Woman This Month - February 2021

Bahrain Edition

BEAUTY | FASHION | HOME | WELLBEING | LOCAL ISSUES

February 2021 | Issue 214

BEAUTY

Our top picks for Valentine’s Day

LIFESTYLE Pantone inspired decor

OPINION INTERVIEW

Fleur Hassan-Nahoum on commercial relations and her battles for equality and plurality

OUIAM URGES MOTHERS TO TEND TO THEIR OWN NEEDS EMAN DEABIL EXAMINES BOARDROOM DIVERSITY

FASHION

CHANNELING THE 2021 MOOD IN COLOURS www.womanthismonth.com

THE COLOURS OF 2021

Ferragamo

LACOSTE

Giorgio Armani

Stella McCartney

FASHION | fashion forward

POWERFUL AND OPTIMISTIC!

2020 was a challenging year (to say the least) and we had been looking forward to a new year for the longest time – all in the hopes that 2021 would help us start things off with a fresh slate. In the ever-exciting world of colour, Pantone aimed to capture this sentiment with two colours: Illuminating (a bright shade of yellow) and Ultimate Gray (a rock-solid tone). It’s a palate top work with that signifies a message of happiness supported by fortitude.

So, this month we put together a collection of our favourite looks from the runway that will have you wearing your emotions on your sleeve. Powerful looks to get your started on a high note! Remember to play around with textures, structure and layering for a powerful statement.

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February 2021

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Michael Kors Michael Kors

Malene Birger

Coach

Ferragamo

FASHION | fashion forward

February 2021

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PEOPLE | interview

THE WOMAN AT THE HEART OF

BAHRAIN-ISRAELI RELATIONS During her recent visit to Bahrain, British Gibraltar-born Fleur HassanNahoum, Jerusalem’s Deputy Mayor for Foreign Relations, Economic Development and Tourism, spoke with George Middleton about building commercial relations and her passionate battles for equality and plurality in her adopted homeland.

Following the announcement of the Abraham Accords, which introduced an era of peaceful collaboration between Israel and several Arab nations, Ms. Hassan-Nahoum, who is one of Jerusalem’s six deputy mayors and tipped for high office, visited the Kingdom for a series of discussions on trade and tourism.

“

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I do believe that we'd have much more peace if women were the leaders.

Absolutely, a hundred percent, I believe that that's it.”

www.womanthismonth.com

PEOPLE | interview

Ms. Fleur at a dinner hosted by Bahrain Journalists Association President, Ahdeya Ahmed, on the occasion of her visit to Bahrain.

COMMERCIAL EXCHANGE She explains: “In principle, I want to encourage tourism. I am also the founder of the UAE-Israel Business Council which laid the infrastructure for the two countries to do business together. People here have an interest in doing business with Israel, but the question is how?

“We have done it successfully in the UAE – with an online platform that already has thousands of members. We know what people are interested in because that’s what we ask when they join. I think we can do something similar here, which is what I’m hoping to explore.

“I don't think we're talking about investment as much as we're talking about joint ventures and the purchasing of technology. I tell the Israelis all the time, ‘nobody is waiting for you with open cheques here, but if you have a technology that's going to make an existing Bahraini company more efficient, then they'll buy that from you’. And I think that's what we're looking at. Again, the collaboration of www.womanthismonth.com

tourism and culture, academic collaboration, research collaboration, putting all that in terms of business, I see much more the exchange of know-how technologies. In Bahrain, people build and plan well, while in Israel, we have good technology solving mutual challenges; agritech, water tech, that type of thing.”

LONG-TERM PEACE In terms of how this could affect the future of Israeli-Palestinian relations, she adds: “I believe these accords might encourage the Israelis and Palestinians to sit down and talk together after a long period of intransigence.

I believe in self-determination for the Palestinian people whether that is in the form of a two-state solution or not depends on the final negotiated settlement.”

“Most people want prosperity, good lives and opportunities for their children; that’s certainly what my Arab friends in Israel want for themselves, as well as some sort of self-determination of government. Everyone deserves that. Let’s see.

