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Mother’s Day

The Voice You Almost Silenced and the Legacy You Choose to Leave – Divya Parekh
issue 14, Issue One 3, Mother's Day, Thriving

The Voice You Almost Silenced and the Legacy You Choose to Leave – Divya Parekh

I used to believe confidence came first. That one day I would feel completely ready, certain in my thoughts, steady in my voice, and then I would step forward and say what I had been holding back. It sounded logical. Almost responsible. But life, and especially motherhood, has a way of interrupting that illusion. Because when you are raising a child, there is no moment where someone hands you certainty and says, now you are ready. You show up in real time. Simultaneously, you respond, adjust, and learn. You don’t wait to feel fully formed. You become through the process. And somewhere in that experience, I noticed a quiet contradiction in my life. I could show up for everyone else. I could lead, support, guide, and give. But with fully expressing my voice, I hesitated. Not loudly. No...
What Would Love Do? – Ann Justi
issue 14, Issue One 2, Mother's Day, Wellness

What Would Love Do? – Ann Justi

Love begins with a mindset. Be Love. Do Love. What would love do? How would your mother do something? A love mindset – asking “What Would Love Do?” – is a transformative, proactive approach to life that favors compassion, patience, and understanding over fear, judgement, or control. It is not a passive emotion but an active choice to act from a place of connection, aiming for empathy and harmony in relationships and daily decisions. What Love Would Do: Listen to Understand: Love listens deeply without immediately trying to fix or react, offering presence and empathy. Set Boundaries: Love acts kindly but sets firm boundaries, knowing that true love respects both oneself and others. Choose Forgiveness: Love chooses to forgive and let go of grudges, creating peace instead of re...
The Quiet Strength Within
issue 14, Issue One 3, Mother's Day, Wellness

The Quiet Strength Within

By Cristal Johnston There is a quiet kind of strength that lives inside a woman. It shows up before the world wakes.It stays long after everyone else has gone to bed.It holds families together in ways no one ever really sees. Right now, I am living inside that truth. I am home with my parents, helping care for my mom - the heart and soul of our family. She is beginning to show signs of dementia. And if you have ever watched someone you love slowly change, you know how heavy and sacred that space can feel. In these moments, I am not just a nurse. I am her daughter. And I am holding both roles at once. When the Brain and Body Speak Together What I have learned through years in the ER, and now through this deeply personal season, is this: What is happe...
Moving Places and Breaking Cycles – Viktoria Höller
issue 14, Issue One 1, Mother's Day, Thriving

Moving Places and Breaking Cycles – Viktoria Höller

The Women Who Came Before There are women who inherit silence. Women who are taught early that survival means shrinking yourself, staying agreeable, and never questioning the systems built around you. In many families, these lessons are passed quietly from one generation to the next until they begin to feel normal, almost invisible. For generations, the women in this family lived within those expectations. Their lives were shaped not by their own choices, but by the decisions of men and the rules patriarchy placed around them. They were expected to subordinate themselves, remain agreeable, and avoid stepping out of line. Leaving a marriage, pursuing higher education, or building an independent life were not things women in the family dared to imagine. The writer describes these...
The Unstoppable Story of a Woman
issue 14, Issue One 2, Mother's Day, Thriving

The Unstoppable Story of a Woman

A Mother’s Day Reflection on Voice, Legacy, and the Joy of Becoming Seen by Divya Parekh There are seasons in a woman’s life when she is asked to keep so much in motion that even her own inner life recedes from view. Everyone needs her everywhere. Her attention splits into a thousand tender fragments. She becomes, almost without noticing it, the steady hand, the remembering heart, the keeper of the details, the one who knows who needs what, and when, and how much. She carries birthdays, griefs, groceries, expectations, disappointments, unfinished conversations, old wounds, and fresh hopes, often all before noon. If she is a mother, she does this in ways the world praises too lightly. If she is not a mother in the literal sense, she may still know this pattern intimately, for women have ...
Mother’s Day as a Mental Health Connection
issue 14, Issue One 1, Mother's Day, Wellness

Mother’s Day as a Mental Health Connection

By Dr. Catherine Jackson – Brain Psychologist, Author, Coach & International Speaker Traditionally, Mother’s Day is a time for many to connect with and celebrate the mothers in their lives - yourself if you are a mum, your mother, a godmother, an aunt who is like a mother, sisters who have children, and more. Growing up, my Mother’s Day celebrations focused on love and gratitude toward my mother. We would attend church. Mother’s Day Sunday services were always nice, though typically more packed than usual. Nonetheless, I embraced it. After the service, we would share a meal either braving crowds and long waits at a restaurant or enjoying a home-cooked meal. Gifts were always part of celebrating Mum. As children, we gave handmade cards and small gifts. As I grew into adulthood ...
Motherhood & The Rise of the Stellar Woman
issue 14, Issue One 1, Mother's Day, Thriving

