Actress Tichina Arnold has what many mothers have experienced at one time in their lives: “the mommy blues”. The working mom is presently in Dakar, Senegal Africa, and though she is enjoying her trip to Africa, Tichina finds herself missing her five-year-old daughter Alijah Kai. On her personal blog, Tichina writes about her “mommy blues”:

 

For the past few weeks while working in London, England and now just visiting Senegal Africa, I find myself watching little home videos on my laptop of my daughter, Alijah Kai, to satisfy my “mommy blues” better known as a parents “separation anxiety”. I never thought I would get to the point of actually MISSING the sound of Alijah’s everyday demands.

I have also been making everyone else that I am with or around, watch the videos as well. I know this sounds like I am one of those fanatical moms who show a million and one pictures of their kid, but the videos are actually quite entertaining. Still and all, I try not to drive everybody nuts with them

(especially not the people who don’t have children). You try not to drive people nuts with your parental moments, but sometimes you just can’t stop yourself.

My good Senegalese friend, Mbacke Dioum who invited me here, have been enjoying the videos of Alijah as well. Oddly enough, I think him watching the videos, satisfies HIS “daddy blues” for his young son as well.

On this entire trip, I have been repeatedly saying; “I can’t wait to bring Alijah back here. She’s gonna LOVE it!”

I travel a LOT. Probably more than the average person and now that I am a mother, I feel guilty most of the time when I can’t or don’t bring my daughter. My lesson learned today, is no matter

how many times you second guess yourself or the choices you make as a parent, the bottom line, is to make sure that in whatever decisions you make, believe and pray that something good and positive will come from it. I was very tired from working in London and wanted to go home to my own bed and my kid, but instead, I came to Africa. I never thought I would meet the president, nor ANY president for that matter and now I have an amazing story to go back and share with my daughter.

We instinctively live for our children, but there is so much pleasure in finding those wonderful moments where you can balance your personal enjoyment with parenthood. Alijah is going to have an earful when I return and the best part about it all, is that she’s gonna love hearing every moment of it.

‘Til next time……