Naomi's blog

  Joy Moore and the Fierce Art of Tough Love Joy Moore is a model of tough love and relentless commitment. She represents the kind of parenting that balances compassion with accountability—something that ultimately steers her son, the author, toward success. When Joy realizes her son is falling into dangerous patterns—cutting class, getting into fights—she doesn’t wait for things to get worse. She acts quickly, enrolling him in military school. This decision is neither easy nor immediately embraced by Wes, but it proves transformative. Military school becomes a turning point, instilling in him a sense of responsibility, discipline, and leadership. Joy’s parenting reflects the uncomfortable but necessary truth that sometimes love means saying "no." It means removing your child from harmful situations even when it creates temporary strain. She understood that her role wasn’t to shield her son from every hardship, but to prepare him for the real world by holding him to high stan...

    When Parents Struggle:  The Quiet Crisis of Mary Moore Mary, the mother of the other Wes Moore, is a tragic figure in the book. Her story is not one of indifference or neglect, but of exhaustion, disempowerment, and a lack of structural support. Her struggles represent the often-unseen challenges of single motherhood in low-income communities. Mary tries to make the right choices for her children. Early in Wes’s life, she attempts to move him away from negative influences. She gets him into a private school and chastises him when he begins skipping classes or hanging out with the wrong crowd. But as bills pile up and resources dwindle, her power to influence her son weakens. What Mary lacks most isn’t love—it’s reinforcement. She doesn't have a partner to share the burden, nor does she have the financial or institutional support that could give her more control over the environment her children grow up in. In the absence of these supports, her authority fades. This as...

  The Power of a Present Parent:  A Tale of Two Wes Moores In The Other Wes Moore, family and parenting emerge as central forces that shape the destinies of two boys with the same name. While they share similar socio- economic struggles and grow up in comparable Baltimore neighborhoods, their lives diverge dramatically—largely due to the influence and involvement of their families, especially their mothers. Wes Moore, the author, credits his mother Joy with playing a crucial role in his success. Despite the hardships she faced as a single mother, Joy remained steadfast in her expectations for her children. She made sacrifices—working multiple jobs, moving the family away from dangerous environments, and insisting on strong educational values. Her presence, discipline, and unwavering support acted as a lifeline, keeping her son focused even when he was tempted by the streets. In contrast, the other Wes Moore lacked a similarly structured support system. His mother, Mary, loved ...

Are We Really Only Products of Our Environment? The idea that we are products of our environment is widely accepted. After all, the people, places, and circumstances surrounding us have a profound impact on our behavior, decisions, and even our identities. But is that all we are—simply reflections of the environments we grew up in? I don’t believe it’s that simple. While our surroundings undeniably shape us, I believe that we also have the power to rise above them, to rewrite our stories, and to create futures that are not dictated by the past. I had my first child at a young age, a defining moment that could have easily set the course for a life dictated by the very environment I came from. Growing up, I was raised by my grandparents, who loved me unconditionally and gave me a sense of security. However, my parents were not present in my life, and that absence left me with a deep desire to be different when it came to raising my own children. I watched as many of my peers, also teenag...

  The other Wes Moore needed to tell his mother that he got Alicia pregnant. Have you ever had to give someone news that you knew would break their heart? How did you build up the courage? The Hardest Truth I've Ever had to Share There are moments in life that shape who you are forever. For me, one of those moments came when I was just 14 years old. I was in eighth grade, preparing to graduate and step into high school. But instead of celebrating that milestone, I had to face something I never imagined: I was pregnant. It was terrifying. I was still a child myself, and I had to build up the courage to tell the people who loved me most- knowing it would break their hearts. The person I told was my grandmother. I had no choice. She's the only one who's always known me better than I know myself. I was so scared, but I also knew that if anyone could love me through this, it was her. Telling her was one of the hardest things I've ever done, but I'm so grateful I did. Her...

  Basketball quickly becomes a getaway for Wes and his friends. What activities do you enjoy doing while trying to cope with difficult situations? When i find myself coping with difficult situations, I turn to a variety of activities that bring me peace,  clarity, and a sense of grounding. Life can be overwhelming at times, but i've learned that having  healthy, comforting outlets helps me manage stress and maintain emotional balance.    One of the most important things I do is read my Bible.  Turning to scripture gives me spiritual strengths and reminds me that I am never alone in my struggles.  The words often speak directly to what i'm going through, offering comfort, wisdom, and hope.  Alongside reading, I listen to gospel music. The uplifting messages and soulful melodies create a  powerful atmosphere that helps me release negative emotions and refocus my mind on faith and  healing. Another practice that helps is creating a the...