Life as a single dad for legendary music producer Tedd Josiah
Renowned music producer and businessman Tedd Josiah recently shared the struggles of raising his daughter, Wendo, as a single father.
Following the untimely passing of his wife, Regina in September 2017, Josiah found himself navigating the complexities of parenthood alone, a journey he describes as both challenging and rewarding.
Tedd and Regina’s daughter was barely three weeks old at the time of her demise.
In an interview with Nairobi News, Josiah recounted how his life changed dramatically after Regina’s death.
With his mother too old to assist, his sisters living abroad, and Regina’s mother engulfed in grief, Josiah took on the responsibility of raising their daughter, Jamila, entirely on his own.
“Jay and I started our journey from that point,” he reflected.
Determined to provide the best for his daughter, Josiah was committed to being a hands-on father, despite the obstacles.
“I was intentional about having Jay and Jamila. No matter how complicated it got, I said I would weather the storm with the child,” he stated.
Ted says one of the toughest transitions Josiah encountered was feeding Jamila after she could no longer rely on her mother’s breast milk.
It took weeks to find the right formula, a period fraught with issues like constipation, diarrhea, eczema, and colic.
During this time, Josiah had to master every aspect of infant care, from mixing formula to changing diapers, often even instructing his nanny on how to properly care for Jamila.
Josiah says he also dealt with public scrutiny and awkward situations.
Being a man alone with a baby often drew curious stares and intrusive questions, particularly about the whereabouts of the mother.
“That question, I’ve been asked very many times,” Josiah noted, recalling instances in clinics, airports, and even public restrooms where he had to explain his circumstances.
At one point, Josiah says he was held at an airport by immigration officials who suspected he might be kidnapping his child.
“I’ve had to change my child’s diaper on a toilet floor because there was no other place that we could do it. Because I could not take her to a gents and I would not be allowed to go into a ladies,” he shared.
Tedd Josiah’s daughter is seven years old and in school.