We don’t usually publish poetry on B-Change, but when our wise and beautiful staff writer, Shireen Chaya-Mahdi , shared this bit, we knew we had to make an exception. Here are a few verses that …
How Can A Woman Really Have It All?
Author: Shireen Chaya-Mahdi It was three am and I was awake for the umpteenth time that night, nursing my newborn daughter while my toddler slept soundly in the next room. Having had less than six hou…
An Apology From a Mother to Son Crushing Gender Stereotypes
To my beautiful son Eyan, On the eve of your fourth birthday, your father and I went from one store to the next looking for the Frozen themed toy you asked for, but came back empty-handed. When you wo…
3 Things 2014 Tried To Teach Us But Couldn’t
I left just as quickly as I came. It seems like just yesterday, I heard your voice calling to me as you joyfully counted down; “10, 9, 8…”, welcoming me with joyful music and fireworks. I felt the hop…
My Dearest Elena: A Touching Letter from a Mother to Daughter About Being a Woman
Today, like everyday since you were born, someone exclaimed “She looks like a boy! Where are her earrings?” while looking at you. But unlike every other time, you put your hands to your ears. Fo…
When God Speaks To You: Life’s Unexpected Lessons
I got into the car hurried, absent-minded, and heavyhearted. That morning I woke up to the question ‘What would Mom have thought of me if she saw me today? Would she be proud? Would she be shock…
Two Best Friends and a Wheelchair
It was the first day of class and the room was packed with PhD hopefuls trying to mask how terrified they all really were. And like any important first day, Murphy’s law set in motion and everything b…
Two Best Friends and a Wheelchair
YOUR NAME YOUR FIRST NAME YOUR FAMILY/LAST NAME YOUR EMAIL ADDRESS YOUR TITLE YOUR BRANDIt was the first day of class and the room was packed with PhD hopefuls trying to mask how terrified they all really were. And like any important first day, Murphy’s law set in motion and everything began to go wrong for me. I was late, couldn’t find the right classroom, and somehow managed to […]