Brandy with daughter Sy'rai
*You wouldn’t even know that Brandy has a child based on her VH1 reality show “Brandy & Ray J: A Family Business” — and that’s exactly how the singer-actress wants it.
Sy’rai Iman, 8, does not appear on screen in the series because her parents believe it could hurt her in the long run.
“Her father [Robert Smith] and I felt it was best for her to have as much of a normal life as possible,” Norwood, 31, reveals to PARADE. “Of course, you’ve seen her on one episode on ‘For the Love of Ray J,’ but it wasn’t every day. You didn’t see her going to school, me combing her hair, or any aspect of our private, intimate moments, which sort of sucks because our relationship is so beautiful.”
Norwood says that she “would love for people to see how I’m doing it, because I think I could be a good example of a young, single mom.”
The secret to her success? “Raising [Sy'rai] in a different way than how I was raised,” Brandy reveals. “A lot of mothers feel like they’re the mom first, with that authority,” she continues. “But for me, I’m a friend first. I believe that just being there for my daughter as a friend more than ‘I’m in charge…’ causes her to be more open with me as a person.”
“If I have an authoritative wall up, she’s going to rebel and not come to me and I don’t want that,” Brandy says, but also acknowledges that there are “of course” times that she needs to assume the role of disciplinarian. Fortunately, they appear to be few and far between.
“I know I’ll probably get flack for being a friend first, but it really works,” she insists. “[Sy'rai]‘s really honest with me. I’m just teaching her how to trust herself. I tell her all the time that my life is not your life — you have your own life.”
“At the end of the day we’re going to be friends,” Norwood predicts. “When she grows up, it’ll be about that friendship that we’ll have. She’ll come to me for any problems that she has.”
so basically brandy is in denial about being a parent so she opts to be her 8 yr old daughter’s friend…..she sounds stupid! as a parent you’re supposed to be the authoritative person. that doesn’t stop your child from coming to you about things.
Yeah. She says that until her child begins adolescence and begins trying her as is developmentally age-appropriate. Being a friend first and then pulling the “mom card” just confuses a child. I also hope she doesn’t become one of those moms who would rather their children drink/have sex at home where they know where their children are doing that kinda stuff. Nah. She’ll have plenty of friends. That child needs Brandi to be a mom. They can be friends after she’s out of college. That mindset is exactly why so many of our kids are so out of control. Ridiculous.
Snicker and Queeniebunz make some good points. hopefully, all will work out in the long run for Brandy and Sy’rai. Anyway Sy’rai is adorable.
Please no more deliberate published pictures without make-up!
I think Brandi and Robert are doing the right thing in keeping their daughter out of the limelight. That is good parenting. When she says that her life is not her child’s life and shares it with Syrai……good parenting. Being able to foster communication with her child…… good parenting. Disciplining like a parent should and not as a friend? Good Parenting.
I think the label friend is not being used properly. A parent who acts like a friend, allows their children to do whatever they want without censure. A friend would allow the child to talk any kind of way, not go to school if they didn’t want, let them do their own hair, and appear on TV shows without assessment. All of Brandi’s words are actually saying something a little different than “I am her friend.”
I would say she is actually being a Mother.
I think it is the goal of every parent for their child to say…..”My parents are cool. I can tell them things and they help me figure stuff out, but I know that if I step out of line, my a$% is grass.” These are the words of a child that respects authority and values the person in the position.
Some parents achieve that balance, but many do not and maybe because of that, the definition of mother and father turned into strict disciplinarian to fear or easy friend who don’t care.
yeah that’s all fine and good until like queenie said she becomes a teenager. she will try and be her disciplinarian then and that girl won’t listen to a word she says. you can be your child’s friend after they grow up not before. trust me kids like to have someone who puts them in their place no matter how much they complain. being their friend first when they are minors is a bad move.
Well, we all know Brandy is nothing but a liar and a fraud anyway. I can tell you first hand, being a friend instead of a parent can cost you dearly. Your children will never respect you and its almost impossible to undue the damage. I think they’re doing this stupid reality show for $$$ I guess you can’t knock their hustle