

The Real-Life Bow Explores Redefining Balance & Parenthood As A Mom Of 6 In New Book
It's always a good look when a power woman of color on TV seems to have it all---a great career, smart children, and a supportive husband---in a way that leaves the cheese factor at the market and brings the comedy and authenticity along the ride.
Black-ish, which was renewed for a fifth season this spring, delivers that and then some, with the character Rainbow "Bow" Johnson (played by the uber-fab Tracee Ellis Ross), an anesthesiologist, mother of four, and wife of Andre "Dre" Johnson taking the lead.
With TV, you have the luxury of rehearsals, cuts, re-dos, and edits, but what some of you may not know is that there's a real-life Bow creating her own version of balance in a world full of transitions and unpredictability.
Courtesy of Rainbow Barris
In real life, Rainbow "Bow" Barris, MD is also a mother (of six) and an anesthesiologist. But where the line between fact and fiction emboldens is the fact that the real Bow is wife of the creator of Black-ish, Kenya Barris. And add juggling her husband's Hollywood schedule, slaying on the red carpet, being on mommy duty to her children (ranging in age from 1 to 18), and making the rounds in promoting a new book about family and motherhood to her script---you've got just a small taste of what life is like for Dr. Bow Barris.
"The biggest difference in the show are the specifics of how a character might play out a situation," Barris said during our exclusive xoNecole interview. "What Kenya gets a chance to do on a regular basis in the writers' room is, in retrospect, he can alter or change the way a character responds to a particular situation. The situations may be the same but the way the characters respond might be changed a little bit. Our life is so dynamic. We are just getting to a point now where we have some regularity in our schedules, and those regular schedules are still very irregular."
"Our life is so dynamic."
For Barris, balancing the irregular as a mom and doctor can be a challenge even beyond her husband's Hollywood hustle. Her boss-level tenacity and determination were made clear when she recalled how she completed medical school while already a mother of two at the time. Being quick on her feet, compassionate, hard-working, and flexible comes in handy both at home and at work.
Getty Images
"One of the reasons I chose to do what I do in medicine is so I can leave [work] at work. That was super important to me [as a mother]," she said. "However, I know it's still a part of who we are---bringing home what we do. I love talking about medicine and my job, and I bring things home when I'm prompted to do so. One of the most important aspects of my job is problem-solving. When something happens, I automatically turn on this [analytical] mode of 'How am I going to fix this?' It's become an automatic part of who I am. I'm super-grateful that's something from my work that I'm able to bring home and use in a positive [way] in my life."
Her role as an anesthesiologist requires her to provide very specific expertise and care when a patient is in some of the most painful, vulnerable, and life-threatening situations. "I don't know how anyone could be in medicine and not love it," she said. "There's a mental and physical stress that comes with [it all]. I don't think it's worth it to do something in medicine and not completely and truly love it."
Self-care is huge when you're a professional woman wearing quite a few hats.
Redefining what balance means for Barris and her family led her to let go of the pressure of trying to live up to a cookie-cutter ideal. "On a daily basis, I may not be able to find or feel like I have [time to practice self-care] but in a week or in a month, I'm going to get a massage, a manicure, a pedicure. For me, knowing those times will come up [later] helps me find my balance instead of expecting that every week I have a specific time [for self-care]. I understand that my [version of] balance doesn't necessarily look like what someone else's picture or idea of what balance is. We try to find what works for us and our life and really embrace the [journey]."
"I understand that my version of balance doesn't necessarily look like what someone else's picture or idea of what balance is."
In her new book, Keeping Up with the Johnsons: Bow's Guide to Black-ish Parenting, Barris talks about creating one's own normal with her family. Much of this includes knowing that sometimes the blueprint for success given to you growing up might change based on your unique life experiences and growth.
"I grew up with a very strong mother [who oftentimes would say], 'You can do whatever you want to do. You don't need a man.' And I think that is very common for a lot of young black women. I really had to learn that what I was taught and what was ingrained in me for so long--- those things may be true, but I have to make [things] work for my life. Doing it all wasn't working for my life. I can do it all, but that doesn't mean I want to."
Courtesy of Rainbow Barris
Barris said in writing the book, she wanted to give fans of the show a view from Bow's side of parenting, where you get a glimpse into the motherhood side of the partnership. "What I decided to do was start with a part of my life that I felt was relatable [in that] fans can find some similarities between the characters on the show and the situations in the book. I explore how there are things I was taught to do---things my mom would say, like, 'Well, you should do things this way,' or 'Everyone does it like this'---and me having to figure out [what] works for me. It really does focus on raising kids and these different experiences we've had, from my point of view, as opposed to the show from Kenya's or Dre's point of view."
