• Home
  • About Ari
  • About Us
  • Advertising/PR
    • Disclosure Policy
    • Privacy Policy
  • Partner with ShiftCon 2020
  • Contact Me
  • Blogging/Marketing Help

Love Peace and Tiny Feet | Ari Adams

Atlanta Parenting and Green Lifestyle Blogger

  • ShiftCon Eco-Wellness Influencer Conference
  • Tips for Moms
    • My Journey & Thoughts
  • Family Entertainment
    • Activities for Kids
    • Disney Movie Exclusives
    • Marvel Movie Exclusives
  • Green Living & Holistic Health
    • Green Lifestyle
    • Health and Wellness
    • DIY/Homemade
  • Travel
    • Disney Travel
    • Road Trip Adventures
    • International Travel
  • Recipes

Introducing My Big Fat African Family

01/16/12 | just my thoughts

African Family - Love, Peace, and Tiny Feet
 
Let me start this post by saying that I truly love being around my Big Fat African family. They are big, not fat, but definitely African (Liberian) and all that entails…
 
But it entails a group of individuals who have been in America for over 30 years, refuse to assimilate and only swear by doing things “The African Way.”  Growing up, I wanted nothing more than for my mom to just fit in with the other parents. She would go to parent teacher meetings fully dressed from head to toe in colorful African garb making sure she stood out from the other moms dressed in plaid skirts. Head. to. Toe.  Our house was decorated with African masks and quite a bit of wooden furniture no one knew how to sit on. (This was before Pier 1 started manufacturing African stuff).  The smell of fufu and soup would always fill the air, and you’d much prefer that over the harsh and bitter aroma of brewing ginger beer on special occasions, or worse – taking them out to a restaurant and having them insist on bringing their own jar of fried pepper to add to a meal!  Yes…that has happened!
 
I’ve come to appreciate them though as I’ve gotten older and can honestly say they are as much loving and supportive and fun as they are boisterous, stubborn, and filled with drama. Over the years, I have also grown to understand that there is really a thin line between  concerned parents and downright nosy and invasive. I talk to my mom at least once a day and she insists on knowing every single detail of my life – from what I’m cooking for dinner to how many times my daughter used the potty. Seriously!

So it goes without saying that them not being here for the birth of my first born was a pretty big deal. In fact, my mom was actually at the airport on her way here when Leila was born.  This go around, my mom is determined to make it down here in time for baby#2’s birth.  She’s planning to have all her bags packed and hitting the road at my first sign of labor.  And she’s bringing the whole family…cuz that’s how they roll!

Now, I’ll say it again, I love being around my big fat African family.  However…during labor???

How can I put this gently? My family brings a lot of…well, EVERYTHING.  Pretty much every minor event can become a big deal in just a matter of seconds.  A perfect example – last time I was home, Leila tripped over something and fell down at my mom’s house a few months ago and this is how it went (accent that won’t go away and all):

Me: Leila, are you ok?
Leila: Yes, I’m ok
Mom: (in a panic) What happened to Leila?
Me: She fell. She’s ok.
Grandma: (in a bigger panic)  She fell? Wha you mean de geh fell?  She fell down? Eh Mehn. Where she fell?  How?
Mom: Who left that (whatever the object was) over there? I bet it was that damn Chadia (my 16 year old sister).  Oh my God, Leila ah you ok?
Leila: yes, I’m ok
Me: She’s fine!
Mom: Where is dah geh? CHADIA!!!
Chadia: Yeah
Mom: (yelling) Why did you leave blablabla ova dere? Didn’t I tell you to move it? You never listen. Why are you so stubborn?  All you care about is …(typical mom-teenager rant)
Chadia: I’ll move it. Geez, what’s the big deal?
Grandma: (more yelling) You mean to tell me that liy geh fell and hurt herself. Didn’t your ma tell you to move it? Why you so stubborn? And so on….

Meanwhile, Leila is playing with her toys, completely unharmed and over the whole thing…and they are all still carrying on.  And then just when things start to calm down, in walks my dad who says, “Oh, what happened to Leila?” ….and the whole thing starts all over again!

Don’t get me wrong, I do see the pure COMEDY in situations like this. However, let’s be honest, this is it going to be that funny when I’m in labor!

Print Friendly, PDF & Email

Related posts:

4 bold things to do when leaving your job to start your own business #ListerineBOLD
Praying for a real Christmas miracle #bepositive
Truer words have never been spoken...
The honest differences between my real life vs. my online life

Comments | 9 comments


3-minute-meditations-for-daily-stress-relief-1

Let’s keep in touch!

