Nelly Alarma-Vidondo, 64. I am the daughter of Spanish political immigrants, born in Didube, Tbilisi. I graduated from a Russian school during the Soviet Union. When I was 3 years old, my father left us, and I grew up alone with my mother. We had a very friendly relationship. When I was 13, she fell ill, and we spent the next 5 years in hospitals before she passed away. I had no relatives in Georgia. At the age of 17, I met my future husband in my yard. He kidnapped me as it was a common practice back then. We had four children together, two girls, and two boys. My children brought light into my life, and they meant everything to me. I became fully immersed in their lives, often forgetting about myself. Now, I am blessed with nine grandchildren. There were both challenges and joyful moments along the way. I worked as an art teacher in a school for some time. However, when all my children fell ill with hepatitis simultaneously, I had no choice but to leave my job. Even my husband was emotional when he saw how many children came to beg me not to leave the school. I also worked as a nanny, forming special bonds with the babies who enjoyed my energy and aura. My husband had a difficult personality, and there were cases of domestic violence in our family. Despite the hardships, I endured everything for the sake of my children. He left us 22 years ago, leaving me penniless and initially scared to be alone with four children. I sold everything in our home, be it gold or pottery. However, we gradually found our independence, started working, and supported each other. Motherhood was physically exhausting, but I cherished every moment. I was a dedicated and sometimes "crazy" mother. Looking back, I wonder if I needed to work so tirelessly. Late nights were spent ironing and washing after the children went to bed. Their presence and the noise they made never bothered me; I kept them close at all times. We functioned as a united team, doing everything together in a friendly and cohesive manner. In the 90s, with no electricity or gas, we relied on a wood stove. My oldest son entertained us with his humor, while the rest of us engaged in needlework, knitting, and embroidery. I often find myself nostalgic for those simpler times. One of my top priorities was to provide warmth and love to my children. When they were with me, I felt a deep sense of responsibility for nurturing them. I approached our relationship as equals, fostering a bond where they felt comfortable opening up to me. We became each other's confidants, supporting each other through the challenging years. I made it a point to welcome their friends into our home, getting to know them and observing their interactions. Despite feeling exhausted at times, I found joy in cooking and creating a welcoming environment for everyone. I cherished the friendship I shared with my mother, often missing her while at school. After finishing my lessons, I would eagerly visit her at work, enjoying our outings to the cinema and cafes as we explored new experiences together. Five years ago, I faced a diagnosis of third-stage cancer, undergoing surgery, chemotherapy, and radiation therapy. The onset of the pandemic added further challenges to my journey. When a new store opened in my neighborhood, I eagerly took on a job there. Interacting with customers provided a welcomed distraction. Despite feeling fatigued, the warmth and kindness from others boosted my self-confidence. Their compliments reassured me of my worth, and having my own income brought a sense of independence. While my personal struggles may not be of interest to those I encounter at work, I find fulfillment in listening to and caring for them. When they express gratitude and admiration, it fills my heart with joy. I didn't truly discover myself until receiving the cancer diagnosis and navigating through the challenges that followed. For so long, I lived solely for others - my mother, my husband, and my children. I focused on their happiness, forgetting my own desires. However, during treatment, I realized the importance of living my own life and embracing who I am. Perhaps this difficult journey was a reminder from a higher power to prioritize self-care. In recent years, I've received more recognition than ever before. Even during hospital visits for treatments, I was often mistaken for a caregiver rather than the patient. The nurses' kind words and gestures of support helped me through the toughest times, and their care was truly heartwarming. Amidst the pandemic, I found solace in knitting and used my talent to create blankets for doctors. The joy it brought them was priceless, and crafting became a way to combat isolation. Participating in a holiday crafts exhibition allowed me to showcase my creativity, and my colleagues appreciated my handmade work. While I've always been busy, my perspective on life has shifted. I now cherish the simple moments, savoring the freedom of not being tied to obligations. Spending time with my children and grandchildren fills me with a renewed energy and a deep sense of gratitude. Embracing this newfound zest for life, I am grateful for the unwavering support of my loved ones and the joy they bring into my life. My son is my best friend. He brings out the best in me, he changed my life in many ways. He is my image maker, and we go shopping together. He encourages me to make free choices regardless of the age. My life-choices were guided by stereotypes and biases since childhood and now I’m slowly getting rid of them. We’re meeting today. We’ll go to cafes, and restaurants, and have deep conversations about life. We tell each other everything and we solve problems together. Being close to him comforts me. I'm happy I have him in my life. When I was diagnosed with cancer, he took care of everything, from