Each month, iParenting.com spotlights a mother who inspires and moves us, who embodies the qualities that we all admire in a person, a woman and a mother. Above all, the Mom of the Month is dedicated to her children. Rich or poor, famous or not, she shines as an example of what mothering is all about.

Our Mom of the Month for November is Vanessa Williams, a television and film star and dedicated mother of a 4-year-old son.

Television and film star Vanessa Williams relishes her role as mom both on and off screen.

In Showtime’s hit series Soul Food she plays Maxine Chadway, a passionate mother of three, and in real life she’s the proud mom of 4-year-old Omar. “Getting the chance to show the inspirational trials and tribulations that my character [Maxine] goes through as a mother is a wonderful blessing, and mothering my own son is life-altering and amazing,” she says.

Just Do It
Raised in Brooklyn, N.Y. without a silver spoon in her mouth, Williams never hesitated to follow her dreams. “My family made do with what we had, but we were never short of love, and I learned that instead of talking about doing something it’s important to get up and do it.”

So that’s what she did. Williams started out training with the New York City Opera Children’s Chorus and attending the High School for the Performing Arts. She now stars on Showtime, has several feature films credits (Candyman, New Jack City), and has guest starred on numerous television shows, such as Murder One, for which she earned an NAACP Image Award Nomination.

Soul Food is taped in Toronto and Williams says commuting from Los Angeles is hard. She aches for her son and husband while filming, but the threesome isn’t ready to pack their bags and permanently move to Canada just yet. “We thrive in that Los Angeles sun,” she says.

She credits her husband of eight years, Andre Wiseman, with helping her keep sane while she juggles TV, family and movie roles. As an entrepreneur and talent manager he can set his own hours, and he drives Omar to preschool and takes care of him when she’s on location. This frees her from worry and lets her concentrate on the warm, bright-smiled performances that have made her famous.

In addition to acting, Williams is working on an album of songs and poetry. “I’ve always been a singer and storyteller. I have an urge to sing about my experiences, and if even one person hears what I’m saying and identifies, it’s worth it,” she says.

Williams loves making up songs with her son. They often take walks on the beach and Omar unabashedly bursts into song. “He’s a really fun person to be around, a gift,” she says. The family also likes to visit children’s museums, watch movies (especially IMAX films) and ski.

Motherhood 101
An admitted bookworm, Williams read voraciously about prenatal care, motherhood and parenting while pregnant. She laughs, “At my baby shower I had a list of questions and my questions about raising a child haven’t stopped.” She and her friends regularly exchange parenting books, joking that someone needs to type up a suggested reading list for parents.

Williams is a vegetarian, and she used holistic remedies to treat her son’s ear infections and diaper rash. “The doctor gives his diagnosis and then I’m in there with homeopathy and herbal books,” she says. She utilizes all treatment options, often blending western, homeopathic, herbal and nutritional methodologies.

Although motherhood is rewarding for Williams, it also can be trying. “Some days I wonder ‘who’s this little monster behind me,’” she laughs. “You need to have your mama or friend to rally around you on those days or a doula to help when you’re pregnant.”

Williams believes there was a reason indigenous cultures raised children together. “There’s something to be said about a group of mamas living together and helping each other,” she says.

Her desire to help others led Williams to become a March of Dimes spokesperson. “Even though my kid is completely healthy, when you go through nursing a child into existence you realize how fragile the child is and how tenuous life is,” she says. Williams proudly recalls how the March of Dimes helped save the life of a 1 pound, 8 ounce premature baby. “Thanks to donations, that struggling infant is now a healthy child,” she says.

When Williams isn’t working or volunteering she lives on little sleep, and tries to prioritize her life. “When things get hectic I think, ‘How important is it? More important than reading to my baby?’” she says. Sometimes she’s in the middle of a project that needs finishing, but she puts her preschooler’s needs first, often foregoing sleep to stay up late and rehearse. “I never want my son to feel he’s not a priority,” she says.

If Williams ever finds a spare moment she would like to experiment with art. “Besides a singer, I also have a painter inside of me,” she laughs. She feels fortunate to find so much in life to be passionate about. “I’m so grateful to be living here in the middle of my answered prayers,” she says.