Mona Verma
Growing up in a small town in India, Mona Verma never dreamed that she would immigrate to America. She came to Columbia in 1996 when her husband found a job here and they were newly married. It was an arranged match but she did get to meet her future husband and give her approval and there has never been a shortage of love in their marriage. With a Masters in English and a Masters in Library and Information Science, Mona divides her time between being a part time Reference librarian and a part time writer. She is however, a full time mom to three teenagers, a girl and two boys. Volunteering, gardening, reading, binge watching her favorite TV shows and drinking wine with girlfriends spark tremendous joy in her. She is a very laid back person who likes to live and let live. Cups of hot ginger tea and hugs and cuddles from her family keep her going….
7 Ways We Can Teach Our Children and Teens About Diversity and Inclusion
When I immigrated to America twenty-five years ago, I remember going to the park for a walk and an eight-year-old girl asked me where I was from. She loved my long black hair and...
Thoughts on Turning Fifty :: The Good and the Bad
Turning fifty is a big deal, a milestone, halftime in the game of life. I turned fifty on June third this year. I was excited about the upcoming birthday but I was also filled...
The Perfect Couple
A few years ago, on a trip to Charleston, my husband and I were arguing over the settings of the air conditioner (I just do not understand why he likes cold air on his...
5 Empowering Movies on Netflix to Celebrate Women’s History Month
I am a fan of fierce females; of rebels who fight against a misogynistic mentality, of feminists who refuse to be tied down by the chains of patriarchy, and of women leaders who do...
Is Love Grandiose Gestures or Small Thoughtful Things?
Is love grandiose gestures or small thoughtful things?
Ideally both, right? But where would you find that perfect man who would lavish you with large, over the top romantic outpourings on special occasions, and consistently...
The 10 Best Suspenseful Thrillers Currently Streaming On Netflix and Hulu
Lately, I have been addicted to watching psychological thriller movies. I love the rush of adrenalin, the suspense, the cold sweat, the thudding of my heart for what will happen next, and the twist...
5 New Romantic Christmas Movies On Netflix
‘Tis the season to curl up and watch Christmas movies in your favorite holiday sweater while eating frosted gingerbread cookies and sipping hot cocoa. Christmas movies are such a great way to relax during...
7 Lessons I’ve Learned From 2020
As I sit down to write this article, every adjective I can think of to describe 2020 seems like an understatement. This year has squashed the writer in me, and I am completely speechless....
Kahlil Gibran’s Poem Holds the Key to Parenting
The oft' repeated woe of parenting is that children do not come with a training manual. There is never just one right way to raise a child. We parent according to our instincts and our personalities....
“The Social Dilemma” on Netflix :: A Dire Warning About The Dangers Of Social...
My friends have been raving about Netflix's new documentary, The Social Dilemma. It's a riveting documentary on the drawbacks of spending too much time on social media. And, of course, I saw my friends...
Pandemic Stress and a Message of Hope
A few days back, when we were down to our last box of Clorox wipes, my husband came home from an early morning trip to Walmart with a big box of disinfectant wipes and...
Moms to See in the 803 :: Meet Lasenta Lewis-Ellis
Lasenta Lewis-Ellis is the President and CEO of LLE Construction Group, LLC. LLE is a woman and minority-owned general contracting, construction, real estate investment and development firm based in Columbia.
Lasenta is also a course...
Let’s Stop Mom-Shaming Each Other
What is mom-shaming, and is it still a thing?
When we judge other moms for their choices in parenting, when we mock and degrade those choices just because they differ from ours, when we pass...
Mental Health :: Let’s Raise Awareness and Remove Stigma
May is mental health awareness month, so I'd like to take the time to chat a little about why this month is so important.
In our society, people have sympathy for patients suffering from physical...