Mrs Rosalind Umar, The Glam-ma Who Boxes, Bants, and Breaks Stereotypes
Say hello to Mrs. Rosalind Umar, our LagosMums GrandMum of the Month!
At 74, she’s redefining what it means to be a grandma. A proud mother of 10 and grandmother to 17, Mrs. Umar is as comfortable in a pair of boxing gloves as she is with a good book in hand. She’s full of energy, full of laughs, and full of wisdom, the kind you don’t just read about, but feel when you’re around her.
From weightlifting sessions to dance-offs with her grandkids, Mrs. Umar reminds us that age is just a number and self-care can be equal parts fitness and fun. In this candid feature, she shares her unfiltered thoughts on motherhood, fitness, parenting in changing times, and why being a grandma today is more exciting than ever.
Her Journey into the Fitness World
Mrs. Umar didn’t grow up boxing or weightlifting, but when a raised blood sugar diagnosis nudged her toward healthier habits, she leaned all the way in.
“I started working out because I wanted to reduce my weight,” she says. “But it became something much more. Now, I love bench pressing, and boxing is a hobby of mine!”
From martial arts to dance aerobics, fitness has become her love language with her own body. And she doesn’t just work out, she trains, with the energy of someone decades younger. Her resistance workouts and strict routine aren’t just impressive; they’re a declaration: age will not define her!
When she’s not throwing jabs in a boxing class, she’s dancing and having fun with her 10-year-old twin grandkids, a trio of energy that could shame most 30-somethings. She lifts weights, bench-presses with a smirk, and handles her house chores solo, having refused to hire a maid for over 11 years.
Love, Laughter, and Grandkids
For Mrs Umar, family is everything. She and her husband – her best friend and a “diamond,” as she lovingly describes him, have a beautiful, blended family of 10 children and 17 grandchildren.
“My grandchildren bring out the fun part of me,” she says, eyes twinkling with delight. “I love to come down to their level, horseplay, joke around. We bond over WWE wrestling, football, and whatever fun they bring with them.”
One moment that still makes her laugh? Her 9-year-old granddaughter Celine, calling out her attempt at a faux-American accent.
“Grandma, why do you talk so funny and weird?” she had asked.
“Omo! It was that very day that I stopped my fake Yankee accent,” Mrs. Umar says with a hearty laugh. “I was mortified!”
Most of her grandkids live abroad, but she makes the most of her time with those in Lagos. “They come during the holidays, and those weeks are golden.”
The Accidental Fitness Queen
It all started when a routine checkup revealed a raised blood sugar level. That discovery flipped a switch in her. So, she started working out – not gently, not reluctantly, but with intensity. Boxing became a hobby. Strength training became her thing. And before long, she was bench-pressing more than women half her age.
Now, exercise is her therapy. “I stay healthy by exercising regularly,” she shares with LagosMums.
Forget spa days, this grandma would rather be sweating in a dance aerobics class or learning a new martial arts combo. For her, fitness isn’t just about health, it’s about identity.
Glam-ma with the Grit
But Mrs. Umar is more than a fitness story. She’s a matriarch with layers. She’s a stay-at-home wife and grandmother to children and grandchildren whose ages range from 38 to 53.
“I became a grandmother in my fifties,” she says. But she’s not just your typical grandmother. She’s the grandmother that grandmothers with style, energy and grace.
She doesn’t just coo at the babies. She connects with them. Her Lagos-based grandkids spend holidays with her watching WWE matches, debating football scores, or just “bantering and horseplaying,” as she calls it.
She knows their slang, tries their video games, and shares in their joy.
On Style and Staying Sharp
Mrs. Umar doesn’t just feel strong, she looks the part. She keeps her hair low, her makeup minimal, and her outfits simple yet classic. “I don’t wear busy clothes,” she says. “They’re beautiful, but not me.”
Instead, she prefers to go for the “Classic, not dramatic” look. “Minimal makeup. Always a scarf or a hat. I’ve kept a low-cut all my life.”
