Daring to Dream Again: The Birth of The Daring Mom

Growing up in the streets of Ghana as a young girl, I knew I would conquer the world. I was fierce, bold and fearless. I set incredibly high ambitions for myself and I pursued them with so much passion, nothing would stop me. I was the voice of many and defended what was right no matter the difficulty involved. I was a "fighter"! In college, my friends nicknamed me “Yaa Asantewaa”, after the legendary Ghanaian warrior queen known for her courage and leadership. I guess they weren't wrong. 

I stepped into a flourishing career right after college. One promotion after another, I rose through the ranks. Life was blossoming, until one day, I was called to the HR Office and asked to sign the dotted line. With no ifs or buts, I was handed a severance paycheck and escorted out of the building. Looking down at my almost 24-week belly, tears rolled down my face as I packed my belongings and exited the building. This was my first ever permanent role after grad school, and my career was flourishing - or so I thought. I later found out that many women were laid off by their employers after revealing their pregnancies.

My world fell apart. My career was in shambles. I felt like my future was slipping through my hands, and I simply couldn’t do anything to save myself. In my darkest moments, I quickly remembered who I was - the "fighter"! Yes, I was that girl who would push through many obstacles to succeed, and motherhood was just another challenge to overcome. So I picked myself up and rose to meet it. I had a dream to conquer the world as a young girl, and I was going to pursue it while showing my daughter that when life throws lemons at her, she could make lemonade.

One certification after another, I slowly rebuilt myself. Through actively seeking mentorships, networking with people in positions I aspired to reach, building a strong support system around me, I got back up! Everything I had lost in those dark years, I regained multiple times over. Today, I stand tall, with pride and gratitude to the people who offered their shoulders when mine became too weak to hold me up. It is because of these people, that I find myself in a position to give back by raising a community of mothers who dare to dream and who fiercely pursue their ambitions despite the challenges motherhood presents.

Because we know that when we do well for ourselves, our children will thrive even more. Because we understand that our journeys may be very different from those of our children, so while we nurture them with the depth of a mother’s love, we intentionally pursue our unique calling. For it is in so doing, that we will find true fulfilment in this journey called motherhood.

My name is Diana Addae, and I am The Daring Mom!