Tamron Hall Explains How Losing Her Job At NBC Became A Blessing In Disguise
In March, we discovered that media correspondent Tamron Hall was expecting her first child at the age of 48, and only a month later, baby Moses was born. While some felt that her pregnancy was an unwise decision, other women praised Tamron for her courage and commended her for her tenacity to become a mother at such a mature age.
Despite how you may feel about Tamron's pregnancy, one thing is for sure: Tamron doesn't give a damn because she's happy AF with her brand new bundle of joy. In fact, she recently revealed that our opinions were the very reason she kept her pregnancy a secret for so long in the first place.
Since Tamron gave birth to her son Moses last month, she's maintained a low profile and only offered obscured views of her bouncing baby boy. In a post following his birth, Mama Tam announced that she couldn't wait to introduce the world to her little miracle, and thanks to the latest cover of People, baby Moses has finally made his debut and he is just as adorable as you thought he would be.
In an interview with the publication, she opened up about some of her biggest fears during the pregnancy and said that her age wasn't the only reason she had doubts:
"I was high-risk, not just because of my age, but there were other medical factors too."
Upon recognizing the dangers of her pregnancy and coming face-to-face with the fear of disappointment, Tamron knew that she had to do everything in her power to keep her little miracle safe; even if that meant keeping a secret from the world for almost a year.
"My doctor said, 'This is your body, your health. You share of your journey what you want to share.' I was terrified I would lose this baby and I would have to go back and tell everyone that now it was bad news and after this pregnancy had gone so far."
Over the last decade, women like Janet Jackson, Halle Berry, and Michelle Obama have broken the glass ceiling by choosing to have children over the age of 35, proving that our biological clocks are a lot more unpredictable than we thought. Although this is true, Tamron said that fact didn't keep her from coming up with the worst case scenario a every turn.
"I knew that the clock was not on my side. When I tried in my 30s, I still felt like I had some time, and the fertility clinic felt like a bright room. In my 40s I saw all the gray: The faces looked gray, the walls were gray, nothing seemed shiny and optimistic."
After a controversial exit from her last job at NBC, Tamron set her sights on other goals; ones that included a bassinet and a whole lot of diapers. Over time, she began to see parallels between her job search and her desire to become a mother. In both cases, no matter how hard she worked, she couldn't seem to bring her dreams to fruition.
"Just like with my job search during that time, there were so many frustrations: I'm putting in the work, I'm taking care of my mind and my body and I'm being rejected. I'm thinking, 'Wait a minute. What have I done wrong here?' Somehow, like Rocky, I kept getting up."
Mama Tam's ability to fall down 9 times and get up 10 is what makes her the GOAT, and her determination was ultimately what led her to win not one, but two times in a row.
Shortly before announcing news of her bouncing bundle of joy, Tamron shared that she would be producing her own nationally syndicated daytime talk show. It was then that she realized that you can never truly walk away from the gifts God has for you, every loss is potentially a blessing in disguise.
"My story is not one I could've ever expected and a half years ago when I walked out of that NBC building, I was in a fog, not knowing that so many of us lose things we think are important, and we have no idea that something better is right there."
If you ask the old folks, they'll tell you, when one door closes, it's because God is trying to open up another one. Tamron explained that her road to happiness didn't come without a few bumps in the road, but every for every L you take, there's a lesson to be learned and a blessing to be earned. She said:
"I'm from the South, and there's a saying: 'It's not a setback; it's a setup for something else. That loss set me up for, yes, a dream job but also my baby, my husband, my family. I just couldn't see it coming."
Take it from Tamron, what God has for you is much greater than what you asked for in the first place.
Read her People exclusive in full by clicking here.
Featured image by Debby Wong / Shutterstock.com
Taylor "Pretty" Honore is a spiritually centered and equally provocative rapper from Baton Rouge, Louisiana with a love for people and storytelling. You can probably find me planting herbs in your local community garden, blasting "Back That Thang Up" from my mini speaker. Let's get to know each other: @prettyhonore.
