Today we have Jasmine Williams on The Mag. Jasmine, of State of the Mother, is the maker of beautiful potholders (you can buy them here!), mother of one and a military spouse. Read more about Jasmine and her family, talking to children about racism, her favorite recipe and much more below!

Introduce yourself and your family. How old are your children?

I’m Jasmine, wife to Don, a US Navy Sailor and mommy to Theodore, a 19 month old avid explorer. I was born in San Diego to a military family and spent most of my life in Southern California but I’ve also lived in The Bay Area of Northern California, Tennessee, South Carolina and Maine. Prior to becoming a stay at home mom, I earned my degree in Sociology and worked in different areas of social work. In addition to being a full time stay at home mom, I lead a women’s circle for women of color called Sister Circuit, volunteer my time to Hugs & Bags (an amazing non profit helping marginalized communities in SD) and express myself creatively through cooking and crafting.

What’s it like to be married to a Navy Sailor?

Being a military spouse calls for a ton of flexibility. We get curve balls thrown at us often and we quickly learn to gracefully roll with the punches. I have my mom to lean on, who was a military spouse during my dad's 20 year naval career, and she helps me navigate many situations. When I’m unsure of what to do next, my mom has usually been in my shoes before. Social media has made it easier to create a tribe in each location we end up in. I try to research before moving so that the craziness of a cross country move doesn't get the best of me. Managing a household while Don is away and worrying about his safety are two of the tougher things that I have to deal with. But I am grateful that I’ve seen so many different parts of the US, and have met so many amazing people along the way. Some of my best girlfriends are military spouses, and even though we are 3000 miles apart we still talk weekly and support each other’s endeavors.

Amongst other creative outlets, we know you love cooking! Care to share a comforting/favorite recipe?

Cooking is a form of self care for me. I’m able to prepare something delicious using my hands and it makes me happy to see my family enjoying homemade meals. Our favorite food to eat is breakfast food- we’ll eat it at breakfast, lunch or dinner.

I found this recipe for cornmeal biscuits on foodnetwork.com. They are great on their own, drizzled with honey, or smothered in gravy.

Ingredients:

1 1/3 cups all-purpose flour, plus more as needed
2/3 cup polenta-style yellow cornmeal
2 1/2 teaspoons baking powder
1/4 teaspoon baking soda
1 heaping teaspoon sugar
1 teaspoon fine salt
6 tablespoons unsalted butter, diced
3/4 cup buttermilk

Directions:

Set a rack in the center of the oven and preheat oven to 450 degrees F.
Line a baking sheet with two layers of parchment paper. In a large bowl, whisk together the flour, cornmeal, baking powder, baking soda, sugar, and salt.
Rub 2 tablespoons of the butter into the flour mixture with your fingertips, until it is completely incorporated. Work the remaining butter into the flour until it's in even, pea-sized pieces.
Gently stir in the buttermilk to make a loose dough. Turn the dough out onto a lightly floured work surface. Pat the dough into a 1/2-inch-thick rectangle.
Fold the dough in thirds like a business letter. Pat the dough into a 5 by 8-inch rectangle about 3/4 inch thick. Use a 2- to 3-inch round cutter to make 6 biscuits, and put biscuits on the prepared baking sheet.
Press together the scraps of dough, cut 2 more biscuits, and place them on the baking sheet.
Bake until the tops are lightly browned, about 15 minutes.
Cool slightly on a rack before serving.

We love how outspoken you are about racism. What are some ways that parents can do better to talk about racism with their kids, especially young kids? Why does representation matter so much?

Being outspoken about racism is my duty to myself, my family and my ancestors. In this moment of awakening and social uprising I have no other choice but to use my voice and touch as many people as I can by sharing my experience with the hope that those who read will understand what you see happening on TV is real and Black people live in fear and anxiety everyday.

When it comes to talking about racism with children candid, age appropriate conversations, with a huge emphasis on candid is the best policy. 21 years ago, my mom sat my brother down to have “the talk”, she had to brief my 9 year old brother on interacting with police as a black boy and she had to do it in a way where he grasped the weight of the situation without scaring him into retreat. She was straightforward, she let him ask questions and she answered all of them. Even the tough questions that she wanted to shy away from. Today we are seeing parents of all ethnic backgrounds having to engage their children in "the talk". These conversations are not taboo! Let’s normalize them.

Name up to three other small businesses/brands that you love.

Sugar and Grace Candle Co., a small business owned by Erica, a military spouse I met while living in South Carolina. She was inspired to start the line after headaches from other brand candles kept her self care time. She hand pours the candles herself, the different vessels she uses are beautiful, and they are toxin free!

Mochi Kids, owned by Amanda, has the cutest clothes for kids, they are made in the USA and easy to throw on Theo for a cute comfy outfit.

Opal & Fig, Ashley makes heirloom quality dolls in an array of shades. Growing up it was really difficult for me to find dolls that looked like me so I greatly appreciate Ashley’s initiative in making sure every girl and boy can have a doll that looks like them. She also makes adorable flamingos, bunnies and mermaids.

Where can we connect with you?

You can find me on Instagram @stateofthemother