Style comes naturally to her, but so does digital savvy. She uses Google, online banking apps, and reads the news digitally. “Grandparents these days need to keep up,” she says. “Learn how to do your transactions, book your flights, load your NEPA. And if you can drive, drive. You won’t always have someone to do it for you.”
Then and Now: Parenting Across Generations
As a mother, Mrs Rosalind raised her children the old-school way: structure, chores, boarding school, and tough love. “I was strict and old-fashioned in some respects,” she says. “Now, parents are more approachable and liberal. My grandchildren all attended crèche and nursery, which didn’t exist in our time. They use washing machines instead of the tedious handwash that I made mine do.”
But Mrs Umar embraces the shift.
“Being a grandparent is easier,” she says. “We do the fun parts: spoil them a little, bond with them, and leave the discipline to their parents.”
She also sees the importance of preparing children to thrive: “It’s not just about grades. Teach them to be independent, hardworking, and to invest in their future.”
She goes ahead to encourage other grandparents to catch up with the modern world: “Grandparents should know a bit about their grandkids’ interests such as music and games. They should also know their lingo and slang. A cool grandparent can even be able to play the PS4 game console. Lol.”
Her advice for future generations? “Be responsible. Stay grounded. Love your family fiercely. Everything else flows from there.”
Her Core Beliefs
When asked what value every home should have, her answer is immediate and strong: LOVE.
“Love your family. When the chips are down,it is your nuclear family that will be your numero uno supporters,” she says.
She’s also an advocate for mutual respect. “Yes, children should respect their elders. But elders should also respect their children as they are now adults and parents themselves.”
Tradition, she admits, isn’t something she clings to blindly.
“I’m very liberal. I only do what feels right and makes sense to me. I don’t stress about tradition.”
Modern Grandma Goals
Mrs. Umar is not one to be left behind in a fast-paced world. She believes grandparents today must stay sharp — mentally and digitally.
“Older people should know how to use Google, ChatGPT, read the news online. Bank apps. Do your flight bookings, top up your NEPA. And if possible, drive yourself! You can’t always wait for someone else.”
And if you’re wondering whether she still lets herself rest — yes, she does. But even that has structure.
“When I need to unwind, I curl up with a good book. I’ve always been a voracious reader. Reading is my therapy, my quiet space. I also love watching international tennis and catching crime shows on C&I Channels.”
Marriage, Motherhood & The Myth of Sacrifice
Behind all the strength and sass is a woman who deeply loves her family. Motherhood, she adds, revealed her softer side, “Most people see me as very tough and independent. I am all of that, but my underbelly is my children. I love my family to bits.”
Still, she’s quick to bust a myth that motherhood must mean self-erasure. “Motherhood doesn’t have to be all about sacrifice and suffering. You can raise your children with love and still preserve your identity and joy.”
When asked about how parents can balance work and parenting, here’s what she has to say, “it is possible to combine both. But it is very difficult.
Abroad, you need a loving and helpful husband, a good crèche, nursery and junior schools. You need fixed working hours to enable you plan your time.”
“In Lagos,” she continues, “it is even more difficult. You depend on unreliable maids, irregular closing hours and horrendous traffic situations. Cost of living and raising kids is so high that it is absolutely necessary these days to have a two-income household.”
When asked what she loves about LagosMums, Mrs Rosalind gives a candid answer,
“LagosMums gives women a voice,” she says. “A space. A platform to share and feel seen. I love the community and the relevance of the conversations.”
So if you see a woman in her seventies lifting dumbbells at dawn or dancing on Instagram with her grandkids, don’t blink. That’s probably Mrs. Rosalind Umar, showing the world that indeed strong, stylish, and spirited don’t come with an expiry date.
Inspired by Mrs Rosalind Umar’s journey? Explore more GrandMum and Mum of the Month stories on LagosMums and discover a community that celebrates every stage of motherhood and family life—with wisdom, laughter, and love.