Rhiannon Giddens Instagram – So a commenter dropped this photo in one of my posts and I love it so much – wish I had a higher res version of it but you get the gist. When my children were babies I took them on the road; their dad was an incredible ally in this, driving and being involved daily in the workings of the Carolina Chocolate Drops; once the eldest was school age and the youngest one was weaned however, it was time for them to settle down and I became the more usual traveling musician sans children. This picture shows a moment where I was on the road with the youngest on my own (we could not afford nannies ever), and the baby sitter for the day that the venue had brought in couldn’t handle my baby. I heard him crying and I just couldn’t take it so I put him on my back and turned down the monitor so I could finish soundchecking.
After the pandemic I was one of the lucky ones that had a ton of work; it felt like I was traveling every other day. There was a moment last year, however, where my children, particularly the one on my back there, who is eleven now, let me know in no uncertain terms that I was gone too much. So I listened and took some projects (book, long form composition, etc) that would keep me home more. I love touring but I love my children more. So I am out there with my touring family as much as I can- and when I’m not out there I’m home, cooking, writing, scrubbing the floor, and being here when my kids get home.
I’m very fortunate and grateful for the opportunities I have been given; and I do my best to center humanity in my life, always.
p.s. and o my he was the most amazing baby chunk ever | Posted on 13/Sep/2024 17:21:11
