Donia
Donia is a stay-at-home Egyptian archaeologist who majored in Egyptology. Egyptology had always been her passion since childhood. But family is her biggest passion. She lives in Mount Kisco with her husband Ayman, their daughters Dania (2005) and Mirette (2012), their cats Tiger and Drogo, and their German Shepherd Max. She is also a stepmom to two girls Nada (1991) and Malak (1995). When she is not busy taking care of her big family, she enjoys anything Sci-Fi and fantasy, watching cooking and baking competition shows, playing the drums, playing tennis with her husband, video games, and DIY projects. According to her girls, she particularly enjoys event and travel planning for her family and always goes all-out and prepares too much for an event. She is excited to join Westchester County Mom to share her experience as an expat and mom.
The Youngest Child Syndrome
When did my youngest become a preteen? Weren’t they only six years old the other day? They are graduating from elementary school this year, and I could swear we were doing the kindergarten tour...
How I Failed to Teach My Kids Their Mother Tongue
Is your family bilingual? Do you speak two languages or more at home? Then I hope my parenting failure is your gain. The one thing I regret every single day is not teaching my...
The Self-Care Plan
Last year was a challenging year for me. My mental health hit rock bottom.
By the end of the year, I desperately needed help. I was unsuccessfully looking for a job that I would find...
Not an Ordinary Marriage {My Love Story}
February is the month of love, and this year it will also mark my 20th wedding anniversary. This prompted me to share my not-so-ordinary love story with the world.
Twenty years ago, I married the...
A Nonbinary Child’s Journey of Self-Discovery
Two years ago, my younger child (almost nine years old at the time) came out to me as nonbinary. That wasn’t the first time they talked about their gender identity. As far as I...
Balloon Animals: A Random Act of Kindness
My 10-year-old just learned how to make balloon animals. She bought a bunch of balloons and materials with her own money. She was so excited to acquire a new skill, and in a matter...
5 Things My Kids Love About Mount Kisco
I asked my kids what they love about Mount Kisco, and here is what they said.
1. Diversity
Mount Kisco is ethnically diverse. The village has a history of drawing immigrants from Italy, Ireland, and, more...
Overcoming Chronic Conditions and Chronic Pain
Chronic conditions and chronic pain add an extra challenge to every task, relationship, and aspect of life, and parenting is no exception.
I’ve always been “sick.” Since infancy, I spent much of my time at...
On Turning 17
When your kid is 15 years old, they still need you. They are still not old enough to do many things on their own, and they still have that same face since they were...
The News of the World
Over the past two years, we lived through world-shifting events, from a deadly pandemic to a racial justice movement, all within months of each other. There have been catastrophic wildfires across the globe, and...