paychecks to entertainment. He takes care of his siblings and their children too. They respond with great respect and love. Thanks to Guram, today, I am stronger than ever. On the 4th of January, regardless of the fatigue I was experiencing as a result of chemo infusion, he still took me out shopping. He made me feel exactly the same way as we remember Julia Roberts in the famous shopping scene in “Pretty Woman.” Sadness disappeared and then we sat down at the restaurant for some sweet chat. There is a big difference between the mothers of my generation and the modern moms. More and more women refuse to keep their marriage at all costs. They are bolder and take risks. Maybe it's better. People's opinions meant so much to me, it was so important what others would say or think about my actions. We had to be patient and always compromise. We lived in fear, with no freedom of choice and expression. I was afraid of everything and I was depressed because of it. Motherhood has always been challenging across the geographies and generations. But modern mothers are more fearless, and I like it. Be bold and make courageous decisions. Believe in yourself. Don't think that someone will come and help you. No, you have to overcome the difficulties yourself. This is how you become stronger. Believe that you can do anything. A human can do everything. The weaker you are more troubles and trials you’re getting in life. You may not know where your strength is hidden, but you will someday find yourself in a situation where you feel how much you’re capable of overcoming and achieving. I felt that life is only experienced in motion. I don't get lazy anymore, I spend every day energetically. I believe in God. Whatever trouble came my way, it was from him, I know that. I understood his message and I prove it by the actions that I take every day.

Tamar Atuashvili, 60. Kakheti/Tbilisi. I am a village girl, who moved to Tbilisi at the age of 13. Am I Kakhetian or Tbilisian? It’s up to you to decide. I finished my 8th grade in Vachnadziani, then I entered a Medical School in the capital and started to work as a nurse at the ambulance. Soon I got married and started a family life. I loved my job and stayed in the medical field for almost 15 years. In the early 90s, Georgia faced economic difficulties and the salaries of the medical staff were no longer paid. That’s when I left my job and moved to the hotel where my husband worked. The first years in the new family were difficult. My husband’s parents were elderly, they were very nice people, and they treated me well, but as a mother, I went through many challenges. Raising 3 children with an interval of 2 years, taking them to school and various classes. I didn't want them to miss any chance to be well-educated. I kept up with everything and stayed up late at night, I couldn't remember when I slept and when I would wake up. I used to be an example in the neighborhood: how much this little girl can do, she leads a big family and does so much for her children, they said. This was an incentive for me and I pushed myself even harder. The times when I had all three children at home lasted for a short while. Sometimes I was neglecting or harsh because I was in charge of both family affairs and raising children alone, and it was difficult to distribute equal warmth and attention to all my children. It wasn't my duty to purchase food and various household products but it was up to me to feed the family and keep the house clean and tidy. My mother-in-law was applauding me, "What a smart girl you are", and it made me invest more resources into the daily work. Now I regret so much that I didn't take care of myself and I got to the point of physical burnout. I think I would have been able to stay healthy and active longer if I had divided my time equally between work and rest. Doctors ask me where I worked with such a physical load when they look at my X-rays. I regret it. Even though I studied well and entered the university in the first year, I was hardworking, and I had support from my parents to grow further, marriage prevented my professional development. I had my first child at the age of 21. The family had no financial issues at that time and my income did not mean much. It seems that I did not have enough courage to prioritize my professional aspirations. The new family was satisfied with the fact that I was raising children and cooking dinners. I love needlework. Knitting and sewing help me relax and I have been good at it since my childhood. I have been singing in different choirs since I was little and I remember wanting to be a singer. I loved gymnastics and practiced everywhere I could. I spent nights watching figure skating. Sports and music filled me up and lifted me. Watching football with my brother's friends was a big celebration. I was active in my youth. I had a wonderful time as a student, we traveled a lot, and we visited all of Georgia, including Sukhumi and Abkhazia. We were able to do this with our salary savings. I don't remember well the first two years of marriage. After living an independent and active life, I suddenly found myself in a small house with my in-laws, sister-in-law, and her family. I was mostly at home, I didn't go anywhere except for work, and I was somewhat ashamed to hang out with friends as usual. When you try to be caring towards every family member, always smile and then you realize that it’s too much. When the possibility of moving to another place with my husband and children arose, I hesitated to express my desire. They had one son and how dare I take him away from his family. It’s bad to get married at a young age, you can’t understand anything, and you are too immature to see what is best for the future. Now the second circle has come when both children and