Her Big ‘Break’ - Tameka Smart '04

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Her Big ‘Break’ - Tameka Smart '04

Inspired by her energetic six-year-old, Tameka Smart ’04 pens her first children’s book.

Cover of Moms Never Get a Break by Tameka Smart 04

Tameka Smart’s six-year-old son Marley not only inspired his mom’s first book—he also served as her editor.

“Marley helped me come up with names for the characters, and he listened to all my proofs until I got it right,” says Smart ’04.

Published in April, Moms Never Get a Break pays homage to busy parents like Smart, who is both a single mom to Marley and a successful entrepreneur.

After years working in the finance industry, Smart, who lives in Florida, founded her own company Smart Inspiration LLC in 2018.

“My son loves to read. One day after we finished reading one of his favorite books he said, ‘Why don't you write a book?’” Smart recalls. “My response to him was, ‘Marley, I can't write a book.’ He looked at me and he said, ‘Mommy, yes, you can. You can do anything!’”

With Marley’s help, Smart created the story of a mom who wears many hats throughout the day, hoping to give kids—and parents—a realistic glimpse into the lives of single mothers who feel the pressure to do it all.

“As a mom there is always something to do—take care of your children and the household, work full-time, run a business, and try to take care of yourself,” she says. “Although we make it look easy at times, moms are exhausted.”

The response to the book has been overwhelmingly positive, she says, from both young readers and parents who can relate to its message.

“I have received some amazing feedback, which is so humbling and just warms my heart,” says Smart, who plans to write more books, including some for adults, in the future.

And while her success hasn’t given her a break at home, she has earned a new nickname:

“Now Marley calls me ‘Author Mom.’”