Mommy Monday: Imani Anigboro & BabyAnigboro On Business Ownership, Non- Profits & Being a New Mom
Hi Imani! Thank you for joining me on RIB today for Mommy Monday!
I’ll do something different today and let you tell the audience how we met.
Aww well we’ve known each other for quite a while almost our whole lives actually. We went to an all black elementary school in Harlem called the Modern School. We were in Nursery together when we were 3 yrs old and we were always the tallest girls in class even taller than the boys so we were fast friends. We lost touch a bit during middle school and part of HS but then HS College we re connected. Even though we haven’t seen each other in almost a decade social media keeps us up to date on one another.
For all those who are not familiar with your credentials, who is Mrs. Imani Anigboro?
Lort! I think Mommying has led me to ask myself this question; just like when I became a wife I said who am I now?? BUT I will list the things I do and let you draw your conclusions cause I’m still figuring it all out.
- God Lover
- Wife
- Mother 👶🏽😺😺
- Artist/Clothing & Accessory Designer
- Business Owner (www.ImaniLia.com)
- Philanthropist/ Co -Creator of For Girls by Girls Non-Profit Org.
- Forever Student currently at Teachers College Columbia University & just life.
Please introduce us to your baby girl.
Oghenebrume (Oh-geN-nay-Broo-May) Naomi Anigboro was born on August 4,2018 at 10:21am; her name means God decided my favor. We call her Brume for short. To me she looks like the perfect combo of her mommy and daddy. She’s a happy baby who loves to eat and sticks to her mama like glue. She is developing really fast and is loved do much by her mommy and daddy.
I love a good name story. How did you and your husband decide on a name ?
Well… My name is East African and my Husbands name is Nigerian as he was born and raised there so on a brad scale I knew I wanted my Childs name to be from Africa. For my husband It was important that the name be Nigerian and from his tribe. When it comes to middle names in my husbands family all of their middle names/ American names are biblical and I liked that so I wanted to adopt that tradition for our child. Wether boy or girl we wanted no Jr.’s or to name the child after someone because it was important that our child have their own identity.
When we found out we were having a girl I was shocked and had no middle names in mind. My husband picked Naomi from the Bible. I said cool. When it came to her 1st name I printed a list from the internet specific to his tribe girls names we picked four and made a list I locked away. We didn’t wanna name her until we saw her so we never referenced it until she was born. Her current name was her dad’s #1 choice and my 2nd choice. I let him win but now its my 1st. I love her name.
How has motherhood impacted your business? Non- Profit? Schooling?
My Business: Well 6 weeks in it has slowed me down because I’m trying to get into the swing of being a mom and a business owner. I did put part of my business on hold right before I gave birth in sort of a maternity leave style.I stopped selling retail online and I will open that shop back up at the end of September and I controlled the custom orders I took on. I do sell my products to outside retailers so I continued to accept orders from them. Again I was slowed down but it’s teaching me what I can take on with my new baby and childcare situation.
The Non-Profit: Thankfully I have a able & active partner who has taken on a lot of the heavy lifting right now while I re adjust; and we are re adjusting how we run the non profit for BOTH of our schedules.
Schooling: I HAVE TO GRADUATE ON TIME!!! My educations being covered by my mothers job and is contingent on her employment at the school. She wants to and deserves to retire.. She is like don’t drop any classes and get er done!! Plus as much as I enjoy learning I want to get my masters and be done with it. Then I can maximize my business.
I put my dreams on hold when my family started growing. What advice would you give any mom on the verge of giving up her dreams?
1st I’d say do whats best for YOU!! I was sewing the day I went into labor and filling client orders with a 2 week old baby but work keeps me sane personally so it worked/works for me. I never wanted to be a stay at home mom either so it’s how I visualized my life anyway. Everyone doesn’t see their life that way and/or their family grows VERY fast and they cant manage work or their dreams with the family which I understand because something ALWAYS gives.
My advice is to do what makes you happy and keeps you sane. If you gave up on a dream is it still your dream? I think if it’s still a dream you can never give up on it you more so put it on hold until you can pick it up again. If thats not really happening maybe you have a new dream that is managing your family and you don’t realize it.
Any words of wisdom from other mommies that really helped you on your journey to motherhood or as a new mom?
At the moment I can’t member exact words but I do have Mommy friends that I go to on a regular. One of them basically coached me through the part of the labor I did at home via text. I know all of them said do what’s best for me and told me to sleep when I could.
Everyone else is telling you to sleep when the baby sleeps but that’s about as in realistic as it gets. You sleep when you can.
What would you say is the best way someone could help a new mom?
Don’t stop checking on them after baby comes. Visit if they’re up for it. Bring food or ask if their open to going out with baby to a non crowded spot. Mother hood is very lonely even though physically you’re not alone anymore. You need adult contact. People are quick to “give you space” when pregnant but often times that’s not what you want and or need.
Last but not least, describe BabyAnigboro in one word. This will be fun to see how she has changed when we do our recap about 6 months from now.
A fighter
Thank you for joining us on RIB!
Please drop your social media so the lovely people can follow you!
Website: www.ImaniLia.com , www.ImaniLiaFashions.com (coming Oct. 2018)
IG/FB: @ImaniLiaDesigns and @ImaniLiaCouture (coming soon)
Anigboro’s Maternity Shoot
Happy Parenting, Ribbies!
Until next time.
Xoxo,
Shay Nefeteria