grandchildren have grown up and the choice of an independent life has approached again. You don't know how long you live in this world, so if I can find enough courage and decide that I can still do things that I like and that I’m good at, I'd love to create more. Do you know yourself? At the age of 60, yes I know. I didn't know before. I didn't even think about it, I was just busy with daily life. Now I want more good people around me, I reflect on how I am to others, and I want to become more interesting myself. As you get older, you need people like you to escape loneliness. You feel that you are no longer needed as you were before. These thoughts led me to get to know myself better. I have been soul-searching for 2-3 years. I also ask my acquaintances to honestly share how I, as a person, look in their eyes. Sometimes you play a little bit before you become what you want to be. Now I know what I want to become and I am working on it. There's a lot to sort out and change within myself. I am direct and quick-tempered, I express my opinions without taking the time to think about and analyze them. I see the lives of elderly people in Georgia through a negative lens. I can imagine how meaningless life will be when you cannot physically help your children and others. As people age, they degrade, fail to realize themselves, and lock themselves up, my perception is such. My friend and I sometimes encourage each other that our free life has just started and that we still have a lot to see, to be financially independent, to travel, and to enjoy life. We never know what life has in store for us. A small house that doesn't need a lot of maintenance is perfect for me. Living alone, or with my spouse if he stays supportive. My own space would be very relaxing. Where I would not tire myself by cleaning the house and taking care of a big family and would free up more time for self-awareness. The event that changed my life was the death of my mother. My life was divided before and after that day. Mother filled me with hope. Having a mother is different.  She is the only person who is always there for you, and who cares about you unconditionally. Even if I’m sick, how can I not be there for the surgery, she told me. That’s when I fell into a deep depression. What are some advice for women? The opinion that having many children is good for the family and societies, is popular. From my experience, I would rather have a few children and raise them well. You simply can’t give them enough. It’s impossible. If the family supports the mother in a way that she only needs to take care of their education and upbringing, of course, the more children you have, the better it is. More children bring many sorrows, but joy prevails, many children will fulfill you. But when you are not financially stable, the children are oppressed, they can’t develop well, you can’t support them in many ways, and then as you age, you have many regrets. I advise women to have children when they are ready to do everything for them, for the sake of their peace of mind. If you have the means, having many children is wealth. If you can't afford it, have one and give him/her everything that it takes to raise a human. A woman must follow her path. It is also good for the children to see a strong and active mother, they have more hope then. When they grow up and see you being weak and vulnerable, they won’t be able to fully spread their wings. A woman must have her work and path. I am not in favor of early marriage. You can't think well, you are immature. It depends so much on the new family. Will they support your growth or will you have to forget about your desires and aspirations?! You realize many things on the way and you try to change, some things work out, some things not anymore. Be thoughtful and only when you’re on your path and independent both financially and emotionally, you can plan to have children. The happiness of your children makes you happy, the sadness of your children makes you sad. You feel well when your children are well. There is no other factor contributing to a mother’s happiness as strong as this. When I see that my children are strong, joyful, and healthy, it’s enough for me to be happy. When I’m going through difficult times, God gives me hope. Proximity to him is so fulfilling. If you believe that you are not alone in your ups and downs and that God is always with you, then nothing will scare you. I want to be like that, to have the ability to feel it all the time. It is often the case that God is remembered during difficult times. I want to be close to God all the time and have no fear of anything in this life. I want to be spiritually strong and to visit the church more often. I know what peace of mind and healing feels like when you’re close to God. In the next life, would you be a mother again? I would definitely be a mother, but I would be a better mother than I was. With the experience I’ve already gained, I know what to change and how to do things better. I thought that providing education, clothing, and food was enough to raise a child, but it’s not so. You should not be a slave to anything and dependent on anyone, you should be an emancipated individual, you should not follow the crowd/flow and you should not be in obedience. A person, a woman, should be strong and courageous. If I’d had more courage as a child and a young lady, I would have said a lot of things instead of being silent and ashamed of expressing my opinions, I would have changed a lot. Spinning this energy wishing yourself is damaging. You have to release what is ripening in you and you have to bring it to the ears of others. Those who like it will follow you. Those who don't like it, fine, let them go. I regret that I wasn’t that courageous girl but I'm learning to be one now.

