You're getting this in your inbox on a Sunday instead of our recently established last Friday of the month! I figured the day after Thanksgiving, when we're all likely knee deep in leftovers and relax mode, wasn't the best time for a read. Hope your weekend is cozy and spent with people you love 🧡

What was one thing you did in November that surprised you? For me, it was visiting the UniverSoul Circus in Coney Island. I went in with low expectations for my two-year-old's attention span, but was lowkey caught off guard by how much I enjoyed it.

The smell of circus animals dominates my childhood memory of the circus; everything else is a blur. As an adult, my experience was overall positive with a touch of discomfort. On one hand, I was just in awe. The cast was full of talented young people of color who absolutely killed it! It’s funny how you can forget entire art forms exist because you don't see them regularly. I never think about body contortionists or acrobats, but wow, the immense talent was breathtaking.

Then I found myself looking through another lens: my HR lens. My mind immediately went to questioning how things were behind the scenes. How much do they get paid? (Probably not enough.) I spent a lot of the show hoping everyone was treated fairly, because you could feel the heart they put into a production that made their audience feel seen.

And then there's the jaded side of adulthood. I couldn’t help but think about the disgusting history of Black people being put on display in circuses, a tradition that started in the U.K. and was brought to the U.S. That knowledge resurfaced during the show, especially at one point when several performers came out in costumes with exaggerated features that felt like a direct, uncomfortable tribute to Sarah Baartman.

The surprise of my November wasn't just that I enjoyed the circus, but that it also became an unexpected mirror for my own growth. The child in me only remembers the smell of animals, but as an adult, I see more of the whole picture: the undeniable skill of each performer, the complexities that come with running a show like that, and the past that continues to show up in the present. It was a good reminder of how multiple thoughts and feelings can coexist simultaneously.

Lately, I’ve been grappling with something as we navigate this era of our toddler testing us every single day: reminding myself that she’s a whole person with complex feelings she doesn’t know what to do with, and behaviors that aren't always within her control.

We recently transformed her crib into a toddler bed. I remembered looking at her sleeping in that crib as a baby and thinking, "Wow, one day she'll be able to sit up and climb out of her own little bed." Nowhere in my perfect, nostalgic thoughts did I consider the reality…that while a toddler bed encourages independence, it also means she will get up many, many, many times during the night. It means the "big bed" will always remain top-tier and more favorable than her own.

I don’t know what the answer is. Some nights, I have the energy to be firm and walk her back to her bed. On most nights, however, I just don’t have it in me to go back and forth with a determined toddler.

It’s a phase. I know this. But nothing prepares you for this test of will (and sleep) at 11 pm, 1 am, 3 am, 4 am. 😳

If you’ve been through this stage with a toddler, what got you through?

A little channel update: I’ve posted nine long-form videos on YouTube since officially launching in August. Can I get an “Amen!”?

The biggest mindset shift for me has been this: if people - family, friends, or strangers - aren't interested in what you create, it simply means they aren't your audience. And that’s okay. Your growth depends on finding and connecting with the people who do care. That realization has been liberating, and it motivates me to create consistent, engaging content for the community that I’m building.

It has also been fascinating to delve into the analytics for each video and use AI to help break down the data and trends. So far, it’s evident that people are loving the content featuring my two-year-old and my personal storytelling. And as much as we say we don’t need outside validation, it can help confirm your vision and give you that green light to keep going.

Here are the top three videos on the channel right now:

Whatever you're working on right now, keep going. (Drop it below in a comment if you feel like sharing!) Let’s encourage each other. We will see the fruit of our labor and find our people while doing it!

Until next time, wishing you a December you deserve, 😘 - Tahara