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he’s married to ace DJ and entertainer Wayne Marshall, and step-mother to 7-year-old Giomar. Tami Chynn steps from behind the glitz and glamour of show business and introduces us to Tammar Annika Chin-Mitchell, an easy-going, down-to-earth, girl next door. She disarmed us with a laugh so genuine, and an aura so sweet, it’s hard to believe that this is the same person who has transformed into diva-mode, and rocked audiences worldwide. Tami is an entertainer, who embraced her roles on stage with the highest standards of professionalism. “I was born to perform”, she states. But now, as she prepares to welcome her firstborn, Tami is ready for her greatest performance yet. If being happy were the remedy for an easy delivery, then Tami is in for a treat! It’s hard to be around this lady and not laugh. And I’m not talking about a mild chuckle. You know the kind of laugh that makes your belly move? Well, that’s what I’m talking about. And if there’s any truth to what ‘they’ say about the transfer of emotions from mother to baby, then this little man here (it's a boy!) is bound to be one happy kid. Guaranteed. And Tami has good reason to be happy. “I’m married to an amazing man who allowed me to prepare for this moment in my life”. Tami speaks of her role as stepmother to Gio, as playing a defining part in making her ready to welcome and parent her own child. “I’ve learned life lessons about love, and patience and understanding, but above all, I’ve learned that happiness is a choice. We don’t always choose all the things that happen to us, but we can always choose how to react.” .
ON BEING MOM B3: Have you always wanted to have children?
Tami: Definitely! My mother was a stay-at-home mom, so it was always my dream to become a mother too. I grew up in a large family of 5 children, (three girls and two boys), and a million cousins - so there was lots of love and hugs to share. I would have started long ago, but I had plans that had to be fulfilled, and goals that I had to achieve. I’ve put a check in all those boxes, and now that I’ve started [to have children], I don’t think
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I’ll be able to stop. [insert belly laugh here]. Wayne says if we have more than three, they’ll have to homeschooled!
Were you ever scared about being a ‘stepmother’?
Oh yes! There’s a pre-conceived notion of the ‘evil step –mother’, and that was a scary thought. In the beginning I didn’t know where my relationship (with Wayne) was going, so yes, there were reservations. But Wayne and Regina, (Gio’s mom), gave me the chance to step into the role. It was drama-free, and continues to be a wonderful network of love and trust and cooperation. It’s a net that really works. [insert belly laugh]
ON BLENDING From all appearances, you guys seem to be testament to a successful blended (and blending!) family. Has it always been so seamless having a relationship with the mother of Wayne’s firstborn, and developing your role as a step-mother?
If Regina wasn’t who she is, this couldn’t work, and that’s the truth. Gio is her child, and I have to respect that. And she too respects the fact that I am Wayne’s wife. It’s easy to expect ‘baby-mama-drama’, but Regina gave me a new model to look at. She has set a high bar for mothers who have to ‘share’ their children. I’m not telling anyone how to live their life, but if people take the focus off themselves and put it on the child, where it belongs, there’s a world of happiness to be had. When it comes to Gio, I speak to Regina more than I do Wayne. [insert that laugh again]
A successful story like that must have taken dedicated work on several sides, so what have been your biggest challenges as a blended family?
Scheduling! It can get confusing around here. Whose day is it for pick-up? Where are these shorts? I thought they were at your house! [belly laugh]. But seriously, in a family like ours, decisions aren’t made just by two people, so we have to communicate freely and often. Our common denominator is Gio, so we all have to make choices and decisions with his best interest at heart. And for me, being the step-mother, I have to know when to step back.
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