I have heard — and said — on more than a few occasions, "Motherhood is the most ghetto hood I have ever lived in."

I can't find the lie to this day.

While some moms are fortunate enough to have a proverbial village to help them along the way, others are braving their journey as single parents. No matter the familial circumstance, every mom deserves to be reminded regularly that she is valuable, irreplaceable and worth self-care.

Dr. Diamond Rashad, a Black woman, doctor, super auntie and owner of Emira's Mamas, offers Black moms hope, joy and a little bit of sunshine in a box. She shared with us her passion for helping moms heal and why she started her business, so we are sharing these gems with you.

Courtesy of Emira's Mamas

No two gift boxes are designed the same or will contain the exact same trinkets, which allows each mom to know that she is specially cared for and the gifts are made with her in mind. Our personal gift box contained so many lovely goodies. And these aren't just miscellaneous items either; every item has an intentional function. Boxes include anything from customized journals with designs that are empowering and celebrate Black women, to bath bombs and salts for a relaxing wind-down routine implementation, tea and steeper, scrubs and other skincare products, deliciously fragrant mists, and cards, stickers, and notes of love and affirmation. This gift box is legitimately made with love and it can be felt with every item opened and utilized.

Courtesy of Emira's Mamas

Rashad is an occupational therapist, working with babies and little ones on play and development, and an aunt to a boy whom she refers to as her "darling nephew." Considered an empath, she said she has been drawn to working with families.

"I’ve laughed, cheered, and cried with parents and I wouldn’t change it," the entrepreneur said. "I’m a southern belle, born and raised in Savannah, Georgia. I’m 26 and love to travel, eat delicious food, swim, and read a good book. I am training to become a doula and am really excited about that as well."

With so much invested in children and moms, though having no children of her own, I was curious to learn what actually sparked the idea to create care packages for moms. As it turns out, the motivation stems from her love of family.

"So I named the company after my younger sister, Fatimah Amira (The E comes from my middle name Evita. So E + Amira). She inspired me to create care packages for new moms," Rashad said. "When she had my nephew, I had a front-row seat to how difficult the transition to motherhood can be. I wanted to create care packages to support new moms that would be comforting but also provide them with resources as well, such as postpartum plans, information on Postpartum Support International, and mindfulness books, and self-care strategies."

With an increasing social emphasis on self-care, moms sometimes don't have the luxury of prioritizing it, but Rashad fervently advocates for self-care for Black moms. 

"I think that self-care is essential for all moms, new and seasoned, but especially for Black mothers," she said. "Black women tend to take care of themselves last and become superwomen for everybody but themselves. Add in the stress of racism. Worrying about your family and the black men in your life. Dealing with healthcare that doesn’t look like you and just won’t listen. Breaking generational curses and trying to do better for yourself."

Rashad does not hesitate to remind us of the stigmas associated with pregnancy and motherhood for Black women.

"There’s the stigma, that once the baby comes, it’s all about the baby," the doting aunt said. "The mother falls into the background with very little sleep and little support. But what if we stopped accepting that? What if we focused on mama just as much as the baby? All of that stress and anxiety has to go elsewhere."

This empathetic moment helped birth a movement.

Understating the infant and maternal mortality crisis amid Black women, we wanted to know how Emira's Mamas is helping moms and babies feel secure.

"There are still myths that if you have postpartum depression you’re not a good mom and your kids will be taken away, or that you just need to get over it and power through. Our boxes show that if you need help, there are psychologists and mental health workers, mommy support groups, teletherapy, and so many options out there that are for black moms," she said. "And for moms that just need a pick-me-up, the box is a reminder to treat yourself gently. Whether you are a first-time, second-time, or fourth-time new mom, you’ve never been through this transition before, so it's OK to do it with a community."

"We also take time throughout the year to donate to non-profits that do the work with our melanated mamas: home visits, support groups, and donation drives. Many of our resources focus on mental health, and I hope we can provide more resources on other conditions in the future," she added. 

As the self-proclaimed super aunt, there was the instant curiosity of how real maternal instinct can be for women of various walks of life, whether they have mothered a child or not.

"Before (my nephew), I would say that I had maternal instincts towards my occupational therapy kiddos, but now I relate a lot more to my parents on sleep issues, waves of teething, and the constant cycle of baby proofing the house," Rashad said. "I love that I can support moms in some way if it is not directly. I can use my healthcare skills to empower women to be the kind of mom that they want to be, not the kind that society pressures them to be."

Unfortunately, many moms still lack the support Rashad has been able to provide for her sibling. This is why it was key for us to get into the discussion of community. For the mom or mom figures out there who may not have immediate family or friends to rely on, finding a support group, your village, is such a bonus to have when dealing with the daily whims of motherhood.

"Community is everything," she continued. "I love the community that has surrounded Emira’s Mamas. Many of the orders come from other moms that tell me that they wish they had a care package when they were a new mom and want to pay it forward. Hearing things like that motivates me, so I know that having a community like that, a safe space, can motivate others as well."

Rashad's last bit of advice to new moms: "Give yourself grace and give yourself credit."