“I want the best arrangement possible for the Palestinian people. Self-determination is a wide word which can be interpreted many ways. The point is, they should be able to govern themselves. Whether that should be as part of two states or one state , subject to negotiation, depends on the outcome.”

EQUAL OPPORTUNITIES Having studied law and practiced as a barrister in London, Ms. Hassan-Nahoum had been living in Israel for several years before she became involved in politics, running for the Jerusalem City Council in a bid to address issues of inequality and opportunity across religious and ethnic divides.

During the 2018 municipal elections, her candidacy drew some opposition and the local Jerusalem branch of Likud [the major centreright political party in Israel] called on Prime Minister Netanyahu to retract his support of Zeev Elkin for Mayor when she was included on his electoral list!

She says: “I actually think local politics is a February 2021

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PEOPLE | interview much purer form of politics as you're really dealing with people's day-to-day education, their transport, small businesses, their health.

It's the things that really affect people and that's why I ended up running for city council.

That's how I started.

“Also, the Arabs in my city are all residents of the city and they're under my municipality as well. I have a big motivation today to develop East Jerusalem and bring prosperity and better job opportunities and close social gaps, which there are. There's a good population of Jewish people who are very marginalised economically, the ultra-orthodox, and then we have the Arabs who are also marginalised economically. I want to close those gaps.

“A big part of my family development work is in East Jerusalem and creating more opportunities and quality employment for the Arabs.”

“I've always believed in giving a voice to the people who have difficulty finding their own. In Jerusalem, it's the marginalised populations who need support the most.

I'm a big believer in equal opportunity, give children equal playing fields; that's Arab children, ultra-orthodox children, Ethiopian children. These are the children who have less opportunity than, maybe, the other children.

And so, I want everybody to have the same opportunities that I can give my children.”

LEVEL PLAYING FIELD

As well as championing minorities Ms. Hassan-Nahoum is an outspoken advocate for women saying that despite equal rights being enshrined in Israeli law, equality of opportunity and representation still have some way to go. She is particularly keen on the promotion of good role models for women and girls allowing them to visualise their future in top-flight roles both in politics and elsewhere in society.

“I think, in general, we have equal rights, but sometimes we don't have equal opportunities and the opportunities don't just come from the fact that a woman can run for office whenever she wants,” she says.

“Opportunities also come from role modelling [so] women see that women can be leaders.

I'm big into the idea that little girls should see females in key political positions.”

Having seen no images of female societal leaders alongside the men on the walls in her daughter’s school, she launched a successful social media campaign which resulted in more than 250 schools agreeing to show images of Israel’s female chief justice and the female governor of the Bank of Israel.

And she adds, with feeling: “I do believe that we'd have much more peace if women were the leaders. Absolutely, a hundred percent, I believe that that's it.”

Ms. Fleur with Bahrain Journalists Association President, Ahdeya Ahmed.

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PEOPLE | interview

Ms. Fleur with member of the Shura Council in Bahrain, Ebrahim Dahood Nonoo.

THE FUTURE

Looking to the future in terms of international relations, the deputy mayor believes both the region and the new US administration have joint interests in seeing the fledgling relationships develop, despite their close association with the previous president.

She says: “I think Biden is a man of peace.

I know that he came out with a supportive statement when the normalisation was signed.

So, I don't see why he wouldn't support this. I also think that this has got its own momentum now, nobody's going to stop this since it's kind of picked up its own speed. It's exciting.

People are talking about lots of business prospects, prospects of mutual economic prosperity, tourism... So, I think it's got its own legs now.

“The worrying thing is really what's going to happen with Iran, whether he is going to go back to the JCPOA (the Iran nuclear deal) and whether Biden's going to believe that the Iranians are negotiating in good faith. That's really the question here. I think that's what's pushed us all together. Let's be honest. I think www.womanthismonth.com

the Middle East is realigning itself into the people wanting peace and the people who want a belligerent policy. That's really where it's at. And I truly believe in peace through economic development. I believe that with the Palestinians and the Arabs as well, in Israel, I really do. I truly believe when you give people better prospects, a better life, they're much more likely to sit with you and talk peace in a different way.”