Nino Trentinella, 44. Tbilisi. When I was about 8 months old, my parents discovered that I had a congenital condition, so actually, I couldn’t walk. From that point until I was seven, I had many surgeries, and there were many unsuccessful ones. I ended up in Siberia at an experimental clinic. The doctor there was a genius. He developed a technic that wasn’t used by a wider public and he helped me. So now I can walk and run, and do everything. When I had one of the appointments they showed me my X-ray, in one X-ray there was no bone in the middle, and in another X-ray, the bone was there. So, basically, he grew the bone where there was nothing. Just seeing those images the idea of “anything is possible” was very much ingrained in me. It was a transformational moment to see the concrete visual of nothing filled with something. I’m a visual person and after seeing this, the idea that you can do anything that you put your mind to and that anything is possible was instilled in me. I was 13 when my parents moved from Georgia to the US, and it was not an easy transition. I did my schooling and university studies in the States. Then I moved to Europe when I got married and ever since then I’ve been traveling with my husband and with my daughter once she was born. I gave birth in Australia, and we lived there for four years. I lived in a few countries and now we’re here in Georgia, expecting our second child. We love traveling and I think this is one of the best things you can offer to your children as well, especially, before they are teenagers. We still do slow traveling. We did world schooling for a few years, then she asked to be in an actual school. That’s why we were staying a little longer in different countries. We would choose to live in various cultures with a lot of intention. Learning about new places, how people live there… You pick all of these things, and your children do, too. Motherhood for sure was transformational. It almost erases the personality and you have to start from scratch. You’re focused on your child 100% and you kind of neglect your own needs, if you don’t have support, which I didn’t. Because we were traveling, every time we had to restart the community and find a new support network, which took a lot of time. You’re spending all your time taking care of your child and you have less time left for your own needs. That was quite challenging. Trying not to lose personality and do things for yourself too. Not having a village to support you made it a bit harder. Last year in London was the most difficult. We moved within London and lost the community we had in another neighborhood. All the support disappeared for a year. This is why we decided to come here for the second baby. Usually, when we move somewhere, we make a list of pros and cons. Australia offers the highest quality of life that we’ve experienced. We compare other places to Australia but actually, nothing really compares to the quality of life that is there. But the sun was too extreme, and it was impossible to be outdoors during the day. We were far away from family and traveling was not that easy as well. Apart from that, it was just great there. The community in the small city where we lived was very present and conscious. Natural parenting was present too. I pretty much learned everything from them and even now, when I have medical questions, that is the community that I connect with. Somehow, even though it’s online, I still get the best support from them. I’m quite aware of myself and my thought processes, and I control them quite well if I need to. It has always been that way. I think it comes from being neurodivergent and my brain being wired differently (laughs). I don’t feel I ever fit anywhere but I always find a way to fit in. I can find people to connect with in any culture. Maybe that comes from my childhood again, being so resilient. The adaptability to change was instilled in me from early on, I don’t know if it came from hospital experiences or it’s just a personality. I can adapt very easily to any situation. I have a very diverse group of acquaintances and friends. I get along with most people and can find something in common with almost everyone. As a child, I’ve always been independent. I always saw myself as an adult from the age of two. In my head, I was an adult. In my head, it’s always been like that. I still did kid things but the thought processes in my head were different and I was aware of that. I think I’m more rebellious, I like to challenge the status quo. There are moments when I feel like I need to conform to certain things as part of society, but if I feel something isn’t right, I will not do that regardless of what others say. It could be more challenging for other people if they want to convince me otherwise. I usually do a lot of research on a topic so when I speak I know what I’m talking about, then I don’t get affected by anything else around. I’m an artist, so I just do creative things. I don’t necessarily work with one medium, creativity can be writing, drawing, painting, photography, AI this year, etc. I always try to keep a creative lifestyle. It’s a bit challenging when you have kids. When my daughter was small, sometimes I would just watch her being creative, or I would do things alongside her, just to keep a kind of creative output. I try to integrate it into daily things. It could be cooking, too. I did a lot more photography which was easier in the circumstances when you get interrupted every two seconds by a small kid. Even if I couldn’t edit it necessarily, I would still keep taking pictures. It helps on so many different levels, with mental health and emotions. Before I gave birth to my daughter, I would travel by myself. I could just open the door and leave the house whenever I felt like this. After becoming a mother, you