

Tamron Hall Chose To Embark On Her Motherhood Journey At 48, And Here's Why
Society has had a history of pressuring women into believing that their overall success would be based on getting married and starting a family. But in recent years, as women gained their independence and sought to make a name for themselves by pursuing their careers, many have received flak by either choosing not to settle down and have children or waiting to become mothers later in life.
Although the individual's reasons behind that decision may vary, in Tamron Hall's case, becoming a mother in her late 40s allowed her to accomplish many things, including chasing after life-long goals. The talk show host opened up about motherhood and more during a recent interview with Women's Health.
Hall welcomed her first child, with the help of IVF treatments, at 48 years old, in April 2019 with her husband, Steve Greener.
Tamron On Being Pregnant in Her 40s and Without a Job
In the interview, Hall shared that she initially found out she was pregnant with her son Moses Greener almost a year after leaving her job in 2017 at the Today Show to pursue other endeavors, including hosting and producing her own talk show, The Tamron Hall Show.
"Motherhood came at an unexpected period in my life when, for the first time since the age of 16, I wasn't working. I was 48 and unemployed. I'd just left the Today Show, my dream job, to pursue other goals and bet on myself. At the same time, I'd connected with an acquaintance who would soon become more than a friend. We took a leap of faith and decided to pursue love and parenthood," she said while mentioning how her relationship with Greener had gradually progressed into marriage and parenthood.
The now 52-year-old expressed that becoming a mother later in life and building the career she has always envisioned gave her the room to "be the parent" she always wanted to be because she had accomplished everything she wanted.
"Being a parent at this point in my career gives me room to create the show I dreamed of and the environment to be the parent I want to be, Hall said. "I make it a point to show my team the real me: the 'workaholic' who will now say I have a hard out to pick up my son from school. I hope to lead by example and grace, to empower other parents to feel supported to do the same."
Tamron On Her Mother Being a Teen Mom and The Lessons She Learned From That
Also, in the interview, Hall revealed the lessons she learned about life growing up with her mother, Mary Newton, and her grandfather. Although she didn't provide many details regarding her childhood, Hall stated that Newton was a single mother at 19. During that time, Hall disclosed that despite her hardships, her mother and grandfather-- whom she considered her first father figure--instilled certain values that helped her see beyond life's limitations.
"My mother was a single mom at 19, and my first father figure was my grandfather. Whether it was allowing me to run outside in the sun as long as I wanted or giving me a diary—and saying, "Write!"—they instilled in me a life without limits," she said.
Hall feels the values she was taught helped set a tone in her overall life, professionally and personally, because she believed she could succeed in anything she put her mind to.
"Fast-forward to starting the show and walking into meetings with people who'd tell me every well-known person whose show did not work out. I had to look past that," she said while discussing the reluctance she received from people as she started her talk show. “Just because something didn't work out for someone else doesn't mean it won't for you."
Tamron On Refusing To Listen To Naysayers
Hall would add that the foundation of those lessons also benefited her during her pregnancy journey as a handful of people negatively reacted to the news due to her age by sharing their "horror stories."
The mother of one told the publication that those moments made her realize that the only opinion that mattered regarding her life and her decisions were her own.
"I'm glad I've refused limitations others placed on me. I see my choices as perfect for me, and I'm grateful for every one of them," she said.
Since then, Hall has been motivating her fans to strive for whatever they want to do with their lives by not only offering tips on her show and social media but also displaying the balance of love, family, and career so that they, too, can have it all.
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Feature image by Jamie McCarthy/Getty Images for STARZ
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.
Is Once Ever Enough To See Beyoncé's "Renaissance World Tour?"
Many have wondered if one time is ever enough to see Queen Bey. Some argue yes. However, many of us on the opposite end of the spectrum, including myself, would disagree. Beyoncé's "Renaissance World Tour" is a universal yet varying experience for everyone who attends. In the words of Oprah Winfrey, the concert is "transcendent." For millennials, we have over two decades of her catalog that has served as the soundtrack for many of our lives and painted a personal portrait of our most coveted thoughts. Her music provides mental clarity and self-expression by serving as a universal language that has united fans from all walks of life through community, fashion, self-acceptance, and healing.
