Tika Sumpter Talks IVF, Raising A Biracial Daughter & Life Lessons As A Mom
It's a bit surreal to think that some of our favorite celebrities, who we've grown up admiring, are now parents with families of their own. It's a stark reminder that time passes for everyone, even those we often perceive as larger than life. We're all aging, evolving, and entering new phases of life.
But more than just a reminder of our own mortality, it's incredibly inspiring to witness these Black women navigate motherhood and create new lives. They're redefining what it means to be a parent, challenging societal norms, and setting powerful examples for future generations.
Their approach to parenting often reflects a deep commitment to their cultural heritage, a celebration of Black identity, and a fierce dedication to raising empowered and socially conscious children. It's a beautiful sight to behold and a source of immense hope for the future.
I find myself looking to these women as role models, not just in terms of their professional achievements, but also in their roles as mothers. They inspire me to think about the kind of parent I want to be, the values I want to instill in my own children, and the legacy I want to leave behind.
Take Tika Sumpter. She’s been a part of our lives for quite some time, and now she’s serving up hot mom vibes. Her mother went from a stay-at-home role to becoming a corrections officer at Rikers Island. Faced with a challenging situation, she rose to the occasion and persevered. Now, Tika is charting her own path as a mom.
In a recent interview with PARENTS, she said, “I thought I would be a tough parent because of my mom but I’m not. I’m down for the fun. If she wants to get on a roller coaster, I’ll go with her! We have this playfulness that allows her to be herself. My ability to [instill] that in her is my superpower.”
For PARENTS’ "Take Five" series, editor-in-chief Grace Bastidas interviews notable names about parenthood and this iteration highlights Tika’s parenting style, insights into her relationship with her 8-year-old daughter, Ella, highlighting the importance of emotional learning, balancing work and motherhood, and navigating conversations about race and identity.
The Nobody’s Fool star also talks about homeschooling, her children’s podcast, and self-care practices, while reflecting on lessons learned from her own mother.
Tika’s IVF Journey:
“I did want a second child and tried IVF once. I know they say you should do it multiple times, but I didn’t have the energy for it. While having another baby didn’t work out for me, I pray that it works out for other people. The threads of motherhood are so interconnected that we sometimes forget that everybody is just trying to figure it out and live their best lives. I am you and you are me.”
According to the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, fertility treatments, including assisted reproductive technology (ART) procedures such as in vitro fertilization (IVF), allow those who experience infertility a potential path to expand their families. IVF represents more than 99% of ART procedures performed and is an important fertility treatment option because it can help individuals conceive who may not be able to use other fertility treatment methods.
On Raising Her Biracial Daughter
Tika and her husband, Nicholas James, have always been intentional about discussing race with their daughter. One of their ventures as new parents included creating a children's podcast Adventures of Curiosity Cove to help garner Ella's curiosity and fill her up with important information about her culture and the world.
Tika shared with PARENTS, “She knows we have different skin tones and that she’s mixed race. I don’t think it’s fair to put any of my stuff on her since our experiences will vary. Right now, we’re homeschooling her. We’ll talk about Martin Luther King, the Civil Rights era, and the March on Washington. She loves history and has so many questions.”
The mommy mogul went on to say, “She was in a private school before, but the bullying pushed me over the edge. I also felt like she was getting lost. She didn’t understand certain concepts. My husband and I follow a whole curriculum, and she also goes to a co-op. She’s already light years ahead. For me, it’s about giving her more catered time and flexibility.”
Lessons From Her Mom
Seeing her mom work so hard made Tika want to be a better daughter. “I’m the middle child out of seven kids, two of whom were adopted, the actress said. She continued, “I remember always wanting to keep the house clean for her because she came home exhausted. I was like, 'What can I do to make this better?' I used to work at a movie theater as a teen when my mom was retiring, and I’d have her come to the movies and stay all day. I would give her popcorn and candy. I was so happy that she got relief watching movies for free. It was a little escape.”
Tika’s mom tried her best to keep her kids in line, which led Tika to believe she would inherit the same “tough parent” genes, but she declares she has not. “I’m down for the fun. If she wants to get on a roller coaster, I’ll go with her! We have this playfulness that allows her to be herself. My ability to [instill] that in her is my superpower,” Tika said.
What She’s Learned From Her Daughter
When Tika Sumpter gets a little hyper, her daughter will put her hand on her heart and say, “Mom, breathe.” She’ll do it in such a soulful way — she’s the only woman who can tell Sumpter to relax in a way that is not condescending. Tika shared, “I tell her all the time that she’s so much better than me. The other day, she said, “You’re a really good mom.” Sometimes I feel like I’m such a failure because I’m always working. But she just started rattling off all the things that I am to her, and my eyes started watering. I thought, I’m doing a good job. It validated all the things that I poured into her.”
