Designing

Intentional

Lives

Reflections on parenting, identity, design, and technology.

📖 Read the Book ✉️ Join on Substack

★ Author | ★ AI Leader | ★ Founder

“Structure and beauty belong together — in our homes, in our families, in ourselves.” — Amie Bakare.

Stop–Start–Continue

A Gentle-ish Parenting Guide

Now Available on Amazon

Amie Bakare
Author
&
Founder
Sierra Leonean-
American Mom · Tech Leader · Author

— Meet Amie

Hi, I’m Amie.

Nice to meet you.

I help families design intentional lives — where the wisdom of where we came from meets the clarity of where we’re going.

I’m an author, AI Product Leader in pharma, and founder of SparkSynergy. Through Anxious African Mom, I write about parenting, identity, home design, and technology — always through the lens of a first-gen Sierra Leonean-American mom building something new.

Gentle-ish Parenting Breaking cycles with grace
Intentional Homes & Lifestyle Afro-modern design & everyday living
AI for Real Life Tech that works for you
First-Gen Identity Culture, grief & legacy
More About Me →

— THE BOOK

STOP

START

CONTINUE

now available

A gentle-ish parenting framework for first-generation families. Borrowed from agile thinking, designed for real life.

Break cycles without losing yourself in the process

Reflect instead of react in high-stakes moments

Parent with awareness instead of pressure

STOP
START
CONTINUE
Now Available on Amazon

— Thought Pillars

Ideas I’m Exploring

Explore All Writing →
🧠

Gentle-ish Parenting

Breaking inherited cycles and building emotional awareness — without the guilt of imperfection.

Explore →
🏠

Intentional Homes & Lifestyle

Afro-modern design and everyday living — spaces and routines that support calm, creativity, and real family life.

Explore →
✨

AI for Real Life

How technology supports everyday workflows, small businesses, and the life you’re building.

Explore →
🌍

First-Gen Identity

Navigating culture, grief, growth, and legacy — for those writing the first chapter of a new story.

Explore →

— New Here? —

Start With These

Three posts that will tell you everything you need to know about this space — and whether it’s for you.

💛 Motherhood

Intentional Living

The Art of Romanticizing Motherhood — My Version

What it really looks like to find beauty in the everyday chaos of raising children with intention.

Read the Post →
🏠 Home & Lifestyle

Design & Culture

African-Owned Decor Brands You’ll Love

Beautiful, intentional home goods from African-owned brands that deserve a place in your space.

Read the Post →
✨ Tech & AI

AI for Real Life

Best OSEA Dupes — How I Used AI to Compare Every Ingredient

I used AI to break down every ingredient in OSEA’s top products and find the best affordable alternatives.

Read the Post →

  • Stop, Start, Continue: A First-Gen Mom’s Healing Journey

  • A blog post graphic with a terracotta banner at the top that reads "ANXIOUS AFRICAN MOM" in white serif font. Below it, large gold and white text says "BEST OSEA DUPES: How I Use AI to Compare Every Ingredient". The photograph shows a smiling Black woman with curly hair in a ponytail and a beige knit sweater, applying lotion from an OSEA bottle to her arm. On the wooden surface next to her are bottles of OUAI Body Cleanser and Saltair Body Wash. The background is a bright, modern bathroom with plants.

    Best OSEA Dupes: How I Used AI to Compare Every Ingredient

  • How to Use AI Automation Tools to Simplify Your Side Hustle

  • Afro-Modern Interior Design for the Modern African Family

  • How to Cook Sierra Leonean Tola

  • Side-by-side image of an African American woman as a confident CEO in an orange suit and as a stylish mother holding her child, representing delayed gratification and motherhood for high-achieving moms, featured on Anxious African Mom.

    Delayed Gratification and Motherhood for High-Achieving Moms

  • Feature image for a Tech Tuesday blog post titled “ChatGPT vs Claude: Am I Cheating on My AI Bestie?” showing an illustrated Black woman centered between the ChatGPT logo with technical analysis benefits and the Claude logo with executive artifact and document formatting benefits, branded with the Anxious African Mom banner.

    ChatGPT vs Claude: Am I Cheating on My AI Bestie?

  • African American woman standing outdoors at sunset with a calm smile and raised hands, symbolizing letting go and peace, featured image for the blog post “Diminishing Returns: How to Know When It’s Time to Move On” on Anxious African Mom.

    Diminishing Returns: How to Know When It’s Time to Move On

  • SkinCeuticals Vitamin C serum compared to a mystery vitamin C serum with text reading “SkinCeuticals Vitamin C Dupes: How AI Saved My Budget” and Anxious African Mom branding.

    SkinCeuticals Vitamin C Dupes: How AI Saved My Budget

  • Romanticizing motherhood—Black mom with blonde braids savoring morning coffee and self-care in a calm, hotel-inspired bedroom.

    The Art of Romanticizing Motherhood: My Version

  • A first-generation Black mom sits on a light gray sofa reading the “Stop. Start. Continue.” reflection on a tablet, promoting a free gentle reset for moms who are gentle with their kids but hard on themselves, by Anxious African Mom.

    A Gentle Reset for First-Gen Moms (Free Reflection)

  • A smiling Black woman stands in a bright, elegant foyer with a black-and-white checkered marble floor, staircase, and arched window, representing dream home features and modern family interior design.

    8 Dream Home Features Making My Heart Sing