Awesome human. Magna Cum Laude. Editor-in-Chief. Awesome human. 
Magna Cum Laude.
Editor-in-Chief.
School podcaster.
Quill and Scroll recipient.
Citizenship award winner.
Spirit of Excellence  Award 8 yrs. running. 
Class of 2022. 
Job well done, daughter!
P R O M. That’s the caption. P R O M. That’s the caption.
You done good, young lady. Now it’s time to soar You done good, young lady. Now it’s time to soar. 🎓#classof2022
Happy #NationalCollegeDecisionDay! Laylah is off Happy #NationalCollegeDecisionDay! 

Laylah is officially registered at St. John’s University and will begin her freshman year in August as a Public Relations Major. I’m so proud of her hard work and dedication—proud of the young woman that she has become.
Allow me to reintroduce myself. My name is.. Dan Allow me to reintroduce myself. My name is.. 

Danyelle Little, the NEW Director of Marketing and Communications at @rungforwomen . Been sitting on this for a while—now it’s officially official. 🙌🏾
Happy 28th birthday to the best son a mom could ev Happy 28th birthday to the best son a mom could ever have. Kind. Supportive. Talented. Creative. Caring. Smart. Courageous. The list goes on and on. You’ve overcome so much in the past year, and I know that God’s plan for you is working. I love you more than words can say. ❤️❤️❤️
And it’s official. Signed, sealed, delivered. Cl And it’s official. Signed, sealed, delivered. Class of 2026! 🙌🏾@stjohnsu #acceptedstudentday
Look for me in the Spring/Summer edition of St. Lo Look for me in the Spring/Summer edition of St. Louis Family Magazine—page 10 to be exact! I’m honored to be able to share a glimpse into my life as an author, Social Media Manager, and most importantly, a mom! 💕
And we have Book #2! My new novel, 'A Wedding On C And we have Book #2! My new novel, 'A Wedding On Clermont Lane', is now available! It's the sequel to my first novel 'Christmas On Clermont Lane', and if you loved the first one, just wait until you read the sequel.

That makes it two novels in five months, and I must say that while I missed my original deadline in February, I am so excited to have this one finished. The support you all showed me during the first release made me warm and fuzzy and so many of you reached out and asked when the next one would be. Well, here you go!

You can purchase 'A Wedding On Clermont Lane' on Amazon Prime, available in paperback for $10.99 and $7.99 for the eBook/Kindle edition. If you'd like a signed copy, a limited amount of copies are available. Hit the link in my bio.

I cannot wait for you to read this one and let me know your thoughts. Jasmine and The Robinson Family are back---and this time, it's for keeps!
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Family Ties, Featured, Kids & Parenting, Parenting · April 10, 2015

Forty-isms: How It Feels to be a Parent of a 21 Year Old


How It Feels to be a Parent of a 21 Year Old

This week, my son officially turns 21. No longer looked at as a minor, my boy is now a grown (fill in the blank) man. Able to buy liquor and be accountable for all of his actions, he isn’t the little kid who used to entertain us during family parties and create talent shows for the neighborhood kids to participate in. Those of you who know me understand it was a long road to get here. As a once-teen mom who struggled to raise her child, I look at his turning 21 as a major milestone for the both of us. Despite all the things we went through to get here, we both came out okay. He’s now a full-fledged adult living his life in Los Angeles, and I am now the parent of an adult. Growing pains, yes, but we are survivors.

I am still processing the fact that I am a now a mother of a 21 year old. I am more of an advisor now than a dictator. I am no longer an ATM, but a savings account where he occasionally withdraws money from when needed. So much has changed, but has stayed the same. We are close, but in a different way. He knows I am still there for him, but he wants to make his own way, mistakes included. It’s so weird, yet this is how it will be from now on. The parenting I’ve done all of these years, if done well, will continue to help him as an adult and as he makes his way through life. Now, it is all on him. Decisions, mistakes, ups and downs—he will have to own it.

Add to him turning 21 is also me turning forty. While he is getting used to his new age, I am being reborn in a sense. Approaching middle age and reinventing myself along the way, he and I are both at a critical point in our lives. What I do now will determine the quality of my life from here on out. And what he decides to do will help shape his adulthood and perhaps the rest of his.

Two different people, two different lives, and two different crossroads.

Turning 21

I was asked earlier how it feels to be a parent of a 21 year old. It is still quite new, but I feel peacefully euphoric. I also feel a sense of accomplishment that he is on his own, living in Cali, working hard, and living his dream. I am happy for him and where he is going and how he is handling his business. I pray daily that he continues to thrive in such a negative world. He’s a pretty good guy who hasn’t given me a lot of trouble, and I am so thankful for that. We’ve had our ups and downs, but I don’t think we’ve been as close as we’ve been right now.

We are bringing in his birthday by celebrating in The Big Apple. I flew him in from Los Angeles and I also came into town so we could spend some bonding time together in the city that never sleeps. Of course, he has friends that he went to school with that are also near the city, so he won’t be spending his entire birthday weekend with me. But being near him, even for our special little moments mean the world to me.

