Butterfly Rising Institute

𝐖𝐢𝐭𝐡 𝐡𝐞𝐚𝐫𝐭𝐟𝐞𝐥𝐭 𝐠𝐫𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐭𝐮𝐝𝐞, 𝐰𝐞 𝐭𝐡𝐚𝐧𝐤 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐰𝐨𝐦𝐞𝐧 𝐰𝐡𝐨 𝐩𝐚𝐫𝐭𝐢𝐜𝐢𝐩𝐚𝐭𝐞𝐝 𝐢𝐧 𝐇𝐞𝐫 𝐒𝐭𝐨𝐫𝐲, 𝐇𝐞𝐫 𝐒𝐭𝐫𝐞𝐧𝐠𝐭𝐡: 𝐁𝐥𝐚𝐜𝐤 𝐂𝐚𝐫𝐞𝐞𝐫 𝐌𝐨𝐭𝐡𝐞𝐫𝐬 𝐍𝐚𝐯𝐢𝐠𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐈𝐝𝐞𝐧𝐭𝐢𝐭𝐲 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐂𝐡𝐚𝐧𝐠𝐞. 💜

The participant phase of this dissertation research study is now complete.

Thank you to each participant for giving your time, engaging in the guided experience, and contributing your perspectives and insights to this research. Your participation has been an important part of this academic journey.

We are also grateful for the positive reflections shared about the workshop experience.

While participant confidentiality remains a priority, we look forward to sharing more about the research as it progresses toward completion.

The research is now closed, but the work continues.

Stay connected for updates and the forthcoming final dissertation.

With gratitude,
Tanya Davis-Ezidinma
Her Story, Her Strength

𝐅𝐢𝐧𝐚𝐥 𝐜𝐚𝐥𝐥 𝐟𝐨𝐫 𝐩𝐚𝐫𝐭𝐢𝐜𝐢𝐩𝐚𝐧𝐭𝐬. 💜

𝑯𝒆𝒓 𝑺𝒕𝒐𝒓𝒚, 𝑯𝒆𝒓 𝑺𝒕𝒓𝒆𝒏𝒈𝒕𝒉: 𝑩𝒍𝒂𝒄𝒌 𝑪𝒂𝒓𝒆𝒆𝒓 𝑴𝒐𝒕𝒉𝒆𝒓𝒔 𝑵𝒂𝒗𝒊𝒈𝒂𝒕𝒊𝒏𝒈 𝑰𝒅𝒆𝒏𝒕𝒊𝒕𝒚 𝒂𝒏𝒅 𝑪𝒉𝒂𝒏𝒈𝒆 is happening August 21–22 in Aurora, Colorado, and we are extending one final invitation to Black career mothers who may be interested in participating.

This dissertation research study includes a guided workshop experience where participants will engage with tools and activities centered on identity, leadership, motherhood, authenticity, and change through reflection, journaling, dialogue, and meaningful conversation.

Your participation can contribute valuable perspectives and insights to research seeking to better understand the experiences of Black career mothers.

📍 Aurora, Colorado

📅 Friday, August 21
6:30 PM–9:00 PM

📅 Saturday, August 22
9:00 AM–4:00 PM

If you're a Black and/or African American mother, have at least one child, have 5+ years of professional work experience, and live in Colorado, you may be eligible to participate.

Interested? This is the final opportunity to inquire.

Visit the link in our bio to review the study information and complete the Participant Interest Form.

Participation is voluntary. Space is limited.

Some days, the mental load feels heavier than the laundry basket… and that’s saying something. 🧺

If you’re exhausted, overwhelmed, or just tired of being the strong one all the time—you’re not alone. 💛

Motherhood doesn’t come with sick days, but it should come with support.
So here’s your reminder: it’s okay to pause. It’s okay to rest. And it’s more than okay to ask for help. 🌿

Tag a mom friend who needs this reminder today!

Being a working mom means living in the tension of deadlines, daycare, and doing your best—every single day. And while the world tells us to “balance it all,” the truth is balance isn’t always possible. What we need instead are mindset shifts that give us permission to live differently.

✨ From guilt → grace: You’re not failing; you’re simply human.
✨ From hustle → harmony: Your life doesn’t need to be perfectly balanced, it just needs rhythm.
✨ From superwoman → sustainable woman: Stop chasing “do it all.” Build what lasts.
✨ From breaking → becoming: The hard parts aren’t proof of weakness; they’re proof of growth.

Motherhood and career will always be messy, but it doesn’t have to feel impossible. Sometimes, the biggest change starts with how you choose to see yourself.

👉 Which mindset shift do you need most this season? Share in the comments—you’re not alone in this.

You don’t need permission to define who you are.

Every time you choose to show up as your true self — not the version others expect — you reclaim your story. 💫
This week, give yourself space to become — to grow, evolve, and rise on your own terms.

🦋 You are your best definition.