Sign-up now for my Weekly Newsletter to get the latest tips, recipes, crafts, giveaways and more! (No spam, I promise!)

« Wordless Wednesday: This will come in handy pretty soon!
365 days of “Thanks” »

Comments

  1. S. says

    January 23, 2016 at 12:11 am

    Funny and so true! (I was married to a man from West Africa once upon a time.)

    Can’t say I miss him but ooooohhhh how I miss his family!

    Reply
    • Ari says

      January 23, 2016 at 12:17 am

      Hahaha! West African families are always so entertaining.

      Reply

Trackbacks

  1. Introducing Baby #2: 6lbs, 1 oz, 0% predictable, and 100% loved! - Love, Peace, and Tiny Feet says:
    September 14, 2015 at 3:46 am

    […] them I had a feeling she would come within the week, but they didn’t believe me!  Thus, my Big Fat African Family, did not jump in the minivan and head down that night. I even predicted the date would be the 8th! […]

    Reply
  2. Quick and Easy West African Dishes - Jollof Rice Recipe - Love, Peace, and Tiny Feet says:
    September 30, 2015 at 4:07 am

    […] many of you know (and as evidenced by my Big Fat African Family), my entire family hails from Liberia, West Africa. What people don’t realize is that it […]

    Reply
  3. Quick and Easy West African Dishes - Jollof Rice Recipe - Love, Peace, and Tiny Feet says:
    September 30, 2015 at 4:26 am

    […] many of you know (and as evidenced by my Big Fat African Family), my family hails from Liberia, West Africa. What people don’t realize is that it […]

    Reply
  4. My Big Fat African Family ...on Christmas - Love, Peace, and Tiny Feet says:
    October 12, 2015 at 4:23 am

    […] mentioned before how calm and peaceful moments are with my in laws, especially compared to my Big Fat African Family. The morning started off pretty normal – Kids wake up and rush downstairs to find gifts from […]

    Reply
  5. 15 Random Things About Me - Love, Peace, and Tiny Feet says:
    October 12, 2015 at 5:39 am

    […] American. My family comes from Liberia  and Lebanon. Although I identify mostly with “my big fat African family“, I still claim my Middle Eastern […]

    Reply
  6. A promise is a comfort to a fool. A Liberian Civil War Story - Love, Peace, and Tiny Feet says:
    November 8, 2015 at 2:55 am

    […] my family altogether and the crux of it all was the Liberian Civil War.  As you recall from my Big Fat African Family, we are from Liberia, West Africa.  (My mom’s family is technically Lebanese, but they […]

    Reply
  7. 5 tips to prepare your bathroom for out-of-town guests @Costco #hostinghacks #ad - Love, Peace, and Tiny Feet says:
    November 24, 2015 at 6:23 pm

    […] Only a few times a year, I get my family to come to town and I go all out in preparation. Remember my Big Fat African Family? Well, they come on over in big, invasive bunches and I roll out the red carpet for them. Partially […]

    Reply

Leave a Reply Cancel reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Recipe Rating




  • Email
  • Facebook
  • Google+
  • Instagram
  • Pinterest
  • Twitter

Meet Ari

Ari Adams Atlanta Mom BloggerWho am I?  Well, to be honest, I am many things: I’m a Chiro-wife, mom of 2 daughters, a friend, a big and little sister, an auntie, cyber hippie, blogger, author, mompreneur, wannabe soap maker...  See? Many Things....but you can just call me ARI.   Learn more about my journey here.

BePositive Graphic Tees

101446971-1004955283

Featured on…

Ari Adams in Vinings Lifestyle Magazine Ari Adams huffington post blogger Ari Adams on The Dr. Oz Show Ari Adams on BlogHer
Ari Adams She Knows Experts Among Us Blogger
TODAY.com Parenting Team Parenting Contributor

Disclosure Statement

This blog features affiliate links. If you see a link to a product for sale on Amazon or otherwise in any of my posts, I earn a small commission if you buy it. As always, all opinions are authentically my own! For more questions about this blog, contact me via the form above. View our Privacy Policy HERE.

Blog Networks

Everywhere Find your Influence blog network

Sign-up now for my Weekly Newsletter to get the latest tips, recipes, crafts, giveaways and more! (No spam, I promise!)

Copyright © 2021 · Tasteful theme by Restored 316

Copyright © 2021 · Tasteful Theme on Genesis Framework · WordPress · Log in