Citing Israel’s recent decision, following a letter from the UAE, to allow Palestinian farmers back onto land they have not accessed for many years, the deputy mayor, once again, makes an impassioned plea for direct negotiations saying: “Well look, as we know, the UAE wrote a letter asking Israel not to annex certain parts of the Jordan Valley. Then the agreements assigning the understanding were frozen. So, it's already had an effect if you want to look at it that way.

“Ultimately, I don't think there's any other way than Israel sitting and talking with the Palestinians to deal with any of these issues.

The road to peace is not through Manama

or Abu Dhabi; it has to be direct. It has to be sitting together because we can only have an agreement with the Palestinians. We need to have a friendly peace rather than a cold peace because the two countries are too integrated.”

PLURALISM

She adds that the process has special resonance in her own city, concluding, “What motivates me [is a] pluralistic Jerusalem, because I believe that everybody belongs to Jerusalem. When King David built Jerusalem two and a half thousand years ago, he built it because it wasn't a home to any one of the tribes. All tribes could gather. So, I believe that the DNA of Jerusalem shows that we are the most diverse city in the country, and I believe that the DNA of Jerusalem has to remain diverse. And for that, I have to fight the forces of those trying to make Jerusalem, all religious. So pluralistic means there's a place for everybody. Sometimes there is tacit pressure from the ultra-orthodox to make Jerusalem a little bit more ultra-orthodox and I'm one of those people that, as a feminist and as a woman, is holding back on that.”

February 2021

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BEAUTY | news

THE POWER OF LIPSTICK WITH GIORGIO ARMANI

Giorgio Armani unveils LIP POWER – the new long wear lipstick that lends a vivid intensity to lip colour, captured in a formula that feels light and comfortable to wear. With a flattering satin finish, LIP POWER meets every lip colour expectation: the matte colour users looking for more comfort, the shine lovers looking for longer wear. With its bold colour intensity and enduring coverage, the wearer doesn’t need to give their lip colour another thought with this product!

The LIP POWER collection is composed of a rich palette developed so that there is a shade to reveal each wearer’s individuality, allowing for the ultimate in self-expression. Wearers can enjoy 25 diverse shades including a variant of beiges, corals, reds, oinks and plums.

You’ll Love

As women, we’re constantly taking care of the ones we love around us, so don’t be afraid to put together a little Wishlist this Valentine’s Day! Here are our top picks from the beauty industry that you can drop hints about to your special someone, or perhaps even treat yourselves too.

Giorgio Armani’s Lip Power is available at all leading beauty retailers.

GLOW ON WITH CHARLOTTE TILBURY!

Inspired by social media filters and Hollywood lights, Charlotte has bottled real-life confidence glow filters to give you the best glow of your life! Charlotte Tilbury’s Hollywood Flawless Filter blurs, smooths and illuminates for younger-looking skin. The product moisturises the skin for up to 24 hours and can be worn on its own, under foundation, mixed with foundation or applied to illuminate specific points on the face. It has the versatility of a primer, the mega-watt glow of a highlighter and the perfecting properties of a digital filter.

The Hollywood Flawless Filter now comes in 12 shades.

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BEAUTY | news

BRIGHTEN AND GLOW WITH THIS VITAMIN C MASK

GOING MATTE THE GUERLAIN WAY

While they are adored for their sophisticated finish and unique result, matte lipsticks tend to dry out lips. Enter Guerlain. The renowned perfumery, cosmetics and skincare house has revealed their range of lipsticks: KISSKISS TENDER MATTE, an addictive must-wear formula. The new collection is available in 15 shades and gives you 16 hours of lasting comfort.