can’t actually do that. Someone else is there, you have to get her ready, and she might not want to, then you need to negotiate, there’s another person there. So, motherhood affected a sense of independence. Another big shift was not being able to do art whenever I wanted to, as much as I wanted to. Also, before she was born, I thought I was healthy but then I realized, I wasn’t. My diet changed, and I feel way healthier and better now. I am way more ready for pregnancy than I was back then. Before, no one is depending on you, so you are just doing your own thing at your own rhythm, and then you’re not anymore. Career-wise, I didn’t work for almost 6 years, however, being a teacher, I easily got back to work. I wanted to be with her as much as possible, especially, between three to five years of age. Those are the most formative, most important years. I had little commissions, and part-time projects here and there. But my intention was not to go back full-time, because then someone else is raising your child, that didn’t make any sense at all. My husband and I assisted Dr. Gabor Mate’s online workshop a few years ago and my husband went to meet him for a lecture this year in London. He proves that three to five years of child development is very important. We read his books and we were very conscious of choosing to be with our daughter all these years. When she was two, that’s when my husband’s contract in Australia ended and we moved here, a family gap year ended up being a year and a half. We didn’t work, we had enough money to live, so until she was three and a half she had both of us. It wasn’t an easy decision but we knew it was very important for her development to have our presence. Finally, when she started to ask to go to school and went to school that she liked, that’s when I went back to work. I work in education (Nino holds multiple awards and her projects as a teacher and an artist are widely recognized. Recently, she received a Gold Prize in the Digital  Innovator Teacher of The Year category from The Pearson National Teaching Awards in the UK) and if we speak about my concerns in this area, it’s a level of conformity there in schools, which is translated to the wider society. It affects not just the subjects that the students are learning, but also it affects their personalities. And when they leave, that’s when they conform and that’s when you have this mainstream thought about everything. It could be a mainstream thought about childbirth. Children go for this brainwashing for 12-13 years, and that’s my main kind of concern. Education works and it probably serves a bigger agenda on a government level, people follow the rules and conform. Otherwise, everyone would have independent opinions, which is probably not good when you have a big society. You want to instill laws and certain things and you want people to follow this and that. So, there are lots of alternative schools out there, with lots of different models, but even within that you still have some kind of system and some kind of conformity. It depends on what kind of value you want to instill in children but more mainstream schools are going to instill more mainstream opinions. It’s just the way it’s set up. So, I would like to see change, but I don’t know how, because again, I think the values within the system need to change and then you can do it from within. As a teacher working in a school, that has been a challenge the last few years. I see it and I’m contributing to it and I’m part of it. I know I can’t change it. As a young teacher, you say, you can change everything but no, you can change things to a certain degree but you can’t really change the system from within, no matter what you do. Unless everyone does it, with a greater consciousness and greater desire to change the values, it’s gonna continue this way. I like creating things and seeing something out of nothing. You have an idea and you manifest it. I think it’s again linked to my childhood. Artwork or any idea and you actually make it and it comes into a physical realm, it’s quite exciting to me. CHALLENGES OF MOTHERS The main challenge for mothers is having a community of like-minded people. It’s good to have remote support groups as well but having the support network present, people actually holding your baby, when you need to run out for something, and helping with different things. In modern societies, I think, this is the biggest challenge. That is linked also to information sharing about parenting and related things, that you wouldn’t get if you lived in isolation. People live by themselves, some people might have grandparents but it doesn’t mean they are present or helpful. Traveling made that even more challenging because you have to restart and meet people again and it takes months to find like-minded people. It affects you more in terms of your time, and your well-being, you have less time for yourself because you have less support. A lot of it has to do with time. You can’t be with your child 24/7, because that is really draining. When the village is not there for you, you have to compromise more. I think there needs to be support for breastfeeding for sure. Some places do it better than others. Australia was great for this but in Georgia, breastfeeding support is non-existent. I gave birth in a hospital in Australia but I had midwives and lactation consultants coming to our house for three months after I gave birth, checking if everything was ok and they were helping constantly. It was all set up within the system. Education about pregnancy and breastfeeding needs to be provided before and after labor both for mothers and fathers. For fathers as well, because this change challenges them as well. Having men’s groups where fathers could meet would be of great support. If you instill that type of