Becoming a mother can be incredibly daunting without the support of community. Hampton alum Jetaun Woodly had this in mind when she started a hashtag for graduates to come together through the #HUMommies hashtag.
“Bringing a child into this world is one of the most amazing things a woman can do— it can also be the hardest,” Woodly said in an Instagram post commemorating a year since the hashtag was started.
“My husband and parents were my biggest supporters but I found comfort and reassurance when I connected with other women. Women who were on the journey with me or had been there and done that. Knowing the impact that other moms had on my experience, I started HU Mommies Group.”
If you scroll through the tag on Instagram, you’ll find over 200 posts of women wearing the shirt that says, “Hamptonian & Mommy & Melanin & Magic.” The idea is that the women who share the alma mater in common can connect on social media to talk about everything from breast feeding to transitioning back into work.
“We are a group of women who support each other,” Woodly added. “We laugh, cry, vent, and ride this mommy wave – together. Being Hampton women is just icing on the cake.”
In other Hampton University news, Katherine Johnson, the women who inspired Hidden Figures, is set to speak at their commencement on May 14.