Its formula contains three actives: hyaluronic acid, shea butter and rose petal extract which regenerate while colouring lips which ward off the feeling of tightness generally associated with matte lipsticks.

Shea butter paired with rose petal extract serves up an extra dose of tenderness for 16 hours of lasting comfort. Add to that hyaluronic acid and lips are left smooth, plumped, inner moisturized and absolutely pout-perfect. From nude to rosewood, pink to coral and red, each pigment used in this new palette of 15 shades rivals the others for the most delicateness, finesse and tenderness.

What’s the first step to looking beautiful and just having a stunning glow in general? An effective skincare routine! Kick start your day with a glow- boosting facial to brighten, soften and improve skin clarity with This Works Morning Expert Vitamin C Power Mask.

This exfoliating balm contains water activated vitamin C granules to exfoliate away dullness, reduce uneven skin tone and tackle signs of premature ageing, whilst Jojoba and sweet almond oil nourish and cleanse.

This Works products are available from Faces Middle East, Watsons (MOE), That Concept Store (MOE) and online on Ounass.ae and Beautysotions-me.com.

For more information please visit www.eu.thisworks.com.

BE A DELICATE PETAL WITH CHANEL

For the Spring-Summer 2021 collection, Chanel explored the world of flowers to create a divine new colour scheme and range of effects. The collection is light and luminous, mixing warm with cool, and sparkles with the subtlety of earthy brown undertones.

For a radiant sun-kissed glow, the exclusive creation FLEURS DE PRINTEMPS sculpts the face. The coral blush enhances the complexion, and the highlighter adorns it with ultra-fine golden particles, providing a touch of fresh, subtle and elegant colour.

For a healthy glow, apply blush high on the cheeks and highlighter on the cheekbones, or on the areas where you wish to attract light.

Or, try mixing the shades together with a brush. For a fresh, sunkissed effect, sweep the brush along the bridge of the nose and the places where the sun naturally hits the face.

GIVENCHY PRESENTS L’INTERDIT EAU DE PARFUM INTENSE

L’Interdit, created in 1957 by Hubert de Givenchy, was the Maison’s first bold fragrance, the Eau de Parfum launched in 2019 embodying a whole new liberating thrill. Today, the new Eau de Parfum Intense takes the L’Interdit thrill to new heights. The Eau de Parfum Intense is a tribute to the colour black, bringing a new mysterious and sensual touch to the L’Interdit franchise. The fragrance seamlessly combines the divine scents of white bouquet and orange blossom. The woody base turns oriental with smoky, underground notes from vetiver and patchouli, and reveals more notes through a suave and intense vanilla bean. The leather and amber facets of this black gold hypnotise, captivating the senses. Its magnetism brings the fragrance to life, blending together with the unexpected salty notes of toasted black sesame absolute. www.womanthismonth.com

February 2021

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OPINION

WOMEN’S PATH TO THE BOARDROOM (Part 1 of 2)

Accredited Chartered Manager (CMI), Eman Deabil, examines boardroom diversity in Bahrain

I

t’s no secret that the business case for boardroom diversity has been examined carefully in numerous studies and publications by many global firms such as McKinsey & Company, Deloitte and Boston Consulting Group (BCG) – to name a few. In addition, it is clearly obvious that there are many women who dream of climbing up the ladder in the corporate world and reserving a seat in the boardroom, which is why they study, work extremely hard to widen their experience, progress in their higher degrees, pursue careers in a wide-spectrum of fields, juggle many balls and do their best to balance Sector

Aviation/Airlines Services Education Family/Group/Holding Financial Services Government/Public Sector Health Services Hotels and Tourism Industrial/Manufacturing Energy and Resources Telecommunications Other Services Totals

their work-life responsibilities.

However, for any dream to materialise it has to start by ‘planting the seeds and watering the garden’, yet studying the ‘climate’ is also essential to make sure that the ‘seeds’ have the right ‘atmosphere’ to grow and prosper. Hence, I decided to scan the environment, conduct a study, and support it with facts and figures to see if the dream is possible!

