LeoLin Bowen

What is different now is that I know who I am and what I want. I’m not afraid to be alone and living single. I value my time and my health.

“I just love your squishy belly!” Then, as only children can do, he gave it a nickname: belly jelly. So I'm learning to love my belly jelly.

I was a good girl from the start. Now I am speaking up, setting boundaries, saying no to the things I don’t want and yes to the things that I do.

I am usually introduced to people as “the vegan.” I get it. Vegan is the new “it” word and now you are actually meeting one.

Wonderful son of mine, I am going to let you in on a little secret. Your mother is a liar. In fact, people lie all of the time.

Be careful what you wish for because at eight years old my son is exactly like his father in this aspect. I'm now raising an outgoing kid and I'm reserved.

“This is what happens when people stop being polite and start getting real.” My home is a cooperative house on the South Side of Chicago.

I knew there was still a culture of fear surrounding black people, but this was the first time I had experienced a person scared of black people.

I call it the look. The slight tilt of the head confused look that people give me when they find out that I am the “weekend” parent.