𝐌𝐨𝐭𝐡𝐞𝐫𝐡𝐨𝐨𝐝 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐜𝐚𝐫𝐞𝐞𝐫 𝐜𝐚𝐧 𝐟𝐞𝐞𝐥 𝐥𝐢𝐤𝐞 𝐭𝐰𝐨 𝐟𝐮𝐥𝐥-𝐭𝐢𝐦𝐞 𝐣𝐨𝐛𝐬 𝐫𝐮𝐧𝐧𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐚𝐭 𝐨𝐧𝐜𝐞—𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐦𝐨𝐬𝐭 𝐝𝐚𝐲𝐬, 𝐭𝐡𝐞𝐫𝐞’𝐬 𝐧𝐨 “𝐩𝐚𝐮𝐬𝐞 𝐛𝐮𝐭𝐭𝐨𝐧.” 🌸

Some days, it’s the endless to-do lists at work colliding with the never-ending chores at home. Other days, it’s the guilt of wanting to advance in your career while also being present for your children. And let’s not forget the sheer exhaustion of trying to be everything for everyone—with barely any time left for yourself.

Here’s the truth: you are not the only one feeling this way. And sometimes, just naming the hardest part of the juggle can make you (and another mama reading) feel lighter.

So let’s create a space of honesty and connection. 💜

👉 What’s the hardest part of juggling motherhood and career for you right now? Comment below—your words may be the encouragement another mom needs today.

𝐖𝐡𝐚𝐭 𝐡𝐚𝐬 𝐦𝐨𝐭𝐡𝐞𝐫𝐡𝐨𝐨𝐝 𝐭𝐚𝐮𝐠𝐡𝐭 𝐲𝐨𝐮 𝐚𝐛𝐨𝐮𝐭 𝐥𝐞𝐚𝐝𝐞𝐫𝐬𝐡𝐢𝐩?

For many women, some of life's most profound leadership lessons are not learned in boardrooms, classrooms, or professional development programs.

They are learned through motherhood.

Motherhood often teaches us how to lead with patience when situations feel uncertain. How to make difficult decisions when there is no perfect answer. How to advocate for others, adapt to change, manage competing priorities, and continue showing up even when the path ahead feels unclear.

For Black career mothers, the intersection of leadership and motherhood can bring unique challenges, responsibilities, and opportunities for growth. The lessons learned through these experiences often shape not only how women lead their families, but also how they lead in their careers, communities, and personal lives.

Perhaps motherhood has taught you resilience.

Perhaps it has taught you empathy.

Perhaps it has taught you courage, adaptability, grace, or the importance of setting boundaries.

We'd love to hear from you.

👇 Share in the comments:

What has motherhood taught you about leadership?

This question sits at the heart of many conversations we hope to explore through Her Story, Her Strength, a dissertation research study examining the lived experiences of Black career mothers as they navigate identity, authenticity, leadership, motherhood, and change.

Your story matters. Your perspective matters. And your experiences deserve to be heard.

For many working moms, change feels constant—new seasons at work, shifting routines at home, evolving identities in between. And with every change comes the mental load: thinking ahead for everyone, managing what-ifs, and keeping things from falling apart while quietly holding yourself together.

But here’s the truth: peace isn’t the absence of change—it’s learning how to move through change with care.

That’s where the heart of Change Management comes in. It’s not just for companies—it’s for you, too. It’s the practice of:
✨ anticipating what’s shifting in your life,
✨ creating space for the emotions that come with it,
✨ building systems (and support) that protect your energy, and
✨ reminding yourself you don’t have to do it all alone.

So as you manage everyone else’s world, manage your own well-being, too.
Because peace of mind isn’t optional—it’s foundational. 💛

𝐒𝐨𝐦𝐞𝐭𝐢𝐦𝐞𝐬 𝐩𝐚𝐬𝐬𝐢𝐨𝐧 𝐝𝐨𝐞𝐬𝐧’𝐭 𝐝𝐢𝐬𝐚𝐩𝐩𝐞𝐚𝐫 — 𝐢𝐭 𝐣𝐮𝐬𝐭 𝐠𝐞𝐭𝐬 𝐛𝐮𝐫𝐢𝐞𝐝 𝐮𝐧𝐝𝐞𝐫 𝐝𝐞𝐚𝐝𝐥𝐢𝐧𝐞𝐬, 𝐫𝐨𝐮𝐭𝐢𝐧𝐞𝐬, 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐫𝐞𝐬𝐩𝐨𝐧𝐬𝐢𝐛𝐢𝐥𝐢𝐭𝐢𝐞𝐬.

As working moms, it’s easy to forget that our careers are not meant to drain us; they’re meant to grow with us. 🌿

When your work starts to feel dull, pause and reconnect with your why. Remember the vision that once lit you up — it’s still there, waiting for you to notice it again.

Then, feed that spark through growth. Learn something new. Stretch your skills, even in small ways.
And most importantly, celebrate your progress.
You don’t have to wait for a promotion or a major milestone to feel proud. Every step forward matters.

Your career can evolve with you — not against you.
Passion grows when purpose and pace meet. 💛

💡 Save this post for your next self-check-in and remind yourself how far you’ve come.