The Gentle Year

Learning to Be Present: Shara Ruffin on Parenting, Grief, and Growth

Knikki Hernandez Season 1 Episode 2

In this heartfelt episode of The Gentle Year, I sit down with Shara Ruffin — an African American parent, LinkedIn consultant, and entrepreneur — for a candid conversation about parenting, healing, and the power of emotional work.

Shara opens up about the cultural conditioning she experienced and how she’s intentionally breaking those cycles while raising her Gen Alpha son. She shares the realities of homeschooling as an on-the-go entrepreneur mom, navigating her son’s emotional needs, and what it meant to parent through deep personal grief after the loss of her brother. With honesty and courage, Shara reflects on moments of struggle, growth, and the ongoing journey of showing up with presence and love.

🌱 If you’re a parent looking for support, encouragement, and tools for your own journey, join our free Gentle Year course for parents today. 

Send us a text

Support the show