ItGirl 100 Honors Black Women Who Create Culture & Put On For Their Cities
As they say, create the change you want to see in this world, besties. That’s why xoNecole linked up with Hyundai for the inaugural ItGirl 100 List, a celebration of 100 Genzennial women who aren’t afraid to pull up their own seats to the table. Across regions and industries, these women embody the essence of discovering self-value through purpose, honey! They're fierce, they’re ultra-creative, and we know they make their cities proud.
VIEW THE FULL ITGIRL 100 LIST HERE.
Don’t forget to also check out the ItGirl Directory, featuring 50 Black-woman-owned marketing and branding agencies, photographers and videographers, publicists, and more.
THE ITGIRL MEMO
I. An ItGirl puts on for her city and masters her self-worth through purpose.
II. An ItGirl celebrates all the things that make her unique.
III. An ItGirl empowers others to become the best versions of themselves.
IV. An ItGirl leads by example, inspiring others through her actions and integrity.
V. An ItGirl paves the way for authenticity and diversity in all aspects of life.
VI. An ItGirl uses the power of her voice to advocate for positive change in the world.
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How A Stay At Switzerland's Luxurious 7132 Hotel Reminded Me To Live The Life I Deserve
Sometimes, as women—especially as single Black women—we simply need to be reminded that we are deserving of living a life we dream of. Even if that means creating it for ourselves. I recently set out on a weeklong trip to Switzerland, a trip I’ve been wanting to take for years, and near the end of my visit, I had an epiphany.
“DeAnna, this is the life you deserve,” I thought to myself as I took in the gorgeous bathroom in my suite at the famous 7132 Hotel and Thermal Spa. It was one of the most luxurious hotels (and bathrooms) I had ever stayed in—and that’s saying a lot for someone who often travels for work.
To help you better understand why this was such a mental awakening for me, I first need to give a bit of my backstory. I’m in my late thirties. I’m an attorneyand a journalist. I own a home and have traveled the world extensively. Essentially, I’ve done everything in life I set out to do. However, when it comes to dating, I struggle. Not because there is anything wrong with me per se, but because my career and “lifestyle” often create problems in my romantic relationships.
View from my hotel room
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I’ve been told everything from, ‘I can’t continue to date you because you seem to choose your career over wanting to settle down and have kids’ by a man after only the second date to ‘Maybe if you just sat down somewhere for a while, I’d actually wife you’ by someone who has honestly never proven themselves to be the settle down type. And these are only a handful of the things I’ve been told over the years.
It’s been frustrating, to say the least, and there have even been seasons where I purposely dimmed my light in hopes that my career wouldn’t push away potential suitors. I know what you’re thinking, “Girl, why would you even consider that? If they’re for you, it won’t matter what you do.” Hey, don’t judge me, but also, I one hundred percent agree.
My hotel bathroom
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That’s why this recent moment in Switzerland was right on time. When I first walked into the hotel to check in, I was blown away by the surrounding beauty. It was a five-star property with one of the world’s most famous thermal bathhouses. Yet, it was something about seeing that 90% of the hotel’s guests were couples, that forced me to sit back for a bit of introspection—while soaking in the thermal spa, of course.
As I went through the mental conversation, there was a battle of sorts. On one hand, I knew that being able to partake in experiences like the one I was having at that moment was important to me. I knew that, at times I actually love being able to dabble in the finer things—after all, I’ve worked hard to be able to afford them. On the other hand, and sadly, I knew that sometimes being a single Black woman that publicly showcases her “luxurious” habits can intimidate men and even scare them off from pursuing you under the guise of them feeling like they “can’t do anything for you, because you have everything.”
My hotel room
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So, what is a girl to do?
Do I minimize/hide the life and experiences that I have? Do I play down the hard work I’ve put in to get where I am professionally? Or, do I risk being single in exchange for being able to have said life, without backlash?
Luckily, the joy that I felt while being at this property won. There was something about taking a full day to simply pamper myself at the bathhouse and in my in-room steam shower and soaker tub, indulging in cuisine from a 2-star Michelin restaurant and doing all of this while surrounded by an amazing group of Black women that reminded me—this is certainly the life I was meant to live and that I deserve. Even if it means that right now, I’ll just have to provide it for myself until the right partner comes along. And honestly, I’m okay with that.
Restaurant at 7132 hotel
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