The study is based on a dataset covering a sample of 117 organisations in Bahrain with data compiled from the official websites of % of Total No. of Organizations

Total No. of Directors

No. of Men Directors

No. of Women Directors

% of Board Seats Held by Women

4 11 17 54 9 2 4 5 3 2 6 117

3% 9% 15% 46% 8% 2% 3% 4% 3% 2% 5% 100%

31 103 132 433 100 19 33 46 14 14 46 971

31 82 115 405 84 15 32 42 14 13 43 876

0 21 17 28 16 4 1 4 0 1 3 95

0% 20% 13% 6% 16% 21% 3% 9% 0% 7% 7% 9.8%

· There is a total of 971 directorships, where

876 seats (90.2%) are covered by male directors, and 95 seats (9.8%) are attributed to women directors. · More than half (56.4% being 66 Boards out of the 117 sampled organisations) have no women representation (0%).

February 2021

Sector classifications were grouped into eleven different sectors. For each sector the percentage of women serving on the boards was calculated - the findings are shown in the table below:

No. of Organizations

From the table above, we can conclude the following:

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the sampled business organisations in the time period from December 9 to December 13, 2020 with the assumption that the information provided by these websites was accurate, up to date and reliable.

· 68.5% of the organisations (a total of 37 out

of 54) in the Financial Services sector have no women representation (0%). · Only 2 out of 117 organisations (1.7%) have more than 50% of women holding positions in the boardroom. Both are family-owned companies in which those ladies are part of

the family: company X with 2 women out of 3 board members (67%), and company Y with 7 women out of 13 board members (54%).

• But what does that mean? Do we have hope, as women, to be in the boardroom?

• The answer to this question is ‘YES’ and ‘NO’. www.womanthismonth.com

OPINION

There is a positive outlook on our horizon, especially when we consider the initiatives taken by our country to empower women and position them as an integral part of the society. This includes the Supreme Council for Women (SCW) and the broad initiatives undertaken by it, such as launching the National Model of Gender Balance. Another example is ‘Women in FinTech Bahrain’ – the professional network founded under the umbrella of the Economic Development Board (EDB) to raise awareness of women’s role in FinTech.

Nevertheless, by looking at the statistics and figures – 90.2% men to 9.8% women in a sample of 117 organizations (public/private) in December 2020 who are Board Members demonstrates the current situation clearly.

Deloitte’s sixth edition report titled ‘Women in the boardroom: A global perspective’ issued in 2019, quotes Dan Konigsburg, “These statistics are hardly encouraging for those who believe in the value of board diversity.

At this rate, we – or our children and grandchildren – will have to wait until 2052 to reach anything close to parity”. Similarly, by looking at the global perspective as an indication, the average increase of women representation in boardrooms is around 1% every year. So, if we do the math, we will require around 40 years to reach a women representation of 50% in boardrooms globally.

I personally believe that women are a key to economic development, given that women make up a large portion of the customer market, yet they are barely represented in boardrooms. Ignoring this portion of our population will certainly deprive us universally from reaching the gender diversity we are aspiring to achieve, which in turn may have a negative impact on organisations in terms of business outcomes, strategic decision making, profit margins, workplace culture, innovation, and even reflect on their reputations when they communicate about values (e.g. gender diversity) that are not practiced at senior levels.

take to be a board member?

Eman is an accredited Chartered Manager (CMI), professional management consultant and a published author. She is a certified PMP, PRINCE2, COBIT5, CGEIT and the first Bahraini

Be sure to read the next issue of Woman This Month to explore Part 2 of The Path to the Boardroom.

This leads to some other big questions such as: Despite all these national efforts to empower women, why do boardroom figures not reflect this? What gets in the way of women?

Do nations require a quota for women in boardrooms to make it possible? What does it

In Deloitte’s report published in 2019, it also stated that globally, women hold just 16.9% of board seats. This indicates that we are below the global rate by 7.1%. However, our numbers are better than some of the countries in the GCC and Middle East. www.womanthismonth.com

February 2021

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BEAUTY

It’s Essential!

