Life & Work with Patrice Baker

Today we’d like to introduce you to Patrice Baker. 

Hi Patrice, so excited to have you with us today. What can you tell us about your story?
I got married in my 2nd year of college and we had twins a couple of years into marriage. We talked a lot about me being a stay-at-home mom once we became parents. Some days I felt like the queen of my royal abode and enjoyed managing my kingdom during the day and at other times I felt like my decision to be a stay-at-home mom was frowned upon. I can remember going to a corporate function with my husband and was asked by one of his colleagues what career path I had taken. I explained that I was a SAHM and she bluntly laughed and asked why, saying she could never do that. 

I loved meeting my husband at the door and inviting him to sit at a dinner table that was spread with homemade comfort food, made by my loving hands. However, I created jobs with the gifts that I have been blessed with. We have to realize that stay-at-home moms are not “just moms” or “just wives.” No, we are much more than that! 

I chose an interest and started developing that skill! I was not afraid of trying new things. I didn’t want to be a repackaged version of corporate America or an idle time-sink. I loved shopping and always received compliments on how well I dressed my family so I planned and created my own personal shopping business. 

I enjoyed it! It was new, different, and completely unlike the things I had done before. It helped me connect with people outside of my home. And as CEO of my new venture, I had flexibility enabling me to be with family and to have personal money on the side. So, when I am asked who I am, my answer isn’t so simple. Entrepreneur? Small-business woman? Wife? Mother? Diaper-changer? Chef? Unemployed? Maid? My reply is YES to all of the above! Simple answers no longer define me, and the biggest challenge of my life has been learning to accept this and to wear my many hats proudly as I walk into my uncertain new future. A good friend of mine reminded me that as long as I have a pulse, I have a purpose. So, it’s never too late to pursue your passion or dream. 

Would you say it’s been a smooth road, and if not, what are some of the biggest challenges you’ve faced along the way?
It has been a struggle for me to do things that make me uncomfortable. Although I’m an introvert, people are drawn to me and I love helping people. When I’m called upon to do public speaking (when I would rather mentor one on one), I’ve learned that I have to relinquish being comfortable in order to do what I am called to do. As my platform has grown, I’ve decided to embrace the challenges as opportunities. Growth for me has been walking through the unknown and awakening the unknown parts which felt scary. 

Another difficulty has been transitioning from being a stay-at-home mom (SAHM) to the corporate arena. For the most part, I enjoyed being a SAHM. As mentioned, I created jobs or I worked part-time jobs periodically when my children were in grade school. I decided when they were in High School to test the waters and work as a receptionist which quickly progressed to an Administrative Assistant. Although gap years between employment isn’t rare, it required a lot of thoughtful explanations to help employers understand my transferable skills and how they translated to my employability. 

Thanks for sharing that. So, maybe next you can tell us a bit more about your work?
Now that all of my children are married and have made me a proud grandma to 6 beautiful children who I affectionately call my “kisses,” I decided to use my gifts over the years to invest in the development of women. I am also a Pastor’s wife, a position I love dearly. My 36 years of marriage has qualified me to be a mentor, teaching and connecting with women, mothers, and wives. I started a Tea Time conference where I would bring speakers in to help strengthen, encourage and motivate women to be the best they can be. The pandemic caused a pause but I am eagerly planning and anticipating the next event. It’s not your average conference – I give away amazing prizes and the ladies leave feeling like they can conquer the world. I have also been journaling since I was 13 years old and I decided to publish my journey in book and blog form in hopes to encourage. The feedback has been great! 

My life has been a great journey. I’ve had opportunities to speak at Ted Talks as well as other conferences, traveling to share my journey as an author, wife, mother, and Pastor’s wife. 

What sort of changes are you expecting over the next 5-10 years?
My dream is to host conferences so large that I will be booked out a year in advance! My passion is for the personal growth of women and to ignite a passion and drive in them to fulfill their purpose in life. Growth is indeed a process. Letting yourself grow causes fulfillment and a real chance to build a bigger life. It requires setting goals, both long and short term because I am confident that your skillset and development can qualify you and place you before the right audience. 

Contact Info:

• Email: ladypatricebaker@gmail.com