Motherhood & The Rise of the Stellar Woman

By Stella Olivia Kikoyo Motherhood has often been portrayed as sacrifice.A role of constant giving. Constant nurturing. Constant service to others. And while motherhood is deeply selfless, many women have unconsciously inherited the belief that becoming a mother means slowly disappearing from themselves. Their dreams become secondary.Their identity becomes attached only to who they serve.Their voice becomes quieter.Their light becomes dimmer. But the modern woman is rewriting that story. A Stellar Woman understands that motherhood is not the end of her becoming - it is the expansion of it. She realises that she was never designed to lose herself in the process of loving others. She was designed to evolve through it. The Stellar Woman Does Not S...
Running means ‘me time’ for busy women
issue 14, Issue One 3, Mother's Day, Wellness

Running means ‘me time’ for busy women

Busy mums will benefit from running or exercise to help them reduce stress and anxiety. Christina Collison explains. The benefits of running for mental health are well documented. When I was the Editor of Women’s Running magazine, I met and spoke to many women who used running to help them manage their mental health as well as getting fit. It wasn’t just a case of running to lose a few pounds or feel fitter. While that was important for some, many women I spoke to enjoyed running because it helped them unwind and improved their mood, enabling them to combat stress. For many women, it helped them cope with the ups and downs of being a mum. It’s hardly surprising that so many mums rely on exercise to reduce stress. Research from the University of Bath and the University of Melbourne re...
Motherhood Without a Manual: Learning to Love, Heal, and Grow Along the Way – Theresa Russell
issue 14, Issue One 2, Mother's Day, Thriving

Motherhood Without a Manual: Learning to Love, Heal, and Grow Along the Way – Theresa Russell

There is no handbook placed into our hands the moment we become mothers. No perfect guide for the sleepless nights, difficult decisions, or the quiet weight of wanting to do everything right. No chapter teaches us how to calm our fears, trust our instincts, or silence the endless question that whispers, Am I enough? Most women step into motherhood carrying what they learned from their own childhoods — what they witnessed, what they received, and what they longed for but never had. Some were raised in homes filled with warmth, security, and tenderness. Others grew up shaped by instability, absence, criticism, or survival. Whatever our beginnings looked like, those early experiences leave an imprint. And yet, motherhood has a remarkable way of calling us higher. It asks us not ...
The Legacy You Carry, The Life You Choose
Cover Story, issue 14, Mother's Day, Thriving

The Legacy You Carry, The Life You Choose

Because My Mother, I Am a Resilient Stellar Woman Tamara Steele Honours the Legacy of Her Mother, Barbara Wiggins Interview by Stella Olivia KikoyoStellar Woman Mother’s Day Edition Barbara Wiggins is the kind of woman whose life speaks before she does. Widowed at just 35, she chose not to surrender to grief, fear, or limitation. Instead, she stepped into leadership, raised three children, and continued running an automotive parts business in a male-dominated industry for over 60 years. Her daughter, Tamara Steele - visionary founder and CEO of Evolve, a global women’s collaborative community - reflects on the remarkable woman who shaped her faith, resilience, discipline, and purpose. With a distinguished career spanning more than three decades, Tamara has worn many hats with g...
Motherhood Didn’t Come When She Expected. Here’s What the Wait Taught Her
Cover Story, Feminism, issue 14, Mother's Day, Thriving

Motherhood Didn’t Come When She Expected. Here’s What the Wait Taught Her

Rene Byrd: Waiting on the Lord, Becoming a Mother, and Never Giving Up For the Stellar Woman Mother’s Day Edition Rene is a British singer, songwriter, award-winning creative visionary, founder and host of the Who Am I Talk podcast, and founder of Rene Byrd London, a luxury lifestyle brand rooted in identity, confidence, and empowerment. One of her most powerful journeys has been becoming a mother after IVF. After years of waiting, hoping, praying, preparing, and surrendering, she welcomed her son in November 2024. Her story is one of faith, resilience, womanhood, delayed dreams, and divine timing. “Wait on the Lord. I understand those words now more than ever.” Rene, welcome back to Stellar Woman. Can you tell us more about your journey? Thank you so much ...
A Mother’s Love Can Change the World – Heather McCarthy 
Cover Story, issue 14, Mother's Day, Thriving

A Mother’s Love Can Change the World – Heather McCarthy 

Heather McCarthy on Motherhood, Literacy, Compassion, and Raising a Generation That Believes It Can Change the World Interview by Stella Olivia Kikoyo Some women leave impressions.Others leave legacies. Heather McCarthy is building one library, one child, and one act of compassion at a time. An award-winning author, educator, librarian, humanitarian, literacy advocate, wife, and mother, Heather’s work stretches from classrooms in Illinois to villages in Zimbabwe -inspiring children to understand that age does not limit impact and that compassion is one of humanity’s greatest forms of leadership. Yet beyond the accolades and global initiatives is a woman deeply rooted in motherhood, emotional presence, resilience, and service. In this heartfelt Mother’s Day conve...
5 Principles For Moms in Business to Connect With A Premium Audience – Neferteri Plessy
Mother's Day

