a die-hard Stephen King fan…whenever I have time to read!
I worked in the customer service field for over ten years before I realized that I was miserable. That was when I made the decision to become a stay-at-home-mom. My oldest daughter is in college, the middle girl is in high school, and my hyperactive toddler keeps me on my toes! My Rosie is autistic, which is a challenge I’ve learned to face with my head up, a positive attitude, and plenty of patience. Most of my days are spent with her in occupational or speech therapy. My family and I are learning more about autism every day and I’ve vowed to advocate for awareness and acceptance of people with disabilities. It’s given me a new purpose and even though every minute presents a new challenge, I’m happy to be the mommy to this exceptional and beautiful child.
Being a single mom of 3 girls is a wonderful (and expensive) experience! I’ve probably spent more on hair and body care products than I have gas for my car, but I can always count on a sea of knowledge from a sisterhood of moms in my community and online. I suffered a bit of postpartum depression after my baby was born, but I’ve bounced back with the help of therapy and support from the sisterhood of Motherhood, especially through the Detroit Moms Blog. So when I was given the opportunity to become a part of the team I was excited to begin a new journey. When I’m not blogging, I’m working on building my jewelry and skin care business. I create crystal and glass bead jewelry for myself and the girls, and I make custom sets for friends and family. Blending natural oils and ingredients into nourishing scrubs and moisturizers for the skin is also a passion of mine and my dream is to distribute my products and jewelry throughout Metro Detroit stores and vendors. As they say, teamwork makes the dream work, so my daughters are my business partners. They are right by my side every day, learning what it takes to build something from the ground up.
{Baby & Beyond}
Becoming a mom again at almost 40 really felt like doing it for the first time! There is so much to learn and unlearn, but for the most part I rely on what all moms should which is experience and intuition. But despite that, I wasn’t prepared for the diagnosis of autism in Rosie. I see it as a learning experience and a chance to advocate for all children with special needs. With my older girls being independent, I was looking forward to placing Rosie in daycare and finding a job. Now I understand that my job is to advocate for the best care that I can give her. There’s no better way to do that than to find support in a network of moms and my goal is to build a stronger network within the city of Detroit. I’m committed to being involved in the rebuilding of my community.
This was so inspirational. Thank you!!