International Mother’s Day is a day dedicated to celebrating the unconditional love and sacrifice of mothers worldwide. Observed in Qatar on March 21, the holiday honors motherhood and maternal bonds, as well as the influence and importance of mothers in society. While the traditions and customs associated with Mother’s Day may vary across cultures and countries, the day is universally recognized as a time to express gratitude and appreciation for the mothers, grandmothers, and mother figures in our lives.
Qatar Happening spoke to Self-Worth Coach Anahi Ortiz-Prieto to get to pick her brains on the importance of the day and what motherhood means to her. Herewith the fiver:
- What does being a mother mean to you?
It is the toughest commitment I’ve ever taken. It means immense joy and immense stress, a sense of purpose and responsibility, and an awareness that I am no longer living just for me, but that I owe parts of me to two little humans. - How has motherhood changed you, both as a person and as a professional?
As a person, it gave me a different sense of self-awareness and pushes me constantly to do better, to grow, to heal and make sure I raise two humans that are kind and compassionate. Moreover, it has made me kinder to myself and to my parents, bringing me closer to my culture and roots in many ways.
Professionally, well, that one is complicated. On one hand, because I need to be mindful of where I put my time and energy, it has inspired me to make sure I choose projects and jobs that have a real meaning, but also it has inspired me to find ways to change the world through my work, so I have educated myself in different topics as my own needs as a mom demanded so. Hence why I trained as a doula, as a lactation consultant, mindfulness coach and more – the needs of mothering inspired me to learn these things. - Who are the mothers that have inspired you the most in your life, and why?
All mothers inspire me. To start with, my mother, the way she committed to healing and doing better when she raised me, despite the challenging circumstances she faced, has always inspired me. But also my friends, all the mothers I shared trenches with – through teething and meltdowns, through emotional turmoils and changing seasons, they all inspired me to be kind to myself and my kids, to push through because, even when at times I felt so alone and isolated, I was standing shoulder to shoulder with them. - What is the most important lesson you’ve learned from your mother, or from being a mother yourself?
From my mother I learned that putting myself first was the only way to serve my children best and give them the best mom I could be. I also learned the power of saying sorry to them when I made a mistake, she always apologised and showed me I deserved better. From being a mother I have learned that motherhood – as I want to experience it – leaves noroom for ego, because these kids came through me but don’t belong to me, and their choices, mistakes, wins and struggles aren’t mine to take on, but simply to witness. - How do you balance your responsibilities as a mother with your career and personal goals?
To be honest, I do my best as all working parents are forced to do in a society that gives little allowances to us. I had to step down my last corporate job precisely because it was so incredibly misaligned with my role as a mother the way I want it to be. I also have a massive gap in my CV, which many employers judge and criticise, for the years I focused on mothering my children full time. But, I stopped apologising for choosing my family over anything else, as hard as that is professionally.
I always tell my clients that there aren’t priorities in plural, you can only focus on ONE area fully so you can really give your best without burning out. So we can have it ALL, just not all at once, and that is ok.
I guess to me more than balancing my career, personal goals and motherhood, there is harmony in knowing I’m mostly a mother these days and that is ok, eventually, the career focused me will return.