Discover the benefits of essential oils for your hair and scalp For many years, essential oils have been known for their aromatic and homeopathic capabilities on our bodies and have been used as a natural remedy in Middle Eastern cultures, thanks to its effectiveness and little to no side effects. But did you know that essential oils can be equally beneficial for the hair and scalp? Yes, you heard that right! Some essential oils can help improve the health of your hair and treat major issues such as inflammation, dandruff and hair loss. While others can bring back the shine and strengthen your hair.

If having strong and lustrous locks is one of your New Year’s resolutions for 2021, then here are some tips and tricks on the ideal ways to use essential oils and maximise their benefits at home from The Hair Addict, a leading brand for natural hair treatments and solutions:

1. Always use essential oils diluted in a carrier oil at a concentration of no more than 3-5%.

2. For maximum benefits use a diluted essential oil of your choice followed by a thorough scalp massage. Wait for two hours before washing your hair.

3. If you have a busy schedule and don’t have the time for oil treatments,

add your favourite essential oil to your shampoo and leave it in for a few minutes before rinsing.

4. To maximise the effect of your essential oil treatment, it’s advisable to use a heating cap such as The Hair Addict Infusion Hood, which will enhance the penetration of the essential oils in your scalp.

The Hair Addict products are available for purchase from the website with international shipping. For more information about The Hair Addict and to place international orders to the GCC, visit www.thehairaddict.net

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WOMAN THIS MONTH GOES MULTI-PLATFORM Read Woman This Month in any format convenient to you • Print • Online • Digital • Social media to keep you abreast of everything that’s happening in and about town.

You can now read Woman This Month from its Instagram account. Click on the bio-link and it takes you to a curated page where you can tap the images and read the articles. Simple, convenient and easy!!

Go Published monthly by:

Red House Marketing P. O. Box: 20461, Manama, Kingdom of Bahrain telephone: (17) 813-777 fax: (17) 813-700 email: editor@womanthismonth.com womanthismonth

Digital Edition

LIFESTYLE | home

A CHEERFUL CONTRAST

The colour visionaries at Pantone have spoken! After leaving behind the cloud of blue that last year brought us, it’s time for a killer colour combination that both the heart and mind need – Illuminating Yellow and Ultimate Grey. Yellow signals hope, warmth, an uplifted spirit and soft sunshine.

The hues of grey evoke thoughts of rocksolid dependability, composure and stability.

Juxtapose these two tones in your home décor for a really happy 2021.

Fringe Benefits Ottoman Lifestyle

Pretty Pattern Rug Desertcart, Bahrain Oriental Allure Decorative jar THE One Sweet Dreams Bed and linen Home Box

Just Throw It On Throw THE One

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LIFESTYLE | home Feet Up! Push back recliner Home Box

Elegant Onlooker Side Table Colgrave Holmes Creations

Precious Light Wall Lamp Insidherland

Twirling Around Candle stand Colgrave Holmes Creations

Cushy Comfort Cushions Lifestyle

Cushy Comfort Cushions Lifestyle

Summer Vibes Crockery Home Centre

…and Chill!

Sofa Home Box

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February 2021

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PARENTING

DO YOU KNOW HOW TO TAKE?

Ouiam El Hassani urges mothers to tend to their own needs.

T

he art of giving is engraved with the identity that we all embrace once we become mothers. We take pleasure in eliminating our needs and wants, in canceling our pre-babies’ identities, and immersing ourselves in this role of THE CAREGIVER! This tiny human being totally helpless, and absolutely gorgeous, is now completely dependent on you, each and every minute of the day, leaving you no choice but to press the pause button when it comes to your own life.

We are the ones who carry the load, sacrifice and power through. We are the ones who cancel appointments when the husband has extra work. We are the ones eating cold food and drinking cold coffee.

We are the ones who are always giving putting everyone’s needs above ours... all the time. We do it all gladly and lovingly, however, it has a huge impact!

