Riding Through Courage and Resilience

It happened late in the afternoon, during that golden hour when the sun hits our small-town

skate park just right— turning the concrete warm, the metal ramps

shimmering, making everything feel like a memory while it’s still unfolding.

I led Malickai and Mikaiyah through the chain-link entrance, two little helmets bouncing beside

me like excited satellites. “Mackie,” Mikaiyah whispered to her little brother,

“Mom used to skate before we were even born.” “Like… on purpose?” he asked,

genuinely stunned. I laughed. “Oh yeah. I wasn’t always a mom who pays bills

and reminds people to put their shoes on. I had a whole life before you two.”