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'Sistas' Star Skyh Black On The Power Of Hypnotherapy & Emotional Vulnerability For Men
In this insightful episode of the xoMAN podcast, host Kiara Walker talked with Sistas star Skyh Black, as he opened up about his journey of emotional growth, resilience, and self-discovery. The episode touches on emotional availability, self-worth, masculinity, and the importance of therapy in overcoming personal struggles.
Skyh Black on Emotional Availability & Love
On Emotional Availability & Vulnerability
“My wife and I wouldn't be where we are today if both of us weren't emotionally available,” he shared about his wife and Sistas co-star KJ Smith, highlighting the value of vulnerability and emotional openness in a relationship. His approach to masculinity stands in contrast to the traditional, stoic ideals. Skyh is not afraid to embrace softness as part of his emotional expression.
On Overcoming Self-Doubt & Worthiness Issues
Skyh reflected on the self-doubt and worthiness issues that he struggled with, especially early in his career. He opens up about his time in Los Angeles, living what he calls the “LA struggle story”—in a one-bedroom with three roommates—and being homeless three times over the span of 16 years. “I always had this self-sabotaging thought process,” Skyh said. “For me, I feel therapy is essential, period. I have a regular therapist and I go to a hypnotherapist.”
How Therapy Helped Him Heal From Self-Doubt
On Hypnotherapy & Empowering Self-Acceptance
Skyh’s journey is a testament to the power of tapping into self-development despite life’s struggles and being open to growth. “I had to submit to the fact that God was doing good in my life, and that I'm worthy of it. I had a worthiness issue and I did not realize that. So, that’s what the hypnotherapy did. It brought me back to the core. What is wrong so that I can fix it?”
Watch the full podcast episode below:
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Quinta Brunson Gets Real About Divorce, Boundaries & Becoming
Quinta Brunson is the woman who chooses herself, even when the world is watching. And in her June 30 cover story for Bustle, she gives us a rare glimpse into the soft, centered place she's navigating her life from now. From leading one of television's most beloved series in the last decade to quietly moving through life shifts, the creator of Abbott Elementary is walking through a personal evolution and doing so with intention, grace, and a firm grip on her boundaries.
Back in March, the 35-year-old filed for divorce from Kevin Jay Anik after nearly three years of marriage, citing "irreconcilable differences." The news hit the headlines of news outlets fast, but Quinta hadn't planned to announce their dissolution to the public so quickly.
Quinta Brunson On Divorce, Public Scrutiny & Sacred Boundaries
"I remember seeing people be like, ‘She announced her divorce,’" she told Bustle. “I didn’t announce anything. I think people have this idea that people in the public eye want the public to know their every move. None of us do. I promise you. No one wants [everyone] to know when you buy a house, when you move, when a major change happens in your personal life. It’s just that that’s public record information."
In regards to her private moves becoming tabloid fodder, Quinta continued, "I hated that. I hate all of it."
"I Am An Artist First": Quinta On Cutting Her Hair & Reclaiming Herself
Still, the diminutive phenom holds her crown high in the face of change and is returning to the essence of who she is, especially as an artist. "Cutting my hair reminded me that I am an artist first. I want to feel things. I want to make choices. I want to be a person, and not just stuck in having to be a certain way for business." It's giving sacred rebirth. It's giving self-liberation. It's especially giving main character energy.
And while the headlines keep spinning their narratives, the one that Quinta is focused on is her own. For her, slowing down and nourishing herself in ways that feed her is what matters. "It’s a transitional time. I think it’s true for me and my personal life, and it’s how I feel about myself, my career, and the world," Quinta shared with Bustle. “I feel very serious about focusing on watering my own gardens, taking care of myself and the people around me who I actually interact with day-to-day."
That includes indulging in simple rituals that ground her like "making myself a meal" which has become "really, really important to me."
That spirit of agency doesn't stop at the personal. In her professional world, as the creator, executive producer, and lead actress of the critically-acclaimed Abbott Elementary, Quinta understands the weight her choices carry, both on- and off-screen. She revealed to Bustle, "People used to tell me at the beginning of this that the No. 1 on the call sheet sets the tone, and the producer sets the tone — and I’m both of those roles."
She continued, "I understand now, after doing this for four years, how important it was that I set the tone that I did when we first started."
Quinta doesn't just lead, she understands the importance of curating the energy of any space she enters. Even amid a season of shifts and shedding, her power speaks loudly. Sometimes that power looks like quiet resistance. Sometimes that power is soft leadership.
And sometimes that power looks like cutting your hair and taking back your name in rooms that have forgotten you were an artist long before you were a brand.
Read Quinta's cover story on Bustle here to witness the fullness of Quinta's becoming.
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