support in hospitals and even on a government level, people will meet naturally and communities and support networks will be formed out of that. Most people are guided by fear and that fear could be either judgmental towards other people or just to guide their life in a way that it affects their decision making. That translates into policy as well. The medical system is all fear-based. So it would be nice if people were more conscious and did a bit of research by themselves, to be less fearful, and to take on the chances as well. Especially in Georgia, I’ve observed that a lot of people are afraid of taking risks, their decisions seem to be guided by fear of something. They don’t take steps to do things, because this fear blocks them. I don’t know where it’s coming from. It could be the wars and history. I’m not saying that it’s not in other countries but it’s definitely present here. Maybe living in a small country and not being able to travel and see what’s out there is generating this fear. France’s medical system was amazing in terms of ease of use and affordability. In Australia, we had really good access to alternative practitioners. In Ireland, we had an amazing kindergarten for our daughter and it was funded by the government so we didn’t have to pay anything. In countries where we lived the support systems were not necessarily built into the policy but they did exist. I find it a bit concerning to have my childbirth planned in Georgia, but I know what I can ask for, what to accept, and what to decline. I have worked with a doula before and I have done some research. I feel ready but I don’t agree with how things are here, and I think it should be different in terms of support for childbirth. I don’t understand why it’s only done in hospitals and why there is not more support around childbirth, “alternative” options that you have in many countries don’t exist here. Even in third world countries, it feels like you have more options for natural birth than in Georgia. In this way, it feels a little bit backward. I don’t know if it’s a political thing or why aren’t those options available around birthing and breastfeeding. In the US, for example, you can still birth at home and then you go and register it. But here you can’t birth at home. If it happens by accident, then you have to go to the hospital anyway to register so you can’t have it registered anywhere else. So either way you end up in the hospital. Why? My friend in Australia had a home birth and after a week she just registered the birth certificate by mail. It just puts more stress unnecessarily, it feels like there’s something odd in the whole approach. How do people who live in the villages and mountains give birth? Do they come down to hospitals in advance? There are a lot of strange things that I’m still observing and questioning. I’m working on multiple projects for next year. I want to open my business. I definitely want to do an exhibition here as well. I’m putting things in motion, not waiting for the baby to be born. It’s becoming a bit harder as the labor’s approaching. Now I have an article coming out in England about the work I was doing at the school, that’s linked to an award that I received. Depending on what type of baby it is and how things go with breastfeeding, I might do workshops here. I do prefer working online though. I did a course a few months ago, about how to make art using AI. It was aimed at teachers and librarians, helping them to integrate AI into the curriculum but also the ethics, how to address it, and what to do with it. The course went very well, so I might continue with online workshops.

Kelsey E. Hendrix, 41. A big part of my story is that I ended up as a nurse overseas. But it all began when I was in second grade and on the way to school God said to me: “When you grow up, you’ll be a nurse overseas.” It was a real voice in my head that I knew it wasn’t me. When God speaks to me, this is the way I hear it.When I was in middle school, I didn’t want to do this. I wanted to be a lawyer, I wanted to be a very important person because I liked arguing. When I was in high school, I wanted to be a chef, and I thought that would be what I would do. The summer before my senior year of college, I went to an event for high school students, and I feel that God really changed my heart to make me want to move overseas and follow His plan. In middle school, I fought a lot with my mom. She’s very beautiful. I always felt that my mom was beautiful and I was not. It’s a little piece of my growing-up story. When my parent would take me to buy dresses, nothing ever really fit me. As an adult, we know that not everything fits you, but as a kid, I think I didn’t realize that. Sometimes I wonder what our kids think about us compared to what I thought about my mom. I thought she was so skinny, so beautiful, so perfect, and I felt kind of the opposite as a kid. As an adult now, a lot of times, I feel like, I’m so wrinkly. My second son often tells me:  “Mom, you’re so beautiful.” Maybe he sees the way I saw my mom, as someone who is so beautiful, and maybe as an adult, my mom felt like she was so wrinkly. Or maybe many daughters feel some kind of competition with their moms. When I was in junior high school, my mom and I would fight a lot. I remember once my dad said to her: “It’s gonna get worse before it gets better.” After that, my mom tried to work on becoming my friend instead of fighting with me. She would take me for coffee, and go to places just us. Instead of trying to control me, she was trying to be friends with me. Whatever show I wanted to watch, she would just sit down with me and watch it with me, even though she might not want to approve of it. Then our relationship was a lot better. I never told her about how I felt about her being beautiful and about myself being the opposite, but I know it’s kind of tied into the cultural things that we all went through together. I have made some significant moves. When I was four, we packed up and moved from one part of the States to another. It changed my whole world.  