The Tribune

Radio personality, journalist, author and award-winning gospel singer Vanessa Clarke has had probably the most tumultuous year of her life, but her trials have not stopped her from pursuing her dreams and fulfilling her life’s purpose.

Having been diagnosed with a neurological disorder in April 2019 which left her unable to walk, she found herself even more driven to leave her mark in the world through the arts.

“The Children’s Den: A Mother’s Diary”, published by Amazon, features her daughters V’ajha, 12, and V’lori, 7 (nicknamed “Teeky”), and the many precocious things they have said and done throughout their childhood.

“It’s like the Bahamian version of the popular family show ‘Kids Say the Darndest Things’ and it’s bound to have you rolling over in laughter,” she said.

Vanessa considers this her most endearing project because her daughter V’ajha illustrated the book’s cover – a drawing of the sisters from an actual picture.

V’ajha, now a seventh grade student at St Paul’s Methodist College, was named Grand Bahama’s Top Student in the Bahamas Primary School Student of the Year Programme 2019. The self-taught artist was also Walter Parker Primary School’s valedictorian (2019) and graduated with a 3.94 average.

“I especially wanted to do something beautiful for my two amazing daughters, who are truly the joy of my world. I have always treasured the time I spend with my girls, and some family and friends have even criticised that I take too many pictures and too many videos and have too many Facebook posts about my children… but they are mine,” said Vanessa.

“I have taken many of those hilarious posts about raising my daughters and the great times we shared as a family and immortalised our wonderful memories in a cute little book. One day I just may be gone, but they will always have those memories that I preserved and they will see just how much their mother loves them – and that love is forever.”

Vanessa said she hopes “The Children’s Den: A Mother’s Diary” will encourage parents to spend more time with their children to make more memories, and to capture those memories in photos, videos and even books.

“I wrote the book for parents really…but the children who got their hands on it have not been able to put the book down. That made me feel so good. I think they are drawn to the stories where these girls outsmart their father and I all the time...Even when V’ajha read it, she killed herself laughing and asked, ‘Mom, did we really do you like this?’ Yes, you surely did. Every story is a true story,” said Vanessa.

“One of my favourite television shows is ‘The Goldbergs’, and it features so many childhood stories of the show’s creator Adam. I fall out laughing during every episode. But guess what? We all have stories like that, about growing up, and the crazy things we did and said to our parents and vice versa. These stories ought to be shared not only to capture history and lighthearted memories but to brighten up somebody’s day,” she said.