Motherhood is a life of sacrifice and dedication.
I’m not afraid to say it; I’m a momma’s boy. I’m the oldest child in my family, and until the stars decided to align for me to finally get a little brother after nearly 20 years during which my mom gave birth to my two sisters, I was the only boy. But as anyone who is the first born in their family, they can attest to the bond that they have with their mother compared to ‘the others’.
I could go on an on about the times my mom should have literally taken me out the world that she has brought me into (and there are ALOT and still counting!), but I can do the same for the moments we’ve shared that have strengthened our bond and add to the growing list of “let me tell you about the time me and your daddy” stories she’ll tell my future kids.
We have memories we can laugh about and one’s that we’d rather forget, but through it all one constant remains; never once have I doubted that my mom would be there. Whenever I need a friend, confidant or critic she’s always and will be there, and as I grow older I realize and appreciate the sacrifices that she has made in order for me to have a better life.
There is no better example of a mother’s love for her son than Angela Means when it comes to her son, Miami quarterback Brad Kaaya.
Means is best known for appearing in several movies and television shows in the 90s. Now, instead of being just known as ‘Felicia from Friday‘, Means has added Miami Hurricane Team Mom to her resume. During our conversation, its evident that being the mother of Brad Kaaya takes top billing compared to her other achievements.
It was doing filming for Friday that Means became pregnant with Kaaya. Having worked on establishing her career as a stand-up comic and model, Means’ appearance in the film was her first big break into Hollywood and would open the doors needed to continue her budding career.
“People don’t really know this but I was a stand-up comedian and my goal was to just do clubs and colleges, my goal wasn’t really to be an actress. I just wanted to get enough TV and film credits so I could headline at a higher rate. I was attracted to the Felicia part because it was different, I was attracted to the House Party 3 role because there was a legacy since Kid n Play were legends and I got to play opposite of Kid. All of that was to open up road work in comedy clubs and that’s where I really thrived.”
However, the birth of her first and only child would turn into a life changing and career altering moment. Though tough in the beginning, Means welcomed the transition from opening act to taking the backseat to her son.
“I loved it [doing stand-up] more than anything; I had complete control of my material and what I was going to do on stage got an immediate response from the audience. That part was tough not being able to travel, because I knew I couldn’t raise my son from a hotel room in Paducah, Kentucky.”
“But I was able to get over that because Brad was so special. By the time he was three I had activities for him every single day. I found him a great preschool and did a lot of things with him, he was reading by three, playing chess, we took a lot of road trips. He had a great, great babyhood.”
“I really focused on getting Brad ready for kindergarten because I remember when I was in kindergarten I couldn’t spell the word ‘the’ and felt so embarrassed (laugh). So I over prepared Brad – he was the valedictorian of his preschool class! I just wanted him to be prepared for everything, especially when he entered school.”
Like most parents, Ms. Means had a plan for her son to follow – I was destined to be a lawyer, and like most children, Brad had other plans:
“When he was a kid I put him in a lot of things but it was football that stuck. When Brad was still little, I got my agent to send him out on a couple of auditions. He went to two and after the first one he said he didn’t like it. After the second one, we were in the car and he turned to me and said “Momma I’m not an actor, I’m a football player! [laughs]” After that, I said “OK, that’s a wrap on that [laughs].”
The old adage is that its a mother’s job to worry.
Around the time Kaaya was being recruited by Miami, the program was in a state of turmoil. Possible NCAA sanctions as fallout from the Nevin Shapiro scandal shed an overcast over the program and led to subsequent instability within the University administration, not to mention former coach Al Golden’s seat was starting to heating up. Factor all of this along with the fact that her only child was going all the way across the country from Los Angeles to Miami, it would certainly cause anxiety for any mother. However, Ms. Means had confidence that her son was going to the best place for him.
“There really wasn’t a concern. I knew Miami was the perfect place for him. With the talent that’s there and the weapons he has as at quarterback it was just perfect for him. I always wanted him to go away for school because its not just going to school – but its growing up. The experience of being so far away from home has given him an edge on life and you have to leave the nest, you have to go, and the farther the better.”
“There was not one apprehension whatsoever. When Bradley got to showcase his talents, I knew everything was going to be alright.”
After years of raising children into adulthood, a mother always finds something to occupy the time she has once the children leave the nest. For my mom it’s been crocheting; me and my siblings have enough blankets and scarves to survive a blizzard. With her goal of preparing her son for adulthood nearly complete Means has began to reestablish her own lane. A long time vegetarian Means has added chef to her resume.
“I was raised on a farm and I’ve just always loved vegetables. My mom was real big on me having fruit going up. I remember being in different cities and going to the soul food restaurants and I would always get the vegetable plate. For years I would not eat meat. Staying at home with Brad I would always cook sometimes with meat. I even sent him off to school a little fat but of course that has all turned to muscle now [laughs].”
“But since he’s been gone, I’ve really delved deep into the vegan lifestyle and have been carving a niche for myself in the vegan dessert market. I make a cheesecake that Bradley loves that. I do plan on launching a site of some type when Bradley gets out of school.”
An accomplished individual in her own right, Angela Means has had success, staring in classic 90s movies Friday and House Party 3, along with playing Vanessa Walker in Nickelodeon’s Cousin Skeeter. But it is obvious, out of all her accomplishments, nothing has made her prouder than seeing her son develop into not only one of the best quarterbacks in college football, but a man as well.
“One of my proudest moments was when he was sophomore in high school. He hardly got to play that year and the coach had a player, who was talented, but obviously not as talented as Brad. But Brad would suit up and hold up the play cards to send in the play to the other quarterback. Even the newspapers where asking ‘why isn’t Brad Kaaya playing?’, but he handled it with so much grace; he never complained, he played his position and did what his coach asked of him. My pride is in his maturity and seeing him develop as a player throughout Pop Warner to Miami. I guess my most proudest moment would be the way he carried himself through some of his most trying times as a player.”
It wasn’t until I became an adult that I began to realize all the sacrifices and dedication it takes to raise a child. Like most children, I used to take my mom and the things she would do for me for granted, but I now understand why and how she was preparing me for adulthood.
Speaking to Ms. Means reiterated to me how hard my mother worked in order for me to not only make it into adulthood but succeed as well. With Brad Kaaya predicted by many to be the first quarterback off the board in next year’s NFL Draft and the face of a changing Miami, its obvious Angela Means’ dedication and sacrifice was well worth it.
“Just going forward as a college football mom and being involved with the program its been magnificent the whole way. Its just one of the joys of my life and I never regret stopping my career for this wonderful, wonderful journey. The backseat I’ve taken to Bradley its a wonderful backseat and placing him in the driver seat has been one of the best decisions in my life. I’m the happiest mom in America!”
