I met Kimberly Coleman while we were both attending the 1st Disney African-American Mom Blogger’s Mixer in 2008. She was one of the first bloggers that I got to meet in real life. What amazed me the most about Kimberly was her sensitivity. When Disney assumed that we would all enjoy going to a Gospel Concert (assumptions are such awful things), she was concerned about how I felt in light of my religious beliefs. She was worried that I was uncomfortable even when most people would not have cared.
Kimberly is also very intelligent and approaches much of her online life from a business background. She writes, speaks and consults about parenting in the NYC Metro area. A graduate of Columbia College, Kimberly worked in various research and finance positions in corporate America for eight years. She left Time Inc. when she had her first son in 2004 and began working in the parenting field. Currently, Kimberly writes for Harlem Community Newspapers (Former Family Editor, current Freelance Columnist) in addition to being the lead blogger at Mom in the City. She recently moved to Forest Hills (Queens) where she lives with her amazing husband and their two wonderful, energetic sons.
Moms of Hue (MOH): What keeps you motivated?
Kimberly: Gratitude. I have a life that I didn’t see too often growing up. I’m married to an amazing, loving man. I am fortunate enough to have attended an excellent college (Columbia) and worked for some of the most respected companies (Smith Barney, Time Inc., etc.). Then, I was able to be a stay at home mom with my kids. Now, I am a work at home mom merging my passions for business and parenting.
Moms of Hue (MOH): How do you organize your life so that you ensure that you get it all done?
Kimberly: I’m a planner by nature and I thrive on order. The night before, I make plans for the next day. I try to stick to them, but I realize that life doesn’t always go according to plan (especially with kids in the mix). I am a lot more gracious with myself now – I don’t expect to get it ALL done. I primarily focus on getting what is most important done!
Moms of Hue (MOH): What lessons do you hope your kids will learn from you as they watch you work?
Kimberly: I hope that my kids will see that you can (and should) enjoy your work. My oldest son decided that he wanted his own blog this year – focused on his favorite thing, video games. He is only five, so it’s a vlog (gamerkidvlog.com). He has totally taken ownership of it and hounds me to post more frequently! I love that the seeds of entrepreneurship are already planted in his mind.
Moms of Hue (MOH): Who is your biggest supporter and why?
Kimberly: My husband is my biggest supporter. He used to do the html for my website before it was a blog. He encouraged me to keep my blog going even when I was getting paid by another company to do parenting writing for three years. (It’s good to “have your own”, he would always say.) He is my biggest fan (and I am his)!
Moms of Hue (MOH): What advice do you have for other moms of hue trying to raise children and maintain positive values?
Kimberly: Be clear on your priorities and make a focused effort to live them out. Relationships are my priority – God, husband and kids – before anyone/anything else. As such, I say “no” to some opportunities. I decided at the beginning of the year that I would not go on any unpaid (as in not paid for my time) trips away from home during school sessions since my husband is a teacher and my oldest son is in school. In the last couple of months alone, I have said “no” to three great different trips in sunny locations. It’s fine though, because that frees me up to say “yes” to other opportunities that work better for this point in my life. In sum, my favorite quote (that I try to live by) is William Shakespeare’s “To thine own self be true, and it must follow, as the night the day, thou canst not then be false to any man.”
Photo credit: Jade Albert (www.jadealbert.com)
