To the one woman who deserves the best

My love and respect go to that one woman who has the biggest share in who I am today. My passion and endless compassion go to that one person who stood against all to make an Idol to her entire family. Everything I am today is because of the great person who raised me, my mother.

She was born in 1954, in Erbil City Iraq. The oldest among 6 other sisters, and the most independent among 9 other siblings. When I was a little girl, I always felt that my mother has an extraordinary strength and soul. I was too young to understand the background she comes from, but I knew she has been through so much.

Ever since she turned 7, my mother took over the house hold, when my grandmother, like so many women at that time, was giving birth to other children. The time which my mother was supposed to play with other kids, she was cleaning, cooking, and looking after infants. Despite all, she was determined to study. My grandfather has the biggest effect in her life, but unfortunately, he never played a good role. My mother and her other siblings were forced to do the chores, forced to wake up at 5 am every morning to do the group prayer and start cleaning the house and bake the bread, then, if approved, go to school. My mother and her sisters had to deal with my grandfather's bad temper all the time. Well, he was a trade man. Whenever business does not go well, girls were the closest target to take out his rage. Books were torn out, yelling was all over the house, and more drama until the master calms down. She wanted to go to college, but her father's big ego did not let her and she ended up joining the teaching institute in which she got a teaching diploma at the of age of 19. She wanted to play sport and become an athlete, but all my mother dreams were taken care of by the male.

My mother had many marriage proposals ever since she turned 15, and so many women would want to get married to leave the scary castle, yet, my mother did not approve any. She always wanted to choose her husband wisely. She got engaged at a certain time but she could not continue with the man who hired the personal driver to spy her moves. Like so many women in Iraq, My mom was a victim of a male dominant community, where the man was making decisions for her. She was a fighter; she never wanted to live by the rules. She was married at the age of 19 to a doctor, who was from a different background, different language, and he loved her. She moved to live in the Capital city to raise children away from everyone.
We all got the best education. We all were given the chance to explore our talent. We all made our mother proud. My mother promised, that everything she did not have as a child, will give to her children as a mother, and she did. My mom harsh childhood life never affected her motherhood. She never abused us. She never oppressed us the way she was oppressed. True, My mother did not go to college but she raised 6 children who have degree from the best colleges. True, my mother did not peruse her dreams, but she gave us the chance to live our dreams. I see happiness in her eyes every time one of us accomplishes something, as if she was the one accomplishing it. Her determined mind and soul made the change she wanted to live, in her children lives. She deserves my respect and love and compassion. My dear Mother, so much of you is me. You are my idol, I am following your steps, and I know I will not fail because you never did. Greetings to all the great mothers around the world.