Motherhood is a transformative journey that reshapes perspectives, priorities, and daily routines. For Rochelle Rao, the journey into motherhood has been a revelation, bringing forth new insights into life, career, and self-discovery. In an exclusive interview on Mother's Day, Rochelle shares her experiences, challenges, and joys of being a new mom while navigating the demands of a career in the entertainment industry.
How has motherhood changed your perspective on life and career?
Motherhood changes your perspective on life and career simply because your child becomes a priority above all else. As much as you love your work and your career, you will always put her first, and sometimes that means taking a step back from some work or changing the way you work—your focus at work and catering it to meet her needs and schedule. So I think the priorities shift, and it's a good thing. It's amazing because you realize that you can do both. You can do it all. You find a lot more inner strength than you thought you had to get everything done.
What has been the most surprising or unexpected aspect of being a new mom?
The most surprising thing for me is that I didn't realize that I would be so comfortable in terms of teaching, playing, constructive play, and all of that stuff. I didn't realize I would enjoy it so much more than doing the mothering part of it or feeding and caring for her. I think I'm enjoying the play, the learning, the exercises, the fitness, and figuring out what she can and can't do. And it's a lot of fun. So I was surprised to find out A. to be good at it and B. to enjoy it so much.
How do you balance your career in the entertainment industry with your role as a mother, and what advice would you give to other new moms navigating motherhood and career challenges?
It's actually a lot easier to balance careers in the entertainment industry nowadays because people are quite accommodating. I also have a husband who is equally parenting with me. So when he has a shoot, I take on the load. When I have a shoot, he takes on the load. Nowadays, producers have understood that we need the support that we need as moms, and even when I'm on set, I get an extra part of my vanity. I set up everything for her so that she can be there with me on set, and we do it together, and it's pretty much worked out. I would advise people to see how you could bring your kid along with you to your work because if you have them around you, they're still learning by watching you. They get socialized; they have new activities to learn a lot from the environment, and you don't feel like you're leaving your kid behind; that's so important because when we leave our kids at home with somebody else, and they're not at our space in our environment, it feels like, "Oh, what have I done? I've left my kid at home." My advice is to try your best to bring your kid with you to work. And if you can't, if it's absolutely impossible, then try your best to reschedule so that you can at least spend some time during the day with your child, no matter how hard it is.
How do you plan to celebrate your very first Mother's Day?
Well, my super-husband, Keith, is planning the Mother's Day celebration. We started the weekend with a beach cleanup to give back to Mother Earth, who is mother to us all. And that was really great. We also went for a lovely mother-and-me party at our local gym, where Josephine has become a bit of a star because she's so good at baby gym and loved it. We enjoyed the games, and all her friends were there, which was really fun. And there was a surprise treat that my husband was planned by my husband last evening, and there's another surprise today. So it's going to be a really fun weekend.
What are your thoughts on the importance of self-care for mothers, and how do you make time for yourself?
Self-care is a question I get asked a lot, and in the first couple of months after having my baby, I was all about, yeah, get that self-care and everything. But I'm not going to say it today because it's really hard. It's hard to find the time, and some mothers just don't have the option. They're working, they are taking care of their babies, and their husbands are working, so you have to find new forms of self-care, even if it's just getting yourself a more fancy brand of coffee or spoiling yourself by ordering in once in a while, I think you have to find new ways to do it because the olden ways that you probably did it before you had a baby of going to the parlour and doing your nails for two hours or any of that stuff isn't going to happen anymore. And it's unrealistic to try to make it happen also. So yeah, that's what I would say.
Are there any upcoming projects or initiatives you're excited about in your career or personal life?
I'm working on a campaign related to the IPL, which is a lot of fun for Tata Neu. Apart from that, I am just getting back into the zone with work, and a few projects are being discussed. Let's see what the future holds; I need to be a little more selective with what I pick up now, so hopefully, there will be something new to announce soon.