With a multi-layered approach to her artistry, just as she did on that winter day in December 2013 with the infamous digital drop of her self-titled album, she changed the game again on February 1, 2023, when she announced her world tour in support of Renaissance, her seventh studio album. Her cultural impact set the internet ablaze, with everyone trying to gather their coins, barter for presale codes, and figure out which cities to attend. The group chats were lit, and the Beyhive was stressed trying to get their hands on tickets.
Beyoncé's Renaissance tour stop in L.A.
Photo courtesy of Dontaira Terrell
Unfortunately, I was in that number. As the concert dates passed by and the one in my city drawing near all roads led to disappointment. With time ticking on the day of the Miami show and less than two hours to spare, my wallet bit the bullet, and I purchased three last-minute tickets, costing roughly $700.00 a piece (including fees) for me, my 9-year-old and 16-year-old nieces in Section 121 at the Hard Rock Stadium. With 10 minutes before showtime, we eagerly awaited the Queen to take the stage. A sea of metallic fringes, cowboy hats, disco fans, and western boots were in full effect and filled the entire stadium.
Dontaira with her nieces at Beyoncé's Renaissance tour stop in Miami.
Photo courtesy of Dontaira Terrell
As the lights dimmed, a flood of emotions instantly overtook my body. It continued with each note she belted, along with nearly 50,000 roaring fans. The reverberating sound of the music through the stadium transported me from one era of my life to the next. As a teen girl in her bedroom daydreaming about her first love to blossoming into an unapologetic Black woman who is still on a road of self-discovery while learning to lean into the power anthem of "You won't break my soul." For over two hours, and with each set, I felt joy, love, peace, and a commanderie with fellow concertgoers. It was therapeutic as I danced like no one was watching and sang as if I were alone in my bathroom mirror.
There were no bars held, and I realized at that moment, "Nobody can judge me but me." The "Renaissance World Tour" proved to be so vast, and my Black girl joy was re-invigorated. It was magnetic and liberating, and I had to attend again, but this time, I needed to be up close and personal; I needed to be on the floor. In the days that passed, I watched more social media clips in different cities and asked myself if I would really splurge again to attend another Renaissance show.
Beyoncé's Renaissance tour stop in Miami.
Photo courtesy of Dontaira Terrell
After all, this would be my thirteenth time (maybe more because I lost count) seeing Beyoncé live, whether she was on tour with Destiny's Child, as a solo artist, or doing a live appearance. I contemplated for a while, but it worked itself out on its own. I was gifted two tickets and the next thing I knew, I was off to LA to attend another Renaissance show with floor seats at SoFi Stadium during Beyonce's 42nd birthday weekend! This time, things were different: no kids were allowed. It was adults only this go round.
Although the energy at the Miami and Los Angeles shows was empowering, infectious, and a celebration of life, happiness, and identity, they each provided their own unique experience. However, both concerts were what I needed for my well-being, leaving me with sore feet from dancing the night away, on vocal rest for the next few days from screaming at the top of my lungs, and on an indefinite high on life.
My introduction and love for Beyoncé began in 1996, while my older sister lived in Houston, TX, right before Bey hit the scene in 1998 with "No, No, No" as a budding R&B member. Her evolution twenty-seven years later as an international superstar and into womanhood has been an incredible journey to witness. As Mrs. Carter reminds each of us in the audience every night before the curtain closes, "I want you to remember this moment, where you're standing, who you came with, and take it with you. I hope you feel inspired."
I truly felt inspired, so thank you, Queen Bey. You awakened my inner child, and I will definitely remember these moments and take them with me.
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Feature image by Kevin Mazur/WireImage for Parkwood