This Emmy Award-Winning Journalist Gave Up Her Career To Have A Child At 50
Richelle Carey lived the life that most broadcast journalists do. Moving from state to state chasing a story and a better opportunity. Eventually, she got an opportunity to work with the esteemed Al-Jazeera news, which meant moving to the country of Qatar. However, her desire to become a mom was much stronger than her career and in 2020, she moved back to the States and moved in with her parents in order to adopt, which led her to finally have a child of her own in 2021 named Avery.
Richelle sat down with Tamron Hall on her talk show and discussed her journey to adoption.
“I thought I was progressive enough that I would say you don’t have to be a mom to have a family because I truly, truly believe that and some people are that way,” she said. “But I finally had to admit that for me personally, I really wanted to be a mom. I wasn’t any less significant when I wasn’t a mother, but that was the last piece that I really needed.”
At 43, she decided to freeze her eggs and a few years later she began in vitro fertilization (IVF). However, according to Essence, Richelle faced multiple unsuccessful rounds, which led her to the path of adoption. She began researching adoption options while she was still living in Qatar and in 2018 she got approved to adopt. And although she was finally able to live her dream of becoming a mom, living outside of the U.S. presented obstacles that forced her to choose between her career and motherhood.
With nothing lined up, she made the fearless decision to move back home with her parents in Texas during the pandemic. “I was nervous. I was anxious,” she told Tamron. “But I felt like everything that I had done in my life had gotten me to this point to be able to have choices and options and I know that everybody can’t do that. I understand that but I worked hard to get to that point and I needed to lean in and do it.”
While Richelle noted that it was a risky move, she had the support of her family and is loving every minute of motherhood.
“I am 50 years old living at home and I wouldn’t trade it for the world,” she said.
This Journalist Gave Up Everything & Became a Mom at 50
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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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Regina King Reflects On Grief and Loss After Her Son’s Death: ‘The Sadness Will Never Go Away.’
The pain of losing a child is an experience that no parent wants to go through — and actress Regina King is now ready to speak about her experience with grief two years after her son’s passing.
In her first TV interview appearance since her son, Ian Alexander Jr., died by suicide in January 2022, King sat down with Good Morning America, to reflect on the tragic loss.
“I’m a different person, you know, now than I was January 19,” King shared. “Grief is a journey, you know? I understand that grief is love that has no place to go.”
“I know that it’s important for me to honor Ian in the totality of who he is, speak about him in the present because he is always with me and the joy and happiness that he gave all of us,” she added.
The Shirley star also added that it's vital to discuss the common misconception surrounding depression, noting that battles with mental health can manifest in diverse ways. “When it comes to depression, people expect it to look a certain way — they expect it to look heavy,” King told Robin Roberts.
“To have to experience this and not be able to have the time to just sit with Ian’s choice, which I respect and understand… He didn’t want to be here anymore, and that’s a hard thing for other people to receive because they did not live our experience, did not live Ian’s journey.”
Jeff Kravitz / Contributor/Getty Images
The Academy Award winner openly revealed that she was initially “so angry with God.”
“Why would that weight be given to Ian? Of all of the things that we had gone through — therapy, psychiatrists, programs — and Ian was like, ‘I’m tired of talking, Mom,' " she said.
With the memory of her son near to her, King said through tears, “My favorite thing about myself is being Ian’s mom and I can say that with a smile, with tears, with all of the emotion that comes with that. I can’t do that if I did not respect the journey.”
Anderson, 26, was a musician, DJ, and King’s only child. In 2019, Ian escorted his mother on the red carpet of the Golden Globes where she took home the award for "Best Supporting Actress in a Motion Picture."
He toldE! News at the time, "She's just a super mom. She doesn't really let bad work days or anything come back and ruin the time that we have. It's really awesome to have a mother who I can enjoy spending time with."
Understanding that grief is shared by many others, King emphasizes the unique weight of her role as Ian's mother and acknowledges that the sadness will always be a part of her.
“Sometimes, a lot of guilt comes over me. When a parent loses a child, you still wonder, ‘What could I have done so that wouldn’t have happened?’ I know that I share this grief with everyone, but no one else is Ian’s mom, you know? Only me. So it’s mine. And the sadness will never go away. It will always be with me.”
If you or someone you know is considering suicide, please contact the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline at 1-800-273-TALK (8255), text "STRENGTH" to the Crisis Text Line at 741-741, or go to suicidepreventionlifeline.org.
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Featured image by Shannon Finney / Stringer/Getty Images