Sister 2 Sister - October 2003

   

Teresa Caldwell: Bow Wow's mom and manager

Ask Teresa Caldwell what made her decide to manage her superstar son, Bow Wow, and she immediately replies, "Who know a child better than the parent? I respect all of his decision. Most important, he can trust me and I can trust him." And their trust is rock solid.

Teresa is Bow Wow's manager, but mother first
Sixteen-year-old Shad Moss, a.k.a. Bow Wow, grew up in show business. He was in TV commercials and print ads by the ago of 3. When he was about 4, Teresa ercalled how he used to ask, "Mom, how come everybody is staring at me?" Folks were just entranced by his charismatic appear. "And he's say, "Mom, I think I'm an angel.' And I'd say, 'Yeah, you are.'"

Bow and Mom have a good relationship. "Although I am his manager," she said, "I'm his mother first." He's a good, well-grounded child, but every now and then she has had to "get ugly and put him on punishment.'"

Teresa said the entertainment industry has accepted her as a mom and a manager. "It was so tough at first," she revealed. "It's just like any career; you have to prove yourself, especially as a female because they're used to dealing with men. And now, they've got me cursing. I don't even curse! Every now and then they have me slipping. I have to get on my hands and knees for these people - they test me."

Another hurdle? Teresa is learning that everybody is not your friend. "I had to learn that you can't help everybody. And it's just hard when you think somebody is your friend and you find out [it isn't so]. It's so heartbreaking." So now, she operated like it's all business. "I'm not trying to make new friends. I have enough."