The Anatomy of a Mom: Inside the Mind of Chandra Wilson a.k.a. Dr. Bailey

Dear Diary,

Chandra Wilson has a similar make up as her TV alter ego, Dr. Miranda Bailey. Both the fictional and real life versions are hardworking, driven, intelligent and talented.  Like many working mothers, myself included, they juggle demanding careers and even more demanding children on little sleep and lots of love. Before Chandra became a huge hit on network television, she worked overnight and weekend shifts at Deutsche Bank. She was still an employee the day she auditioned for Grey’s Anatomy. She landed the role, and the following year, she got another announcement. She was pregnant with her third child, who later became a regular on the set during her breastfeeding breaks.   By now, Chandra was experienced at being a multitasking mother.  When she had her daughter about a decade earlier, she was starring in a stage play in New Jersey. She took time off to deliver her baby and went back to work five days later!   Diary of a First Time Mom caught up with Chandra at the Disney Dreamers Academy to talk about chasing your dreams and your children. Heather: Hi Chandra. It’s so nice to meet you. I always wondered how you balanced being a celebrity and being a mommy.

Chandra: Just like every working mom does, you set a schedule.  You put a support team in place. You hope everyone is where they’re supposed to be when they’re supposed to be there.  But you know what, people are human beings. Everything isn’t  always chronicle and perfect. You get to the end of the day and you go, Whew, we made it through that one!

Heather: What advice would you give moms who think they must give up their dreams when they have a baby?

Chandra: People come up with their own life plans. As far as kids are concerned, they come into the picture when they come into the picture. You think that you’re ready and you’re not. You think that you’re not ready, and you are. There’s no way to tell that. When those blessings show up, it’s our job to be everything to them that we can possibly be.

Heater: How do you do that? Should you put your dreams temporarily on hold?

Chandra: The only thing I can say to that is what I do with my life. I try to be as normal a human being as possible while going after the things that I want in life.  My first daughter was born when I was 24, but at that point I was out of college. I let myself get out of college. I was already an adult, working, paying my own bills, in my relationship. It’s 100% up to you. If you do go on and have children, it doesn’t have to stop anything that you planned to do.

Heather: I agree. Being a mom motivates me to continue to pursue my passion and reach my career goal. Thank you Chandra!

Hey DFTM Fam–How do you strike a healthy balance between your job and your family?  What advice would you give new moms about multitasking?