The Story Behind Always There, Rocking Chair
There’s a chair that’s been in my family longer than I’ve been alive.
It doesn’t talk, but trust me… it’s heard everything.
The Inspiration
Growing up as a southern girl in the Deep South of Georgia, rocking chairs were something everyone had. As a toddler, I was given my first rocking chair. It was pink and yellow with Dora on it. I adored it.
I still have it today.
So when I think of rocking chairs, it's nothing out of the ordinary. I saw them all around town: on porches, back stoops, grocery store patios, restaurant decks… you name it.
But what I didn’t know until just a couple years ago was that my great-grandmother had a rocking chair when she lived out in the low country. That chair was there for everything:
rocking babies to sleep
afternoon tea and pimento cheese sandwiches
cozy naps
a climbing obstacle for growing little ones
It was there for it all.
I say all of this to show how impactful rocking chairs are for families. The reasons vary for everyone, but for me, rocking chairs represent stability, comfort, dependability and rest… ****something that, in my Black culture, is not too familiar.
So when I got the idea for my debut children's book, Always There, Rocking Chair, I knew I had to represent the story well. Rocking chairs hold so much emotional weight.
What started as a poem turned into a children's book. And one day, I may publish the poems too (let me know if you’d read them).
Rocking chairs are probably more reliable than some family members (hahaha).
But seriously, when you sit in a rocking chair, you always know what to expect: a welcoming seat, safety, and a place where more than just your physical body can rest.
Why a Rocking Chair?
When you look at a rocking chair in a literal sense, it’s just furniture. Wood. Nails. Maybe some chipped paint. A few splinters.
But viewed poetically?
A rocking chair is never just a chair.
It creaks.
It hums.
It listens.
It witnesses.
A rocking chair carries the sound of late night stories, the comfort of homemade meals, and the weight of tired arms holding a baby who refuses to sleep. It is stillness in motion, a rhythm that says, “I am here for you.”
And sometimes, we need to be reminded of the things that are always there, even when we forget their value.
The Things We Overlook
In life, we overlook so much.
We walk past the chair in the corner.
We forget the outfit tucked in the back of the closet.
We forget to thank the people who quietly hold us together.
We underestimate the small rituals that steady us because they don’t demand attention.
But just like a rocking chair, those overlooked things are carrying us.
They are the foundation beneath our busy days.
They are the blueprint in our struggle and success.
They hum quietly while we rush around.
They support us without ever asking for recognition.
And when they’re gone, we realize the chair was never just a chair. The outfit was never just fabric. And the person we took for granted was never “just” anything.
What a Rocking Chair Can Teach Us
IF we pay close attention, the rocking chair teaches lessons far beyond furniture.
1. Gratitude for the Small Things
A chair may not move mountains, but it holds up under weight. Resilience often lives in the quiet, steady places we don’t celebrate.
2. The Value of Listening
A rocking chair doesn’t speak. It listens. Sometimes, the greatest gift we can give each other is the space to be heard without interruption.
3. Safety in Rhythm
The back-and-forth motion slows your breath, lowers your shoulders, and steadies your mind. Safety doesn't always have to be complex.
4. The Sacredness of Home
Home isn't always a house. Sometimes it’s a chair, a song, a recipe, a person. Sometimes home is the presence of something that has been there all along.
Returning to the Basics with Children’s Books
We live in a world obsessed with complexity. Adults seek answers in elaborate places… often from people who claim to have the blueprint.
But children’s literature shows us the truths we forget.
A rocking chair can be a teacher.
A rabbit waiting to say goodnight can remind us of ritual.
A spider named Charlotte can remind us that words hold power.
Reading children’s books as adults softens us.
It strips away perfectionism.
It pulls us back to what matters most.
That’s what I hope Always There, Rocking Chair will do… not just for children, but for grown-ups, too.
How to Honor What’s Always There (Step by Step)
You don’t have to write a book to begin this practice. You can start small, right where you are.
Step 1: Choose one object in your home: a chair, a mug, a hair brush.
Step 2: Spend 2 minutes noticing it. What memories live there?
Step 3: Write down three lessons this object teaches you.
Step 4: Say thank you. Out loud, in your heart, or on paper.
Step 5: Share the story with someone you love.
In sharing, you honor both the object and your own story.
Building a Community of Quiet Strength
At Tyberiana, we honor the overlooked.
We give space to the invisible, the quiet, the unappreciated.
The rocking chair is only the beginning.
It represents everything that carries us when the world does not notice.
And I want you to be part of this journey… not to “consume” more content, but healing feels softer and safer when we’re not alone.
If you’d like the behind-the-scenes of bringing my debut book to life, join our ARC Team. We’d be so grateful to have you.
Also, drop a children’s book in the comments that holds generational wisdom.
Let’s build a list of small books that carry big lessons.
Key Takeaways (for the 1-minute readers)
A rocking chair offers safety, familiarity, and a place for both physical and emotional rest.
Sometimes the things we overlook are the ones holding us together.
Rocking chairs teach us about gratitude, rhythm, listening, and home.
Children's books remind us that the simplest truths are often the most important.
Thanks for sitting with me awhile.
Until next time my friend,
Tybre’ana