One small compliment had me shook and reminded me how much women need to build each other up instead of tearing each other down.

Midlife is a season of becoming — but for me, it’s also a season of missing. As I navigate change and rediscovery, I grieve the two women who shaped me most: my mama and my grandmother. This is what it’s like to grow into the matriarch without the women who once guided me.

When my first grandbaby was born, I thought I knew what to expect. I didn’t. Becoming “Nana” didn’t just fill my heart — it slowed me down, softened me, and reminded me of the beauty in simply being present.

Before I ever became “Nana,” I was shaped by two extraordinary grandparents who raised me with love, steadiness, and grace. Now, I get to carry their lessons forward — becoming the kind of grandparent who offers safety, presence, and unconditional love.

For years, Brandy thought being strong meant never breaking. But midlife has taught her something softer, deeper, and far more powerful: real strength lives in feeling, resting, and letting go of the armor.

No one warned me about the quiet that follows motherhood — the hush that settles over your home and your heart once the kids are gone. It's not just silence; it’s space. Space to ask, “Who am I now?” This isn’t emptiness. It’s the beginning of rediscovery.