Mum’s the Word

We speak to three exceptional mums at different stages of their motherhood journey.

By Nadia Gardner

Sara Hamdan


Sara Hamdan is a former Merrill Lynch banker, New York Times journalist, and editor at Google. She recently won a prestigious Netflix story award and is currently working on her debut novel - when she's not running around after her two kids, a handsome six year old son and beautiful three year old daughter.

What do you love most about being a mum?
The unconditional love and never ending supply of chicken nuggets.

What has been your greatest challenge so far?
Each child is completely different and has their own needs. My son is energetic and emotional, my daughter is a picky eater. And I miss sleeping in!

What has been your greatest lesson?
That I can't control everything, or research everything. I've learned to surrender and go with the flow a little more. I'm still learning every day.



Katia Jundi hails from the publishing and media industry where she has worked on and launched some of the leading magazines in the Middle East - Arabian Business, Ahlan, L’Officiel, Grazia and Arabian Watches and Jewellery. She has also worked on daily UAE based newspapers Emarat AL Youm, and the ARN radio channels and finally MTV Arabia through her business development role at Arab Media Group. On top of that, she has 10-year-old twin boys.

What do you love most about being a mum?
I love the joy of watching my boys grow up and develop their own personalities and sense of humour. I especially love it when they outwit me or come up with something I would have never personally thought off. It shows me how they are making their way into the world and becoming the future big boys that they will be. I also realise that I have a lot to learn from them. I genuinely think this generation is simply amazing.

What has been your greatest challenge so far?
Honestly my pregnancy was a tough one. You start your motherhood journey by being pregnant and people never talk about how physically rough this experience can be. All we see online and in magazines are happy glowing pregnant moms with perfect hair and the tiniest bump. Reality is hardly ever like that.

What has been your greatest lesson?
To keep an open mind. Your kids can be great teachers.

Amanda Rushforth


Environmental advocate, TEDxAlquoz speaker and Board Director at AZRAQ, Amanda is a leader in the mission of developing a more sustainable Middle East. Now, expecting her first child, she shares her motherhood journey so far…

What do you love most about being pregnant?
Priorities have suddenly become so much clearer now that I'm on the journey to motherhood, where stress for the sake of pleasing other people has now taken a big back seat. Also, I'm much more hyper aware of what I'm putting both in my body and on it.

What has been your greatest challenge so far?
Pregnancy itself is an amazing ride, with both ups and downs and no two experiences alike. We are less than 10 weeks away from meeting him and I am relishing each moment (good and bad). I have to say, I also love having a bump at the moment, despite the frustration with half my wardrobe no longer fitting, I find it super feminine and am enjoying shopping more with one!

What has been your greatest lesson?
You cannot understand what it's like to be pregnant until it happens to you and my previous naive beliefs have all since done a 180. It's no longer asking, 'How is your pregnancy?', it's 'What kind of pregnancy are you having? As no two are alike. Also learning that information is king, the more I can learn, the more prepared I can hope to be.