Adding author to her resume was her way of continuing to create her own lane and continue expanding on the narrative that her life inspires on TV---as well as the narrative she's built for her life up until now.
"I think it is important for any woman to set goals, and getting there hopefully leads you to want to strive for the next goal. When we stop striving for greater, we stop living," Barris says. "You don't have to sit in anyone's box. Create your own box---just make sure it doesn't have a lid on it. When you want to get out or change the shape, you can do that. Don't be afraid to keep growing and changing, accept the person you're evolving into."
"You don't have to sit in anyone's box. Create your own box."
For more Dr. Barris, follow her on Instagram and be sure to check out her new parenting book here.
- How To Find Balance When Your Life Is A Tightrope - xoNecole: Women's Interest, Love, Wellness, Beauty ›
- What Tracee Ellis Ross Will Miss Most About Black-ish - xoNecole: Women's Interest, Love, Wellness, Beauty ›
- Black-ish Creator Kenya Barris and Wife Rainbow Give $1 Million to ... ›
- “Black-ish” Creator Kenya Barris and Wife Donate $1 Million to Alma ... ›
- Black-ish Creator Kenya Barris Hit With $1M+ Lawsuit Over Stealing ... ›
- Kenya and Rainbow Barris' $1 million gift will be largest alumni gift ›
- blackish Creator Kenya Barris' Life Story: Poverty to Hollywood ... ›
- In Living Color | The New Yorker ›
- Rainbow-Edwards Barris on the Black-ish separation storyline | EW ... ›
- How Dr. Rainbow Barris Published The Story Behind Black-ish And ... ›
- Black-ish Creator Kenya Barris' Wife Tells Her Story, Her Way ›
Smile, Sis! These Five Improvements Can Upgrade Your Oral Hygiene Instantly
This article is in partnership with Sensodyne.
Our teeth are connected to so many things - our nutrition, our confidence, and our overall mood. We often take for granted how important healthy teeth are, until issues like tooth sensitivity or gum recession come to remind us. Like most things related to our bodies, prevention is the best medicine. Here are five things you can do immediately to improve your oral hygiene, prevent tooth sensitivity, and avoid dental issues down the road.
1) Go Easy On the Rough Brushing: Brushing your teeth is and always will be priority number one in the oral hygiene department. No surprises there! However, there is such a thing as applying too much pressure when brushing…and that can lead to problems over time. Use a toothbrush with soft bristles and brush in smooth, circular motions. It may seem counterintuitive, but a gentle approach to brushing is the most effective way to clean those pearly whites without wearing away enamel and exposing sensitive areas of the teeth.
2) Use A Desensitizing Toothpaste: As everyone knows, mouth pain can be highly uncomfortable; but tooth sensitivity is a whole different beast. Hot weather favorites like ice cream and popsicles have the ability to trigger tooth sensitivity, which might make you want to stay away from icy foods altogether. But as always, prevention is the best medicine here. Switching to a toothpaste like Sensodyne’s Sensitivity & Gum toothpaste specifically designed for sensitive teeth will help build a protective layer over sensitive areas of the tooth. Over time, those sharp sensations that occur with extremely cold foods will subside, and you’ll be back to treating yourself to your icy faves like this one!
3) Floss, Rinse, Brush. (And In That Order!): Have you ever heard the saying, “It’s not what you do, but how you do it”? Well, the same thing applies to taking care of your teeth. Even if you are flossing and brushing religiously, you could be missing out on some of the benefits simply because you aren’t doing so in the right order. Flossing is best to do before brushing because it removes food particles and plaque from places your toothbrush can’t reach. After a proper flossing sesh, it is important to rinse out your mouth with water after. Finally, you can whip out your toothbrush and get to brushing. Though many of us commonly rinse with water after brushing to remove excess toothpaste, it may not be the best thing for our teeth. That’s because fluoride, the active ingredient in toothpaste that protects your enamel, works best when it gets to sit on the teeth and continue working its magic. Rinsing with water after brushing doesn’t let the toothpaste go to work like it really can. Changing up your order may take some getting used to, but over time, you’ll see the difference.
4) Stay Hydrated: Upping your water supply is a no-fail way to level up your health overall, and your teeth are no exception to this rule. Drinking water not only helps maintain a healthy pH balance in your mouth, but it also washes away residue and acids that can cause enamel erosion. It also helps you steer clear of dry mouth, which is a gateway to bad breath. And who needs that?
