Doaa's Story

One thing Doaa has learned in her 8 years of parenting is that she needs to make time to take care of herself to ensure her children are growing and thriving. 

When she heard about MCC’s parenting education groups through her youngest son’s pre-school, she was excited to get involved. With four kids, ages 8, 6, 4, and almost 1, Doaa has plenty of parenting experience. However, she believes it is crucial to engage with other parents, especially in the early years with a child, when everything seems new again.  

Two nights a week, for six weeks, the group gave Doaa the chance to talk, listen, and take in the lessons taught by Liz, MCC’s Parenting Education Coordinator. Doaa liked the group structure, and how each topic, including early literacy and the importance of establishing routines, was relevant to her life. Perhaps more importantly, connecting with other parents reminded her to be open and honest about her struggles as a parent, and that she is not alone. She says, “It’s one hour of the day where I can talk with others about parenting, and we can give each other motivation.” Her struggles were not unique, and it was encouraging to talk with other parents who were going through the same things. As Doaa said, “We are doing our best, always.” 

Doaa strives for balance in raising her children. Like flowers, she aims to provide the sun and water to “help them not just grow, but bloom.” In addition to growing up healthy, she wants to ensure they are self-confident and “become the perfect person for themselves.” Attending MCC’s parenting group helped her refocus on these goals and she is thankful for the village she gained in the process.