Happy 6th Birthday Simaneka Baumann

Today marks the 1^st year that I am not waking up next to my son and holding him to remind him of another year added on his age.  He turned 6 years old and it gets me to reflect on the journey we have walked thus far… Being a parent to a child has not been an easy journey and especially having a day to day responsibility knowing he depends on me.

I have come this far with all the comments, questions and reflections received from people out there about how a lesbian woman can be a mother to a child. Being a mother is not only reflectional of the overall womb expression however being a mom narrates a completely different reality of what a child deserves to have at all times.

I have come this far in raising children who are so beautiful and respectful to themselves and their surroundings that I commit to continue giving you the same values and a better life as you grow through this world.

Nostalgia creeps in as …

I remember having to wait for 8 hours, filled with extreme stress yet excitement of your arrival,

I remember how you brightened and warmed up the family home,

I remember how you refused breastmilk but managed to grow so big no baby clothes would fit

I remember how my nights were sleepless as you kept us awake all night

I remember how on impulse I had to make up a song for you, a song that- until today is so dear to you, to me and everyone else who seeks to grab your attention

I remember how you would stand at the gate and refuse to go in the house as you wait on my arrival from where ever

I remember how you made up your own mobile number and when asked what your cell phone number was– you would say 081 249… and today you are able to share mommy’s number by heart.

I remember all those moments when you decided to be on idols, performing in front of the TV and today you call yourself DJ Sim-sim

So many memories of greatness and sentimentally engraved as we journey through life, know that Mommy will never turn her back on you… Happy Birthday my Boy… #SimaAt6years

By: Linda RM Baumann 

07h09 

22 May 2018

He loves Me but the Bruises won’t stop

I see how he looks at me from the corner of his eye

I can feel his breath so close to my neck, goosebumps start to show

My mind races my heart every moment that passes

Confronting me endlessly about pointless scenarios not designed to be questionable

His insecurities have a way of showing its ugly spirit however that doesn’t make him a bad man

I understand his character and yes he gets out of hand at times but…

I know he loves the being within me that I am too afraid to love

I know he adores me as the only one he wants

I am special to him and that creates fear, unquestionable fear “that the one you love is bound to walk out on you”

We’ve come a long way and he has become calmer as time goes, he still likes to keep me to himself

“A treasure like no other- a treasure I cannot keep out of my sight for the pirates might steal my beautiful treasure” he says

I believe him, though the people around me see it different, I believe him

The bruises stop mattering after a while you know, they become embedded within my skin- apart of me actually

Bruises are who I am – or not?

I too carry fear- fear that one day I won’t be able to stop him, fear that one day he wont listen to me when I yell out to him to stop and that I’m sorry

But my biggest fear is that I wont be able to wake myself up from this nightmare in time…

By: Linda RM Baumann

05h28

17 May 2018

The AIDS and Rights Alliance for Southern Africa (ARASA) Training of Training of Trainers (TOT) 2017

I feel honored to have produced this small clip of our Training - 

The AIDS and Rights Alliance for Southern Africa (ARASA) Training of Training of Trainers (TOT) 2017 Video production of our memories during our 2017 TOT...

I had 3 hours to work with a program introduced to me over two days... The memory shall remain... as we screened this on our graduation ceremony. 

 The following seven participants received special awards for outstanding performance during the year and for their commitment to the programme: 

• ARASA Trainer of the year: Pauline Tlhako, Botswana
• First runner up Trainer’s Trainer award: Kelvin Makura, Zimbabwe
• Second runner up Trainer’s Trainer award: Ndume Elie, Democratic Republic of Congo
• Trainer’s Trainer 2017 Award: Linda Baumann, Namibia
• Facilitator of the year Award: Zee Ndlovu, MSF, South Africa

Link to the Video...
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tLQP-dPx1Kw&feature=youtu.be

Link to the Article...http://arasa.info/info/newsletters/welcome-26thedition-arasa-newsletter/growing-cadre-hiv-tb-and-human-rights-activists-southern-and-east-africa/