Madames, there is life after baby. When we become mothers, our bodies and schedules change, but our perspectives on life, love, and work have to change too. It’s so important to renew and redefine yourself after motherhood, but where do you start? Karen Taylor Bass is a PR expert who helped launch the careers of artists including D’Angelo and Jill Scott, but after she became a mom to her bonus son, she decided to leave her high-profile job and focus on family.
After an unpredictable pregnancy and her daughter being born, Taylor Bass went through a bout of mild postpartum depression. Her lightbulb moment came when she began talking to many moms in the same predicament … moms looking to recapture self and redefine their purpose. She took some time to talk to us about her new mission, The Brand New Mommy.
MN: Why did you create The Brand New Mommy? What was the light bulb moment?
Karen Taylor Bass: This lady responded to something I wrote via email. She said she had really bad postpartum depression and has been on a quest to get healthy and was a full-time career woman and just freaked out. Everything, for me, went off like a lightbulb. After you have the baby, there’s no one who really talks about you. It’s all about the baby and rightfully so, but there comes a point when we new moms, have to think about ourselves. Most times in our community, moms aren’t allowed to vent and be needy because we are the ones taking care of everyone else.
MN: Did you talk to any moms about their experiences?
KTB: I did a series of focus groups before I launched the site. The first group was all South Asian women; they have so much support from their families and community, and it’s not just the typical family. White women had amazing support groups.
When I talked to Caribbean women they had less support, and black woman of all backgrounds and hues, they are a mess and didn’t want to be. A lot of it is internal, lack of support systems, and father issues that we never deal with. We [women] have a baby and think all those issues will go away, and sometimes we just become smaller.
MN: What makes you a Brand New Mommy?
KTB: My story is one of authenticity; I’ve lived through having to be on bed rest, having a c-section when I planned a vaginal birth, breast-feeding, postpartum depression. I didn’t deal with the fact that I was overwhelmed. We take care of everyone else’s crap but what about us? So I’m re-inventing myself in the process.
And I believe that, you won’t be who you were before, you’ll be better.
Karen Taylor Bass
MN: Are all moms a “brand”?
KTB: We all have to be a brand and you should think about yourself as a brand. When you say ‘just a mom,’ you diminish yourself. You are in charge. If I don’t work this week, I don’t get paid. It’s the same way with my ‘brand’: if I don’t take care of myself, I don’t feel good and I’m not the best person I can be. I have new needs that I need to redefine.
Like any other brand it’s about consistency. The Brand New Mommy has to re-write the rules and re-capture our confidence. The Brand New Mommy wants to get out of her mom jeans, but she also wants to get her blood pressure down.
MN: What else have you found out about sisters and motherhood?
We’re proud and private and have been taught from an early age to take care of ourselves. We put an H on our chest and handle it. We don’t want our business on blast, so we live in a box. I hope The Brand New Mommy will be a place that moms know they can come to and have those conversations, share their stories and know that they are not alone.
MN: What are the first steps that every mom needs to take to start reinventing themselves?
1. Recognize that you are a brand.
2. Build a team – when you watch successful women and peel back the layers, it’s all about a team. That’s what is going to keep you sane.
3. Put together a mom advisory board – they help you see the big picture and will be your advocates.
4. Run your brand as a corporation – schedule everything from meetings to workouts, and if you can, get a babysitter.
5. Create a vision board – on my vision board, I am LeBron James. You’re going to lose, but ultimately you are going to win, and when you win, do you want to be disheveled?
6. Realize that, as someone recently told me, behind every successful woman is herself.
7. Renew your passion – Do you want to write a book or design jewelry? Don’t be afraid to monetize your growth.
Karen Taylor Bass can be found on Twitter @TheBrandNewMom and @PRExpert. Visit her websites: The Brand New Mommy, Karen Taylor Bass and Taylor Made Media PR.