5 Principles For Moms in Business to Connect With A Premium Audience – Neferteri Plessy

My alarm rang at 5 a.m. non-stop as I popped out of bed for my first early morning zoom phone call. My house was completely silent as the video app asked me to accept the fact that I am being recorded. Then it hit me. I had not built a business based on my family values and my lifestyle. I built a business influenced by sleep deprivation, a worried mind and exhausted idea of what being a mom and business owner was all about. I needed to make a shift and fast. I began to pay close attention to the way I attracted premium clients with ease and it all began with connecting with a premium audience. Success in business is about more than merely putting your products and services on the market and hoping prosperity will follow. You need to form a real, meaningful con...
Healing Through Motherhood – Leesun
Mother's Day

Healing Through Motherhood – Leesun

I always thought I would be a great mum. An amazing mum. I wouldn’t cause pain to my child, the way my mother had caused me. I would give my child everything I had craved but never received: freedom independence loads of art supplies lots of cake self confidence My child would be the happiest child ever. And so grateful to have me as their mum. It was a bit of shock to find when my baby was born that it was impossible to make him be happy all the time. I suffered a lot, whenever he was unhappy. And the more I suffered, the unhappier he became. It took me a long time to learn what a heavy burden it is, to not be allowed to feel what you feel, to be required to be happy all the time in order to make things okay for your parent. Children don’t need to be happy. T...
Mother's Day

A Stellar MOTHER – Pearl Kasujja

When it comes to days that honour special relationships, Mother’s Day is one of the most, if not THE most, popular of such days because of all humans that add value to our lives – fathers, siblings, grandparents, friends - a mother is pretty special. Mothers (at least the majority of them) are the embodiment of selfless love, bonding, dedication and devotion and to acknowledge and honour that role and presence, Mother's Day is celebrated across more than 46 countries in the world. Mothers are special every day. Why do we need a special day to celebrate them? Many of us have watched that video where people think they are in an interview for a unique job position. The candidates all think that they are interviewing for the fancy-sounding ‘director of operations’ job. However, they a...
Mother, Mother by Monique Duell
Mother's Day

Mother, Mother by Monique Duell

With the strength of ten men as an army of one We were created to carry daughters and sons With the breath of God, we were spoken into existence Fearfully and wonderfully made like Abba, it’s no coincidence Built ford tough to be fruitful and multiply Anointed to replenish the earth and wipe the tears from the world’s eyes Hands calloused, fingers tired, wounded, and weary No sleep, babies gotta eat, trying to think clearly Working job after job just to make a dollar Laboring twice as hard as our male counterparts Breaking the bias because our greatness is a threat Here by design, one of a kind, always got your back We are the expression of God in human flesh Clothed in power, strength, wisdom, and righteousness Mothers are the gift that keeps on g...
Mother's Day

What Motherhood Means to Me – Jo D

Motherhood is such an emotional topic.  Leading up to Mother’s Day, I, like many, reflect on motherhood and what it means to me, both as a daughter and as a mother.  I was adopted at birth, never having any other mother than the woman who raised me. She is, and will forever be, the only mother I know.  I was raised by a strong woman who made me feel so special about being adopted.  My parents wanted a child so desperately and I grew up feeling that. I was wanted and loved.  I never felt “other” or that I didn’t belong. I want to be very clear on that point.  I never felt I was missing something. I did, however, feel some disdain for the woman that gave me up.  How could that be?  How could a mother gi...
5 Songs to Play For Your Mum During Mother’s Day
Mother's Day

5 Songs to Play For Your Mum During Mother’s Day

How do you plan to express gratitude to the most special woman in your life? Mothers deserve everything; gifts, love, care and lots more. As you unwrap all the special gifts you have for your mum today, here's a playlist to add a little touch of 'special'. https://youtu.be/3xsO7VohNPE https://youtu.be/Jz9y4x1NhJo https://youtu.be/hoy74orJu10 https://youtu.be/kJloHrho_Jc https://youtu.be/bpFW4Yhy08k Happy Mother's Day
Why Mother’s Day Means a Great Deal to Me
Mother's Day

Why Mother’s Day Means a Great Deal to Me

Motherhood, to me, is still the most complex role ever. To even refer to it as a role sucks some truth out of my statement. For one to be placed in a position where they have to love unconditionally, care without compromise and give selflessly, is something I have high respect for. Just like all of us, I have had many personal experiences which, for lack of a better word, made me believe that I had a ‘Superwoman’ in my life. As a child, I wanted to be the best writer in the world. Already, at 14, I had written two short stories, which I wanted to submit to a publishing house. I had no idea what it took to make this happen and so did my mother. Because I was in boarding school, I would communicate to her via a public pay phone, which we would access only during school breaks. First, I...