My dear daughter, my first born, my young lady and my best friend.

On your sweet 16th birthday I write to you this letter. As I look back at our years together I remember how I was much younger when I had you. I still remember the first moments I held you in my arms like it was yesterday. My eyes start tearing and my heart aches with longing as I remember that special day on the noon of May 23rd 2005. It was a bright summer day and my heart gleamed with fondness as I held you in my arms for the very first time. With so much caution I cradled you ever so slowly, learning for the first time how a mother holds her child. You were my newborn and I was your new mom. I knew instantly that you were something much more important and much bigger than anything I’ve seen or experienced in my life. My heart was filled with fondness and a love I never knew existed before I met you. I still remember your tiny, pink face and your delicate little body as your little eyes searched mine. In just a few moments we bonded and we both knew that a new life waited ahead for us as a family. We were inseparable. There were joys and there were tears, you taught me every day how to become a better mother and I nurtured you as you bloomed into the wonderful and beautiful young lady I see today. No one prepared me for just how much I would love you and today on your birthday I wanted you to know that my life has been richer and more meaningful by having you in it. I’m ever so proud and so lucky and so thankful to be your mom and to call you my daughter.

My darling Fatma, I wish you find your path of greatness as I only see great things in your future. You are hard working, mature beyond your age, caring and dedicated in every way. I said this to you before and I say it again you have a gift of excelling in anything you set your heart on wether it is a major school project or pursuing one of your hobbies such as horse riding. However my daughter, while you strive for greatness and success remember to smile and take it easy and enjoy the ride along the way. Know that with great success comes great sacrifice so slowing down and enjoying the path to success can make it much more worthwhile. My dear Fatma you are at an age where you are starting to shape your unique personality and draw your future yet while you do that don’t forget to cherish the present moment. Smell flowers, take walks on the beach, laugh often and enjoy your time with family and friends. While you study hard and think of college, while you are busy growing up fast, remember to enjoy your youth and create lasting memories; for memories are the only things we take with us as we grow older and life passes us by, so lets make sure they are happy ones.

My sweet eldest child whose on her way to adulthood, know that life has it’s ups and downs. That as important as success is that there will be times where we get disappointed and things don’t go as we planned and that’s ok. Remember this, there is no such thing as failure, there is only learning new ways of not doing things. When you get frustrated and things don’t go as you planned, pause, use this as a learning opportunity rather than looking at it as a failure and remember that life is a test and we are constantly learning. Always look on the bright side, and always remain positive and never lose faith. Let your faith be bigger than your fears for God is most merciful and most forgiving. Don’t be too hard on yourself for life is like a heart beat it if there are no ups downs it means you are not living. Just as there is happiness there is sadness, just as there are beginnings there are ends so honor those moments and continue to flourish and learn. However I need you to know this one thing which is that with all of life’s ups and downs my love for you stays constant. I will always be here for you and my love for you only grows bigger and stronger everyday.

Grow wise with patience

Stay strong but tender

Be virtuous yet humble

And enjoy the roller coaster ride of life.

Affectionately,

Your Mama…

23.5.2021