‘She used to be mine’ by Sara Bareilles…sung by Nicole David Yalong who shared how she had one defining moment in her life – the birth of her twins.

“I was once single, empowered, independent, strong, to now a mother of twins, always touched and always needed, full-time homemaker- the first few years tested me in my transition from single to mom, this song allowed me to properly say goodbye to my former life and fully embrace motherhood.”

After she sang, I had goosebumps and was teary-eyed.

Those lyrics and the song embody what I used to be, a mom to two children while working full time, an activist, an empty nester, and now a part-time grandmother.

———–

It’s not simple to say

Most days, I don’t recognize me

These shoes and this apron

That place and its patrons

I have taken more than I gave ’em

It’s not easy to know

I’m not anything like I used to be

Although it’s true

I was never paying attention, sweet center

I still remember that girl

She’s imperfect but she tries

She is good but she lies

She is hard on herself

She is broken and won’t ask for help

She is messy but she’s kind

She is lonely most of the time

She has all of this mixed up

And baked in a beautiful pie

She is gone but she used to be mine

It’s not what I asked for

Sometimes life just slips in through a back door

And carves out a person

And makes you believe it’s all true

And now I’ve got you

And you’re not what I asked for

If I’m honest I know I would give it all back

For a chance to start over

And rewrite an ending or two

For the girl that I knew

Who is being reckless just enough?

Who can hurt but

Who learns how to toughen up when she’s bruised?

And gets used by a man who can’t love

And then she’ll get stuck and be scared

Of the life that’s inside her

Growing stronger each day

‘Til it finally reminds her

To fight just a little

To bring back the fire in her eyes

That’s been gone but it used to be mine

It used to be mine

She is messy but she’s kind

She is lonely most of the time

She is all of this mixed up and baked in a beautiful pie

She is gone but she used to be mine

#MonDavid#nicoledavid#carloDavid