“It takes a village to raise em, we don’t do it all by ourselves,” Brandy soulfully delivers on her newly released single, “Baby Mama,” featuring Chance The Rapper.
Produced by Hit-Boy & Brandy, “Baby Mama” features classic vocal tones and stacked harmonies, unique to her sound. The song serves as an ode to raising her daughter Sy’rai and a larger anthem to all mothers working hard to support their family. Brandy also coos, “This song ain’t just for me, it’s for every mama yeah…Every day I breathe it’s for my little mama…I’m every woman and a baby mama.”
About the song, Brandy says, “My new single is about embracing the strength and fortitude needed not only in motherhood but in life. I am thrilled that Chance joined me on this track, and I hope my fans find it as uplifting as I intended it to be!”
The supported music video was directed by Derek Blanks, with creative director Frank Gatson. The clip features a glowing and vibrant Brandy as she grooves to choreographed dance moves. Chance The Rapper’s verse corresponds with the song’s theme by providing support to women.
Rich, poor, or indifferent, life is a balancing act for most of us, but this is especially true for working moms. According to the Center for American Progress, “women now make up half of all workers in the United States, with nearly 4 in 10 homes having a mom that is also a working mother.” Trying to juggle your career, duties as a wife or single parent, and the responsibilities to your children can be challenging and overwhelming. However, each day can also be rewarding and exciting.
Photo credit: Derek Blanks
Try these tips to effectively cope with the pressures and demands of your incredibly busy life:
- Separate your family and work time. Many of us are still working from home because of the COVID-19 pandemic. Although this may be complicated for some, you must set proper boundaries to provide adequate attention to each of your roles. No scheduling solution is perfect, but the effort alone will pay big dividends in your stress level and effectiveness as a parent and career woman. When you’re working, concentrate on work. Similarly, leave work alone when you’re giving your family your undivided attention. You’ll get more done in less time and feel less stressed.
- Make plans with your kids for the weekend. “You had kids because you wanted a family, so slow down and enjoy them by doing something fun together,” states Dr. Sarah Allen, Ph.D. Allow your kids to choose the activity they wish on the weekend. This communicates value to your children and lets them know that they’re important to you. During this time, focus exclusively on them and enjoy your time together.
- Enjoy dinner together as a family. Whether you are in a one parent or two parent home, it’s very important to eat as a family. By eating meals together, it increases the family bond and delivers a daily time for the whole family to feel united. Turn off your cell phones and any distracting gadgets during this time so work cannot interfere.
- Show your children what you do. Let your children know about your career, why it’s important to you, and why it’s important to them. The more they know about how mom spends her day, the more accepting they’ll be of your absence while you’re working.
- Give your kids chores. Doing chores is a tradition in many families. Chores help kids learn responsibility, and sharing chores gives you help around the house. Parenting expert Jim Fay, a co-founder of the Love and Logic website, says we all need to feel needed and to know that we’re making a contribution — even kids. “But they can’t feel that way if they don’t have chores and make contributions to the family,” Fay says. Make sure the chores you give your children are age-appropriate. No, you can’t have your three-year-old take out the garbage or put away groceries.
- Find hobbies that you all enjoy. If your children are passionate about something that you also enjoy, this gives you an outlet to experience regular quality time with them and rejuvenating recreation at the same time.
- Vacation once a year. Parenting can be both wonderful and exhausting, so if it’s in the budget, a yearly family vacation is essential. Choose a destination that you and your kids all agree on. Make sure the vacation offers something enjoyable for everyone. Most importantly, leave work at work.
- Bond with other working moms. Bonding with other mothers is especially important for single moms because it will help you cope with daily challenges as well as create an escape from your norm. Having a network of people who understands your situation can be a great source of sanity.
- Thank your village. You’re not parenting alone, so make sure to find special ways to thank and/or reward the people in your corner. Not only will it brighten their day, it will also make you feel more connected.
By following these tips, you can bring sanity to a world that was once filled with constant chaos. You can juggle your career and family life if you make decisions that are consistent with your values. Plan your time carefully, and use your resources on the priorities that are most important.
“Baby Mama” will be featured on Brandy’s highly anticipated forthcoming album, slated for release later this year.
FOLLOW BRANDY:
Instagram: @brandy
Twitter: @4everbrandy
Facebook: @foreverbrandy
Tik Tok: @brandy
Snapchat: @TheNextBrandy
