Mother's Day Q & A
LEILY AMIRSARDARY AHMED &
ROSHANAK VARASTEH
Co-Founders, Rosewater House
MARYAM AMIRSARDARY
Founder, Rosewater Bakery
What has been your experience co-founding and running a bussiness as Mother & Daughter?
Bringing our cultural heritage to life together has been the greatest gift, keeping us close even though we live so far away from each other. While it was initially challenging, to re-establish interpersonal & professional dynamics working together, especially as the "youngest", this evolution of our relationship as partners has given me even greater admiration for the resilience she carries in the face of all adversity, inspiring me to emulate the same force in my personal life and in business.
How has your relationship with your mother evolved over the years?
Our relationship evolves on an hourly basis; from mother-daughter, to friends, and sometimes goes as far even a full role reversal. Let's just say we are guilty of occaisionally forcing our fair share of "do's and dont's" onto our mom too!
What qualities do you admire most in your mother?
She is a force to be reckoned with. She is kind, yet confident, loving yet strong, effortlessly stylish and authentically herself. She is one of the most resilient and inspiring women we have met, and it’s our priveledge her as our role model and our mom.
There have been many moments in my life where I have felt down, or incapable of facing an emotionally challenging situation, and then I think about all the challenges she faced as a young adult. From living through the Iran-Iraq war, fleeing her home without her parents during the revolution and not seeing her parents for years at a time, giving me the needed perspective and reminding of the priveledges in my life.
How do you hope to emulate your mother's strengths in your own life?
To be able to put as much effort, patience, love, and time, as she did and continues to do so even to this very day, into bringing up my own daughter.
As a new mom, what has been the most surprising aspect of pregnancy for you?
It's not just that your body changes but how your whole mindset too. I was never a "baby person" but now I can’t stand being away from my baby for more than an hour.
Oh, and that you also that you don’t need to eat for 2!
What has been the most rewarding aspect of motherhood for you?
My two daughters are the pillars of my life. Motherhood gave me a purpose in life AND made me more caring and sensitive as a person. I would tell new moms that the love you give your children will never be wasted, so give them as much love as you can.
It has been so rewarding watching them evovle into women I am proud of. From holding them as babies to seeing them through graduations, weddings and now as adults. My eldest daughter Maryam is a new mom herself and I am just in awe of her and how she has handled this transition into motherhood.
Describe your own mother and her influence on you ladies.
My mother Simin, is our family’s ocean of serenity. She serves as an anchor for all of us during the stormiest of times.
What are your most cherished moments as a mom?
When all the women of our family from different generations are together,whether its laughing or crying about the ups and downs of our lives; being there for eachother together in moments of pain and also sharing in eachothers moments of happiness. Those are my most cherished moments as a mother, a sister and a daughter.