Despite doing it all our pre-babies’ era, now we somehow are incapable of ‘taking’.

Somehow, we have completely forgotten how to put ourselves first. As mothers we find it difficult to take, especially in the time of a pandemic. That’s exactly why lots of women are currently going through burnouts, because of the incredible mental load we each carry willingly. The pandemic didn’t create this problem, but it definitely put an emphasis on it. Once you are a mother, you focus on giving and lose the ability to take. More women are currently silently grieving a loss of a self that they bled and fought to earn, years before they started a family, an identity that seemingly disappeared overnight thanks to COVID-19, especially for working moms, who are now juggling work and family at home. More

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February 2021

women are grieving the absence of any form of alone time because they are now suddenly expected to be chefs, teachers, nannies, employees, and much more, while their own needs are lost somewhere amidst the chaos.

I don't know who needs to hear this, but mothers can't continue to be the ones trying to juggle everything. Especially when COVID-19 burdened everyone in one way or another. Mothers haven’t seen family members in months, they haven’t seen a friend in a while, their mental health is already at risk - that is a fact!

Partners can sometimes miss meetings too; they can cancel appointments or make dinners and lunches. I assure you they can, even if it is once in a while so YOU can take! Partners can hold the fort for a while, they can give as much as they have been taking for a bit; they can sleep a little less some nights, and stretch their days a little

more, just once in a while, so YOU can take!

Mothers need to rewire themselves and learn all over again, how to take. How to put themselves first, how to equally share the load with their partners, and balance the whole dance of give and take. Let’s face it - even if we had the faintest hope that one day women can have it all, can balance everything, and be everywhere, COVID-19 shamelessly eradicated any trace of that hope.

Learning how to take, doesn’t make you any less of a mom, if anything it helps you see yourself as an equal and tend to your needs just like you do for others. It gives you the opportunity to be whole and worthy of your own attention.

So, for once, give less, and take more!

www.womanthismonth.com

In Her Shoes

last word

This month, we got to know a woman that does it all – Veronica Neira. The creatively curious Veronica is a professional photographer, social media manager and visual content creator, copywriter, graphic designer and videographer who specialised in Fashion Photography in Madrid, Spain.

Name three things you never leave the house without.

My blessings, my camera and my phone.

Which song is guaranteed to make you get up and dance?

Even though I don’t know Hindi, there is this song that always makes me feel like moving my bones crazy - Manali Trance

by The Shaukeens.

What’s the best advice you have ever received?

I have received tons of great advice, but one that I find very original is this one: Suricate! - Just one word that meant a lot. Meerkat or Suricate are little desert mammals whose survival depends on being in a state of constant awareness, a kind reminder as I sometimes live in my own world.

What’s your favourite movie of all time and why?

Eternal Sunshine of a Spotless Mind. It is a beautiful film with a philosophical meaning behind it. Our negative experiences are just as important as the positive ones, we need them to grow.

Veronica Neira

When cooking, what’s your signature dish?

Pasta Bolognese - simple to make but after doing it so many times I have mastered it.

What is your greatest aspiration?

To become an internationally recognized photographer.

What’s the scariest thing you’ve ever done?

Oh my! Little boat adventure expedition turned near-death experience in the Gulf of Fonseca, Nicaragua. A terrible storm caught us, there were lightning strikes happening near us, the waves were tall. When we finally returned the whole town was waving happy and clapping as they all also thought we were not coming back. www.womanthismonth.com

What would your life be incomplete without?

My Parents.

Check out Veronica’s photography on @veroneiraphoto.

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18 February 2021

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Now you’ve seen your regular issue, which we hope you enjoyed, make sure to check out our websites and social media for daily updates of what’s happening across the Kingdom. You can find us at:

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Motoring

Al Haddad Motors (Mercedes) . . . . . . .

IFC

Restaurants & Cafes David’s Stir Fry Crazy . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

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Maki . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

The Lanterns Restaurant & Lounge . . .

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