Mom to Edward, age 6
Silver Spring, MD
Bahia is a strong, confident mother who knows what she wants. She’s devoted to her family and her community, and she’s constantly hard at work bettering both.
“Becoming a mother has truly humbled me and given me a larger perspective of what it means to be a mother and the responsibilities we have.”
Q&A with Bahia Akerele
Occupation:
Small-business owner (On the Purple Couch, LLC)
What’s the best parenting advice you’ve ever received?
Like everyone, I got a lot of advice once I had Edward. One piece of advice that stays in my mind is that you should always trust your intuition as a mother. I think this is so very true and something to keep focused on. I talk to my son a lot and am always asking him questions about a number of topics, all at his level. I want to always be able to engage with him and let him know that I am here to talk with him. Through our conversations I get to understand a little about what is going on in his world and how it may affect him.
How has motherhood changed your outlook on life?
Becoming a mother has changed how I see myself and the notion of what it takes to be a mother. For one thing, I respect my mother so much more now that I have a child and a family. The role and importance of a mother towards her children and family is almost inconceivable. Growing up, my mother was a senior official at the United Nations and had to raise two daughters while traveling around the world, and moving to different countries and school systems internationally. I have no idea how she did it. I can barely get out of the door on time in the morning. Becoming a mother has truly humbled me and given me a larger perspective of what it means to be a mother and the responsibilities we have.
What goals do you have for yourself?
Professionally, I would like to do more speaking and consulting engagements with creative small businesses entrepreneurs. After five years, three stores and lots of marketing, strategic positioning and social media experience, I am ready to share and grow others. This year, I launched a monthly Creative Business Meet Up at my store for women who are exploring entrepreneurship or who are already engaged in it. These sessions have been very well received and we are now moving into our next phase, which will be one-on-one mentorship and ‘partnerships’.
What goals do you have for your child?
My goal for Edward is for him to love life and to be able to have great friends, relationships and an awesome life. A strong education and Christian foundation are at the base of this.
