Phone Call With Phylicia

Well, when I was on the phone with Phylicia Rashad today, I decided to start every single sentence I utter from now on with the phrase "when I was on the phone with Phylicia Rashad today." Is that ostentatious or obnoxious? Or both? Either way, let me just clue you into a little thing you may not have picked up on yet... I WAS ON THE PHONE WITH PHYLICIA RASHAD TODAY. Yes, true story.



In case you have lived under a rock for the last 30 years... this gorgeous woman staring back at you is Phylicia. She starred on stage (where she won a Tony) and on television in the critically acclaimed "A Raisin in the Sun," she became the international parenting standard prompting mothers to ask themselves WWCHD... what would Claire Huxtable do? through "The Cosby Show," and provided the mother's voice in one of my son's favorite cartoons "Little Bill." This woman does it all and now she is starring in a new film called "Just Wright" with Queen Latifah, Common, Pam Grier and Paula Patton. Not bad at all. And, did I mention that I talked to her today?


As impressive as all that is, if you actually talk to her (like I did today) you find that on top of all of the acclaim and talent, she can use that soothing "Mother Earth incarnate" voice of hers to put forth some pretty sage advice on life for the rest of us. I mean profound, deep, move over Dr. Phil and Oprah quality advice. And, luckily for you, I get to share it.


Number one: Boys (and I am going to take the liberty to expand this to all children) do not see their mothers as human beings with hopes, dreams and spirit... but rather as a creature whose sole purpose is to serve. I am going to put at link at the bottom of this post so you can hear the interview yourself, and hear how eloquently Ms. Rashad says it in her silky baritone. But, she says, the onus is on mothers to make sure and introduce that side of themselves to their children. Share who we are, not just what we do from day to day. Introduce our humanity to our children... I like that.


Number two: Life is full of reversals and the unexpected. Build upon that, do not run from it. If you read my blog you know that we had a reversal (as she puts it) two weeks ago. Mark lost his job. Well, that isn't true. We know where it is.... he just isn't allowed to do it anymore. But, the point is... we need to meet that head on. We cannot hide behind the woulda coulda shouldas of the situation and instead put our game face on and move forward.


Number three: Rashad shared a truth that a wise person once told her... "A good marriage is a good fight." That doesn't mean that you are fighting each other... you are fighting the problems that come at you... together. Mark and I have been married for a little over 5 years. In that time we've lost people dear to us, we've lost jobs, we've had money problems, and we've struggled to raise our children the way we want to. But, we struggle together. We fight, don't get me wrong, but we fight our obstacles more. What more can you ask for than a teammate through everything?


All that being said, the purpose of the interview (link at the bottom of this post) was to discuss her new movie "Just Wright." While I haven't seen it yet, I have no doubt it is worth the ticket. With Phylicia Rashad playing Common's mother, how could it not be? After all, I am changing my parenting vernacular from WWCHD to a life philosophy of WWPRD... what would Phylicia Rashad do?


Check out other "mommy bloggers" and me talking motherhood, marriage and the movie "Just Wright" right here. And then go see the movie opening this Friday night... I know I am.