Rock ’n’ 
Roll Mama

Pink Martini’s China Forbes talks about life as a new mom, finding the coolest diaper bag, and her choice of minivans.

With contribution from Brian Barker

ON IMPROV

My personality is to wing things, whether it’s an exam or a performance. I prepare as much as I need to, but I don’t need to know exactly what’s going to happen. I wanted to have a baby, and I was like, “I’ll figure it out—I’ll be fine.”

ON DIAPER BAGS

I feel really cool with my L.L. Bean tote. You can pick colors. I made this crazy collection of colors to remind me of a place I grew up loving called Lucy’s Canvas, in Boston, where my friends and I would go and get these really bright canvas bags.

ON MOM JEANS

Before you have the baby, you worry How is my body going to change? Then you have the baby and none of that matters. Your body changes, but you don’t care—it was totally worth it. I wore long schmakas—schmakas are like frumpy dresses.

ON DIAPERS

I would have won an award if I had gone on tour and done cloth diapers. How the hell do you do that? Do you tell the diaper service, “I’ll be in Singapore this week—can you send a truck?”

ON BABY WIPES

They’re like mini washing machines. All you need is a nice, moist baby wipe and you can get breast milk or spit-up or food or anything out of your clothes.

ON MINIVANS

I’m a Volkswagen or Volvo person. If Volvo makes a minivan, I’ll get it. But otherwise, a Eurovan,
for sure. —BMB