Contrary to what it may seem like, this series is actually still very much alive. Vera just needed a break to catch her breath, but she’s good now. Today’s Sweet Potato is a fellow Marylander, and judging from the cuteness of her son, he might be forced to pay Ada Verastic’s bride price in the future.
If you have no idea what’s going on here, this post is part of a new series on Verastic, called Sweet Potato Files. In this series, each blog post features a Sweet Potato (blog reader), and the reason is that they (you) have been getting to know me for years, and now, I want to get to know YOU.
Today’s Sweet Potato is Janet Ilonoh-Oyebanji; let’s get to know her!
1) Tell us a little bit about yourself: I am Janet Ilonoh-Oyebanji. Igbo woman to the core, born in Kaduna, and married to a man from Kwara state, so I am an official representative of Nigeria!!…lmao. I also have a very, very spoilt 2-year-old son who is the center of my entire universe! He’s my boss, CEO, and owner of my entire life. I work as a patient service coordinator for Johns Hopkins and headed back to school for a second masters degree and I am TERRIFIED!!
Janet and her small oga
2) How long have you been a Sweet Potato? Almost 3 years.
3) How did you discover Verastic and why do you keep coming back? On Instagram oh, and I’m not even sure how, considering I’m not there that often or even check out blogs for that matter! I keep coming back because you are so relatable! I love how you get excited about the little things in life, I am the same way.
4) What’s your favorite thing about Verastic/what do you love to read/see most on Verastic? All of Ada Verastic’s growing up stories encourage me that I am not alone in dealing with a 2-year-old. Your write up on mom guilt definitely hit close to home for me, because I quit the first 2 jobs I got after staying home with my baby for 7 months and deciding to go back to work. He is 2 1/2 years old, and I still feel guilty for going to work every day and only having Saturday and Sunday to spend with him. I end up overcompensating by not making any plans on Saturday and Sunday, so if you have faaji (enjoyment galore) on Saturday or Sunday, you already know who will probably not be there! …LMAO.
5) Where do you live? [State and Country] Jessup, Maryland.
6) One quirky thing about you? I LAUGH A LOT!…and it’s a problem sometimes because I laugh even when I’m angry, so it’s hard for people to take me seriously!
Hot mama on her Wakanda parole
7) Three words you’d use to describe yourself? I’m loving, driven, and spontaneous (because I get bored easily).
8) What are your hobbies/what do you do for fun? Dancing, traveling, listening to good music. (Naija music on youtube is on repeat from the time I get to work at 8 AM till I leave at 5 PM!) … keeps me hyped and partying in my seat because I cannot come and die abeg! I also love sitting on the couch all weekend and watching cartoons in my pajamas..lol. Unwinding at the end of the day with a good Naija movie when my small oga has gone to bed! Irokotv has definitely renewed my faith in Naija movies, so I can watch 1 movie and it ends in less than 2 hours and it actually makes sense!!..aaahh Jesu! And cooking. I like cooking.
9) If money and fear were not an issue, what would you be doing right now? I’d be traveling the world.
10) What would you like to see more of on Verastic? Or what kind of new content would you like me to add on Verastic? Fashion things! Styles to make with Ankara or lace and contact info for Naija tailors that are not professional hand fallers! LOL.
Janet and her big (and small) oga
11) Anything else you want to share with me (us)? I quit my job in 2012 and relocated to Nigeria to complete NYSC!.. one of the BEST decisions of my life!.. it has steered and shaped my life in more ways than one. I met my husband on day 2 inside camp oh, just when I was starting to wonder what kind of witchcraft my village people have used to push me from America to HOT Abuja sun to be insulted by soldier men!! And we have been together ever since. My experience working as a counselor with Boko Haram victims at Wuse General Hospital has pushed me back to school to get another Masters degree, but this time, I am actually pursuing my dreams of being a Clinical Mental Health Counselor, with plans of returning to Nigeria to practice because the lack of mental health professionals and the rate people are committing suicide as a result of very manageable variations of mental illness is saddening.
From me to Janet:
My darling! Let me start by saying that you love your exclamation marks oh!!!!!!!!!! Lol. Even after editing your responses, there are still a lot of exclamation marks. In my uncle’s words, I’ll say “wondafoo!” That said, let me thank you first for being a Sweet Potato for the past three years. Chineke gozie gi (God bless you).
Thank you also for your current and future work in mental health, especially in Nigeria. Every now and then, I shiver when I think about all the individuals suffering from mental illness who are just labeled as “mad,” or worse, “cursed.” So it’s very nice to know that a Sweet Potato will be making a difference. Go get it, girl!
So NYSE is where they’re finding di (husband) now, ehn? Fellow Sweet Potatoes, una don hear? And lastly, on mom guilt, girl, don’t get me started. And I do the same exact thing as you: I skip weekend events because I just want to spend more time with Ada Verastic. Between working on and off the blog, there’s barely any time left. Oh, the guilt! *tears*
Per wanting fashion posts, well, I don start oh! I have two style posts up here and here. Have you seen them? Also, I hear you on wanting connections to Nigerian tailors. I’m working on it (and much more). Thank you, Janet. I appreciate you, and I wish you all the best.
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If you are a Sweet Potato, I would like to get to know you too. To be featured, simply send me an email, and I’ll send you the questions. You may email me directly at hello at verastic.com or send it via my contact page. Read this initial post for clarification (and inspiration).
You remind me of OUR Uju…. with the WAKANDA outfit.
Being a Mommy exceeds allllll of my accomplishments so far in life!
So my dear, spoil that Oga a little bit more 🙂
ABSOFREAKINGLUTELY!…..My life’s joy all rolled into one little over spoilt human.
Janet, isn’t it amazing how one small human being suddenly controls your life?
Guuuuuuuurl
Lol. Fufu, Uju went all out for Wakanda. That girl is something else.
Awwww thanks for the feature and for pointing out my use of the exclamation mark, because I just dey notice the things now myself and I am just SMH! ….That’s another quirky thing about me, I write and actually talk like that when I get excited about something!!!..LMAO
As for the marriage arrangement between our bosses, we are currently accepting application..YES, babes are applying for my oga, so have your people call my people.
Janet, thank you for letting me feature you. Thank you for letting me get to know you. And thank you for being a Sweet Potato 🙂
Also, what do you mean, have my people call your people? Mba nu! That is alu in Igboland. The woman and her people can never, ever reach out. We’re the prize. Lol.
Lmao…ok we will make exceptions. My people shall be contacting your people soon.
I love your hair janet!
THANKS!
Thank you,Nkiru