Question:

Why are you called "MamaRed"?

Answer:

Although many folks expect me to wear red because of the name, that isn't actually where it came from (although I love my red hair and wear red polish a lot). "Mama" is for the warm, caring, teaching, nurturing side of me. "Red" is for the firey, intensely passionate personality I have (often likened to that of the "typical" redhead.

I'm known as the Mama who'll love you up, cheer you on and kick your butt when needed. Giving big, warm, squishy bear hugs, drying tears, protecting, celebrating successes, rewriting stories considered "failures" and pushing people to be the best they can be.

The name was given to me many years ago by the girl who became my stepdaughter. We were looking for something she could call me that wouldn't be my first name and wouldn't indicate I was replacing her own mother. I told her I would be flexible, although some things were out of line. She had commented many times how motherly I was and how I was different from other mothers she had known. I tended towards the loving, nurturing side of things, especially when she wasn't feeling well or was having a hard time. The name she came back with was MamaRed and it stuck!

At first she was the only one who called me that. Many years later I was teaching Sunday school and the kids were having a hard time with "Jerilynne" (they were little ones), so they began calling me "Ms Red" or "MamaRed" which was much easier for them to say. As I moved into speaking and coaching, I introduced myself at an event as MamaRed simply to see how it would go over, testing the waters if you will.

And it went over like gangbusters. Folks said it "matched", "felt right" and was "comfortable". Then I used it as my name on the first forum I joined and an entirely group of people liked it as well. So I continued putting it out there in forums, as my Twitter name, as my business name, on Facebook.

And there ya go, MamaRed it is!