5) Show Your Gums Some Love: When it comes to improving your smile, you may be laser-focused on getting your teeth whiter, straighter, and overall healthier. Rightfully so, as these are all attributes of a megawatt smile; but you certainly don’t want to leave gum health out of the equation. If you neglect your gums, you’ll start to notice the effects of plaque buildup, which can irritate the gums and cause gingivitis, the earliest stage of gum disease. Seeing blood while brushing and flossing is a tell-tale sign that your gums are suffering. You may also experience gum recession — a condition where the gum tissue surrounding your teeth pulls back, exposing more of your tooth. Brushing at least twice a day with a gum-protecting toothpaste like Sensodyne Sensitivity and Gum, coupled with regular dentist visits, will keep your gums shining as bright as those pearly whites.
There are moments on our health journey when our bodies are bugging us to hit the reset button.
With life, we can start to see slips in our diet, irregular exercising, and inconsistent sleep schedules, and our mental health can suffer because of it. But what many people come to find is that with just a few adjustments — as opposed to restrictions — being made to their food intake, we can see a focus more on eating “the right” calories and less on being on a restrictive diet.
"Raw Till 4" is a dietary concept and lifestyle associated with the raw vegan and high-carb, low-fat vegan (HCLF) movements. Created by Australian blogger and YouTube star known as 'Freelee the Banana Girl', the method suggests eating raw, uncooked plant-based foods until 4 p.m. each day and then having a cooked, vegan meal in the evening.
The Raw Till 4 lifestyle follows the guidelines of vegan and rawist eating and involves consuming fruits, vegetables, nuts, seeds, and sprouted grains in an uncooked, natural state until the designated time of 4 p.m. or around one’s typical dinner time. After 4 p.m., a cooked vegan meal is consumed, which may include foods like steamed vegetables, grains, legumes, and plant-based sources of protein like tofu or tempeh.
On TikTok, creator Adina Yaffa is repopularizing the trend, sharing how it’s helped to improve digestion, boost energy levels, and support weight loss.
@adinayaffa Replying to @🌜kat🌛 here is what I eat in a day on a raw till 4 lifestyle. I eat with the sun and according to the circadian rhythm that out bodies follow on a typical day. Where i drink liquids during the first 8 hours, then juicy fruits, then smoothies, more dense building fats, proteins and veggies! #snatchedwaist #bellyfat #bellybloat #smallwaist #hourglass #rawtill4
“During the hours of 4 a.m. and 8 a.m., your body is in an elimination phase and needs all the help it can get,” Yaffa says in the clip. “So what you’re going to do is drink coconut water, citrus juices, and green juices during this time, and around 8 a.m., you can break your fast with some fruit. I suggest juicing fruits, and then after that, I suggest having a smoothie or a bowl with berries and granola so you can get your fats and healthy proteins in.”
@adinayaffa Raw till 4 has so many benefits including better digestion, nutrients, belly fat and bloat elimination, snatched waist, more energy and so much more! #snatchedwaist #bellyfat #bellybloat #smallwaist #hourglass
On the official Raw Till 4 website, Freelee the Banana Girl shares tips on how to get the best outcomes of this lifestyle change, which include:
- “Stay hydrated! You should pee about 8-12 times per day, and your urine should be clear. Drink 1 liter of water when you wake up in the morning, and 1 liter of water about 30 minutes before each meal for optimal results.”
- “Fragmented sodium (salt) should be kept to a minimum. Use herbs, lemon juice, etc. wherever possible in place of salt.”
- “Eat unlimited calories at every meal, no restriction. The majority of your calories each day should come from fruit. Don’t under-eat on fruit during the day or 'save up' your calories for dinner time. RT4 is about abundance at every meal.”
- “Move your body daily. Find an activity you love and make it your playful exercise.”
- “Make sure to get lots of rest, relaxation, and good sleep. Learning to incorporate good rest, early nights, and regular sleeping patterns into your life will greatly improve your overall health.”
- “Practice gratitude and peaceful emotions at mealtime, and get a vision book started! Be sure to enjoy this journey. Focus on long-term health instead of short-term results.”
Critics argue that it can be challenging to get all the necessary nutrients from a raw vegan diet and that it may not be suitable for everyone, especially over the long term.
As with any diet, it's important to consult with a healthcare professional or registered dietitian before making significant dietary changes to ensure that it meets your individual nutritional needs and health goals.
Let’s make things inbox official! Sign up for the xoNecole newsletter for daily love, wellness, career, and exclusive content delivered straight to your inbox.
Featured image by FreshSplash/Getty Images