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Denene Millner of MyBrownBaby

Denene Millner is a parenting and relationship expert who’s written or co-written 18 books exploring all manifestations of love -- between men and women, parents and children, siblings, and friends. She also pens a monthly column for Parenting as a member of the magazine’s Mom Squad of experts, who help women negotiate the ins and outs of motherhood.

When she isn’t penning her column or writing entertainment, relationship, and travel features for magazines like Essence, Odyssey Couleur, and Heart & Soul, she’s working on her blog, MyBrownBaby (www.mybrownbaby.blogspot.com), where she provides thought-provoking, insightful, wickedly funny commentary on motherhood, for and by moms of color. Through her posts, Denene lifts the voices of African-American moms looking for the 411 / advice / a high-five on everything from pregnancy and childrearing to sex, work and relationships -- all filtered through the lens of the African American experience.

She’s also ridiculously obsessed with African American art and children’s books, and, in her next life, will be an interior designer with the astonishing ability to whip up drapes and fancy pillows. Denene lives in a suburb of Atlanta, Georgia with her husband, three children, and super cute goldendoodle, Teddy.


Thursday, August 2, 2012 - 10:27
Guest Blog: Why Latch On NYC is Not the Answer to Low Breastfeeding Rates
by Denene Millner of MyBrownBaby
Show and Tell
One might think that based on my breastfeeding experience after the birth of my first child and my staunchly pro-breastfeeding stance—I breastfed my two daughters for a year each—that I’d be all for Latch On NYC. Quite the contrary, I’m not. Read Full Post
Friday, December 30, 2011 - 02:43
A MyBrownBaby Farewell
by Denene Millner of MyBrownBaby
The Parenting Post
I am forever grateful to Parenting magazine and all of the incredible editors with whom I worked and who trusted my editing skills, opinions, writing, expertise and voice in both the magazine and online; it was they who stoked my passion for parenting—a passion that led to MyBrownBaby, an incredible venture that, in my heart, outshines the 19 books I’ve penned as a New York Times bestselling author, my award-winning years as a political reporter and each and every entertainment profile I’ve ever written—even the one on George Clooney. And so I thank you, Parenting, for 10 incredible years. Though we are parting ways, the fire you inspired will continue on.Read Full Post
Friday, December 23, 2011 - 13:19
Soul Holiday
by Denene Millner of MyBrownBaby
The Parenting Post
When it comes to sending Christmas cards, I'm THE WORST. So this year, I figured I'd go all out like a true blogger should and post my digital, environmentally friendly, giggle-worthy Merry Christmas card, plus an awesome, soulful Christmas song list, on my blog. You can thank me later.Read Full Post
Thursday, December 15, 2011 - 22:50
The Weight Of Celebrity Mom Baby Weight
by Denene Millner of MyBrownBaby
The Parenting Post
Raise a church finger and give an “amen” if you’re tired of post-pregnant celebrity moms/diet company spokeswomen doing those tired “before and after” pregnancy weight stories. Really, they do nothing more than work overtime to convince new moms they suck because they carried a human in their stomachs for nine months and couldn’t lose the baby weight before the first post-pregnancy check-up. I look good, doggonit—stretch marks, not-so-perky-anymore breasts, wide birthing hips and all the other things that gave me the power to create, produce and sustain the most precious gift of all: human life.Read Full Post
Friday, December 9, 2011 - 13:58
Diaper Duty & Dollars
by Denene Millner of MyBrownBaby
The Parenting Post
My babies never, ever had to sit in a dirty, droopy diaper. Ever. For real? The idea that any child would have do this—outside of being raised by a neglectful parent—never crossed my mind. Not until a friend of mine, Kia Morgan Smith of CincoMom, called to my attention the fact that there are moms—plenty of them—who, short on cash and resources, stretch dollars and diapers by letting their babies stay soiled longer than they should. Read how you can help fellow moms—and babies!—in a big way.Read Full Post
Friday, December 2, 2011 - 15:25
The Most Beautiful Girls In the World
by Denene Millner of MyBrownBaby
The Parenting Post
At the risk of creating monsters, I say it loud—proud—to each of my daughters: “My God, you’re such a pretty girl.” Everyday. Because if their mommy won’t, who will?Read Full Post
Friday, November 18, 2011 - 00:50
Pizza Is A Vegetable
by Denene Millner of MyBrownBaby
The Parenting Post
See that picture? That would be the school lunch served to my 6 ft., 275-lb son: a small serving of Cinnamon Toast Crunch; a warm little jug of chocolate milk; a swallow of warm apple juice, and; a bag of sun chips. I think prisoners in solitary have finer dining than this. But thanks to Congress, all of our kids can count on sugary, sodium and carb-filled meals like this at school. Awesome, Congress. Just awesome.Read Full Post
Friday, November 11, 2011 - 13:12
Protect Our Girls: Raise Respectful Boys
by Denene Millner of MyBrownBaby
The Parenting Post
Here’s a suggestion: How about when the sexual harassment claims of the Clarence Thomases and Herman Cains of the world surface and researchers report the soaring numbers of teenage boys already launching lewd sexual conduct toward girls, we have a meaningful discussion about how to fix the madness and seek relief from the anguish—emotional, mental, physical, financial—sexual harrassment causes? And how about that discussion begin with how we raise little boys?Read Full Post
Friday, October 28, 2011 - 10:46
Bullying 101
by Denene Millner of MyBrownBaby
The Parenting Post
I'm all for taking the high road and hugging it out and all of that. But I also believe that when you're at the end of your rope with the bullies and the teachers and parents who refuse to check them, you gotta let ‘em know you've got your child's back.Read Full Post
Friday, October 21, 2011 - 11:51
Happy Birthday To (The Many) Me(s)
by Denene Millner of MyBrownBaby
The Parenting Post
It wasn’t until I had my daughters that I felt like I was in the driver’s seat—and even then, the whirlwind of Mommydom made me feel like my car could easily careen over a cliff at any second. I’m happy to say that on this birthday, I honestly feel like, “Okay, I got this.” And life, despite the stress, despite the challenges, despite the crazy, is still good. Youth is cool, but wisdom is, simply, beautiful. If I could write that in every card celebrating every milestone of my life, I would. Absent the ability to turn back time, I’ll do it here...Read Full Post

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