When I was 10, we moved from Texas to New Hampshire, it was a very big cultural change. That also is a big part of my story, I feel like God was preparing me to live overseas. Because I watched my mom figuring out how to live in new cultures, it taught me, as an adult, this is what you do when you move to a new place, you get lost going places, and you do silly things that people laugh at you, but it’s fine, you know. In New England culture, you don’t take kids to dinner parties, but it’s not like that in Texas, your whole family goes everywhere. So they would take us to dinners without knowing that we were not supposed to be there, and we would end up being the only children, and my mom would be like: “I didn’t know.” When I was in 10th grade, we moved from New Hampshire to Florida. It was another cultural change. I was part of the Junior States of America, a group of students who wanted to go into politics and become state representatives. When I moved to Florida, there was none of this. It was a football school. It was a big cultural adjustment for our family again. During college, I went to a four-year nursing school and became a nurse. During those years, I spent one summer in Uganda, and one summer in China. When I was in China, our team was working with an American doctor, who was based in China, who knew that I was in nursing school. He told me: “When you graduate, work two years, then come back and be a nurse in my clinic.” That’s what I did. When I moved to China, I went by myself to work with this doctor and his wife. She was a psychologist and she taught me a lot of things that I now do in the coaching. I knew my husband but he lived in a different part of China. We started dating and then we both moved to Beijing. We got married and we went to America so I could go to Grad School. I studied Public Health and got my MPH. In the middle of Grad school, I had Gardner, my first son. From being a nurse to becoming a coach. With my first son, I thought I would just breastfeed him. He didn’t gain any weight and I ended up giving him a formula and pumping for a year because once he took a bottle, he didn’t want to nurse again. After that, I wanted to learn as much as I could about breastfeeding. As a nurse, I had been teaching moms how to do it at the hospitals, but I didn’t know how to do all these things from my body to my baby. I knew how to help a baby nurse, but I didn’t know how to help a mom learn how to nurse a baby. I had to learn the mom’s side. I went to the La Leche League training program. After that, I had my second son Gideon. He was great at nursing as if he was born knowing how to nurse. Before we had our third son, I was going through the 1000-hour lactation training program for ICBLC. At the same time, I was helping people with transitioning to China. Our boss asked if we knew someone who wanted to be a coach. I felt like God said this is what I want you to do instead of being a lactation consultant. I wasn’t happy about it and I told God “No”(laughs). Then God was like, do this, and I said, okay. Then I quit the training and I had someone coach me for a year because I didn’t really know what it was. It changed our marriage, the way we parented, and a lot of things. So I went to the coaching training after that. How did God speak to you this time? I was praying. When I prayed about lactation, it would get dark. When I prayed about coaching, it would get really bright. So I felt like this was where I had to go. When I had my first son, I was studying in Grad School, I was working full-time, and we were taking care of our grandma as she was really sick. I would sit and rock him and read my Grad School reading to him out loud instead of a nursery rhyme. As a baby, he grew up listening to this. After we moved back to China, that was when my life changed the most. Even though I lived in Chengdu and Beijing before, moving to Xinjiang with a child, was different. When all my Chinese friends asked me about my one-year-old son, and why I hadn’t potty-trained him, I realized that I had to do a lot of cultural adjusting and things to learn. At that point, we could speak Chinese, and we had already lived in China for three years, I thought like I knew something, but really I knew nothing. I cried every day, during the first year. This time I was in a different culture and I was a stay-at-home mom. Every day I would watch my husband leave for work, and I would just cry. The nice part about it is that I found other moms, every day we would go to the park all together with our kids, eventually, we formed our little mom army. It was great. I lived 15 years in China, 12 years with children. Our four kids somehow provide opportunities in our work that we never thought about before. I never would have done La Leche League if it wasn’t for our kids. And that opened up the doors to all of the friends from the moms that lived in our neighborhood that I would have never met, that they also wanted to nurse their babies and be natural moms. I only had one brother, and I wanted our parents to have a lot more kids. I never understood why my mom didn’t have more kids. The doctor’s wife I worked with, had three kids, and she told me she always regretted not having number four. It was her only regret in life. I really admired her and tried to listen to everything she said to me. And I always remembered that. So I want to have more kids. With my first kid, it was easier. I had him in the summer. When the school year started, I went back to studies and work. The only thing that changed was that I would work at the