As Rochelle embraces the joys and challenges of motherhood, she sets an inspiring example for mothers everywhere, showing that with love, balance, and a supportive environment, one can navigate the complexities of life and career. This Mother's Day, let's celebrate the spirit of motherhood and the remarkable women who define it.
How has motherhood changed your perspective on life and career?
Motherhood changes your perspective on life and career simply because your child becomes a priority above all else. As much as you love your work and your career, you will always put her first, and sometimes that means taking a step back from some work or changing the way you work—your focus at work and catering it to meet her needs and schedule. So I think the priorities shift, and it's a good thing. It's amazing because you realize that you can do both. You can do it all. You find a lot more inner strength than you thought you had to get everything done.
What has been the most surprising or unexpected aspect of being a new mom?
The most surprising thing for me is that I didn't realize that I would be so comfortable in terms of teaching, playing, constructive play, and all of that stuff. I didn't realize I would enjoy it so much more than doing the mothering part of it or feeding and caring for her. I think I'm enjoying the play, the learning, the exercises, the fitness, and figuring out what she can and can't do. And it's a lot of fun. So I was surprised to find out A. to be good at it and B. to enjoy it so much.
How do you balance your career in the entertainment industry with your role as a mother, and what advice would you give to other new moms navigating motherhood and career challenges?
It's actually a lot easier to balance careers in the entertainment industry nowadays because people are quite accommodating. I also have a husband who is equally parenting with me. So when he has a shoot, I take on the load. When I have a shoot, he takes on the load. Nowadays, producers have understood that we need the support that we need as moms, and even when I'm on set, I get an extra part of my vanity. I set up everything for her so that she can be there with me on set, and we do it together, and it's pretty much worked out. I would advise people to see how you could bring your kid along with you to your work because if you have them around you, they're still learning by watching you. They get socialized; they have new activities to learn a lot from the environment, and you don't feel like you're leaving your kid behind; that's so important because when we leave our kids at home with somebody else, and they're not at our space in our environment, it feels like, "Oh, what have I done? I've left my kid at home." My advice is to try your best to bring your kid with you to work. And if you can't, if it's absolutely impossible, then try your best to reschedule so that you can at least spend some time during the day with your child, no matter how hard it is.
How do you plan to celebrate your very first Mother's Day?
Well, my super-husband, Keith, is planning the Mother's Day celebration. We started the weekend with a beach cleanup to give back to Mother Earth, who is mother to us all. And that was really great. We also went for a lovely mother-and-me party at our local gym, where Josephine has become a bit of a star because she's so good at baby gym and loved it. We enjoyed the games, and all her friends were there, which was really fun. And there was a surprise treat that my husband was planned by my husband last evening, and there's another surprise today. So it's going to be a really fun weekend.
What are your thoughts on the importance of self-care for mothers, and how do you make time for yourself?
Self-care is a question I get asked a lot, and in the first couple of months after having my baby, I was all about, yeah, get that self-care and everything. But I'm not going to say it today because it's really hard. It's hard to find the time, and some mothers just don't have the option. They're working, they are taking care of their babies, and their husbands are working, so you have to find new forms of self-care, even if it's just getting yourself a more fancy brand of coffee or spoiling yourself by ordering in once in a while, I think you have to find new ways to do it because the olden ways that you probably did it before you had a baby of going to the parlour and doing your nails for two hours or any of that stuff isn't going to happen anymore. And it's unrealistic to try to make it happen also. So yeah, that's what I would say.
Are there any upcoming projects or initiatives you're excited about in your career or personal life?
I'm working on a campaign related to the IPL, which is a lot of fun for Tata Neu. Apart from that, I am just getting back into the zone with work, and a few projects are being discussed. Let's see what the future holds; I need to be a little more selective with what I pick up now, so hopefully, there will be something new to announce soon.
As Rochelle embraces the joys and challenges of motherhood, she sets an inspiring example for mothers everywhere, showing that with love, balance, and a supportive environment, one can navigate the complexities of life and career. This Mother's Day, let's celebrate the spirit of motherhood and the remarkable women who define it.
Next Story