On April 10, 1994, my life changed forever. And today, his birth is now a fulfillment of a dream realized. I love you, son. And I always will.


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In: Family Ties, Featured, Kids & Parenting, Parenting · Tagged: adulthood, happy birthday, parenthood, parenting, parenting an adult, turning forty

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Comments

  1. Claudya says

    April 10, 2015 at 9:02 pm

    Congratulations to the both of you!

    Reply
    • The Cubicle Chick says

      April 10, 2015 at 11:32 pm

      Thank you, Claudya 🙂

      Reply
  2. Blanca Stella Mejia (@micaminar) says

    April 12, 2015 at 10:26 am

    Congratulations! It is a big milestone. My only son turned 21 last year and I am so excited for everything he is doing and at the same a very proud mama. So I totally know the feeling.. Turning 16 and driving on his own was more of a bittersweet time because he needed me less. 21 was a different milestone, bug one for sure too.

    Reply
    • The Cubicle Chick says

      April 13, 2015 at 7:47 pm

      I totally agree with the driving thing. That is the most nerve-wracking time. I think when they turn 21, it’s a sigh of relief. And then it puts the focus on you because we feel there’s so much more work to be done personally.

      Reply
  3. Bobbie says

    April 13, 2015 at 6:10 pm

    What a milestone for you and your son, but I know it’s so exciting. But Danyelle, you don’t look a day over 30, girlie! Oh and can’t wait for you to join the 40/40 club. 🙂

    Reply
    • The Cubicle Chick says

      April 13, 2015 at 7:48 pm

      Oh, thank you Bobbie! All weekend while in New York, people kept saying we looked like brother and sister not mother and son. I surely still feel about 25 or so. LOL. Good genes I guess. 🙂

      Reply
  4. Cheryl says

    January 6, 2016 at 2:46 pm

    Congratulations to you both! I, too, am in a similar situation of ‘celebration’. My son turned 21 in June of last year and has relocated to Florida on his own (no family) to make a life for himself. It was so scary for me and I still feel some anxiety; but, after a few roadblocks, he is doing quite well for himself! Cheers!!!!! My daily prayer is that God keeps him safe and on the right path!

    Reply

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Awesome human. Magna Cum Laude. Editor-in-Chief. Awesome human. 
Magna Cum Laude.
Editor-in-Chief.
School podcaster.
Quill and Scroll recipient.
Citizenship award winner.
Spirit of Excellence  Award 8 yrs. running. 
Class of 2022. 
Job well done, daughter!
P R O M. That’s the caption. P R O M. That’s the caption.
You done good, young lady. Now it’s time to soar You done good, young lady. Now it’s time to soar. 🎓#classof2022
Happy #NationalCollegeDecisionDay! Laylah is off Happy #NationalCollegeDecisionDay! 

Laylah is officially registered at St. John’s University and will begin her freshman year in August as a Public Relations Major. I’m so proud of her hard work and dedication—proud of the young woman that she has become.
Allow me to reintroduce myself. My name is.. Dan Allow me to reintroduce myself. My name is.. 

Danyelle Little, the NEW Director of Marketing and Communications at @rungforwomen . Been sitting on this for a while—now it’s officially official. 🙌🏾
Happy 28th birthday to the best son a mom could ev Happy 28th birthday to the best son a mom could ever have. Kind. Supportive. Talented. Creative. Caring. Smart. Courageous. The list goes on and on. You’ve overcome so much in the past year, and I know that God’s plan for you is working. I love you more than words can say. ❤️❤️❤️
And it’s official. Signed, sealed, delivered. Cl And it’s official. Signed, sealed, delivered. Class of 2026! 🙌🏾@stjohnsu #acceptedstudentday
Look for me in the Spring/Summer edition of St. Lo Look for me in the Spring/Summer edition of St. Louis Family Magazine—page 10 to be exact! I’m honored to be able to share a glimpse into my life as an author, Social Media Manager, and most importantly, a mom! 💕
And we have Book #2! My new novel, 'A Wedding On C And we have Book #2! My new novel, 'A Wedding On Clermont Lane', is now available! It's the sequel to my first novel 'Christmas On Clermont Lane', and if you loved the first one, just wait until you read the sequel.

That makes it two novels in five months, and I must say that while I missed my original deadline in February, I am so excited to have this one finished. The support you all showed me during the first release made me warm and fuzzy and so many of you reached out and asked when the next one would be. Well, here you go!

You can purchase 'A Wedding On Clermont Lane' on Amazon Prime, available in paperback for $10.99 and $7.99 for the eBook/Kindle edition. If you'd like a signed copy, a limited amount of copies are available. Hit the link in my bio.

I cannot wait for you to read this one and let me know your thoughts. Jasmine and The Robinson Family are back---and this time, it's for keeps!
Happy International Women’s Day. I would not be Happy International Women’s Day. I would not be here without the wisdom and strength of my praying grandmother who has poured into me for 46 years and counting. I am so thankful for her unconditional love and unwavering support. ❤️❤️❤️#internationalwomensday #womensday #womenshistorymonth

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