#MomCrushMonday – Mona Ismaeil

Each month, we play 10 questions with one of Alberta’s most interesting mamas. This month we get to know Mona Ismaeil!

Mona is a modest fashion blogger, writer and community organizer. 

Mona advocates for Muslim women and promotes their civic engagement, builds interfaith bridges, and is passionate about bringing awareness about Islamophobia to light in public forums.

A trained teacher and seasoned educator, Mona lectures on a variety of subjects across the province, including Islamophobia, bullying, building acceptance, and multiculturalism.

Her favourite things to do are to travel and spend time with her 2 children enjoying all Edmonton has to offer!

Land Acknowledgement

This land has welcomed First Nations from across Turtle Island, and settlers and visitors from around the world. Alberta lands are part of Treaties 4, 6, 7, 8 and 10, and the homeland of the Métis.

Alberta Mamas respects and celebrates the sovereignty, lands, histories, languages, knowledge systems and cultures of all Indigenous, Métis, and Inuit nations. We are striving to better listen, understand, and learn from the Indigenous ways of knowing, being and doing.

We are all Treaty people.

Interview with Mona Ismaeil

WAHM/D, SAHM/D, Work out of the home or other? 

I’m a work-at-home mom.

# of Kids? Ages?

I have two kids. My daughter is 6 years old and my son is 3.

What movie makes you cry?

My Sister’s Keeper. It just hit close to home. When it came out, I was struggling with some health issues.  Most often, I tear up in movies that have to do with Parents and their children.

Tell us about a mom/dad who inspires you? 

My own parents for sure! My parents made a very tough decision to leave home in Egypt to seek a better future for themselves and their children.

They learned the language, worked 7 days a week, built their life together one brick at a time. They were typical immigrants working for the dream.

They raised my sister and I here in this amazing country trying to balance an Eastern culture and Faith in the Western world. They taught us to be proud of who we are, and to remain rooted.

They taught us to work hard, be honest and to do what you can in life then leave the rest up to God.

What’s the fondest memory you have of your life as a mom/dad so far? The biggest challenge?

I love to travel with my children. Travelling can be difficult and chaotic but seeing the world through the eyes of my children is unreal.

The questions they have, the things that excite them, just the innocent curiosity they have while experiencing new things inspires me.  It’s so beautiful.

Would you rather be able to see 10 minutes into your own future or 10 minutes into the future of anyone but yourself? Why?

Interesting question.

I don’t think I would want to see into the future at all. They say that curiosity killed the cat.

I want to live right now, plan for later but still life throws curve balls and I guess that’s what keeps things interesting.

You and your oldest child switch bodies for an hour. What do they do? What do you do? 

I sing and dance around the house to songs I have made up. Then put on a show in front of the TV, so I can see my reflection.

She sits down with her laptop to go through the million and one tabs she has open, while posting on IG, listening to IG stories, making a phone call and prepping dinner. Can’t forget the giant cup of green tea she is drinking.

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