children’s hospital and I would just take care of the children as part of my job, but after having my own kids, I began to feel very strong emotions inside. Then it was really hard to work and it made sense to me why some people stop being pediatric nurses after having kids because it's hard to deal with the emotions inside of you after you have your own kids. How well do I know myself? When I was younger, I thought I knew myself more. I think as we age and grow in life lessons, we know there are more parts to us. So, we were very simple, it was easy to know ourselves. Before I got married, I knew who I was and why I was doing things but then the more I added to my life, there were more parts of me, so there were different parts of me. It’s not that I know myself less with my age, it’s just there are more facades to know. When I was just by myself, it was easy. As a wife, I need to work to help my marriage, and as a mom, I need to work with four sons of different ages. Some people say 40 is midlife, some people say no. My personality actually changed since we moved to Georgia. There are several reasons: for coaching, we always use the strengths finders, I know my five strengths from before and my five strengths now are very different. My trainer in coaching school said: If you are coaching a client who is in midlife, or who has passed midlife, then you need to re-give them all of these tests because they will have had a transformation. I also had a transformation, entering this second phase of my life coincided with moving to Georgia. I feel like I know myself quite well, but when I was younger I would have been more likely to say, I’m exactly like this. Now I want to be more adaptive to a situation, and more curious about the people around me. Instead of saying, I’m X, I try to be more interested in other people and more curious about how can we adapt a relationship that we’ll work together. I try to live not in my personality traits but in the community and partnerships more. I don’t enjoy being by myself. I enjoy being in community, and working in partnerships. My personality is like, I can do everything by myself, but to me, it’s not enjoyable, it’s just forceful. We came here seeking Chinese culture. Georgia was a different version of cultural shock. I was searching so much for Chinese things. I’m not Chinese, but my heart thinks it’s Chinese. What gives me hope? Of course, God gives us hope, that’s the ultimate truth. But I think we can see God in other people too. The more I live in different places and meet people from different cultures, the more hope comes from those relationships. The more people you meet and the more friendships you make, the more love there is and more community there is. Seeing God in other people through the love they give you and through the love that you have the opportunity to give to them, is the most beautiful thing because together we can all work together to create this kind of project where women are loved and taken care of and not just pushed aside. My ultimate goal from doing the work for La Leche League was to help moms have the relationship with their kids that they wanted to have and I think that comes from coaching, instead of just demanding things from our kids, we help partner with what they want to achieve. Helping other moms to get to that point where they're able to partner instead of being controlling and authoritarian parents. One of the biggest challenges for women in my community is the phenomenon of Trailing Spouses, who go for their spouses’ jobs. Their biggest challenge is to find the ability to have a great level of satisfaction in their work. They aren’t there to work but usually, they are very highly educated people. I see a lot of times women constantly trying to create something and it’s very hard for them. Following the husbands and wanting to also have their career potential fulfilled, is a very difficult position to be in. Several women at the international church here came with their husbands who have really good jobs and they are highly educated. They want to contribute to the community but they don’t necessarily see ways to participate in the community because they don't have language skills. From my experience with La Leche League, I like the idea of combining coaching with projects that serve mothers’ well-being because, if we can help moms achieve their goals with their families, they can do anything. If your family is unsettled, then at work you cannot really thrive, because you are distracted. Either that or you’re shutting off your brain to that part that you need to heal. So, if we want women to feel fully connected to all of their bodies and brains in life, we need to help them heal in their relationships with their families so that they can excel and reach their goals. If the organizations can provide women with coaching to be able to achieve healing their relationships with their family, themselves, and their work, and to understand their mind-body connection, that would be helpful. I have two goals; one is to create a coaching program for foster families; the foster children don’t often have conversations around their life goals, and foster parents don’t often have the emotional and mental support they need to thrive. Coaching for a whole family creates opportunities and new thinking patterns that support them in creating their new life! My second goal is to partner to lead a Natural birthing center where women are supported; to lead and direct this center so women can be supported in birthing, mothering, life, their emotions, and how they choose to live out their work life.

Paige Eastman Dickinson, 53. I’m a white middle-class American. My parents raised myself and two brothers in a suburban area in New Jersey. I am blessed to have lived abroad, currently in Georgia. I’m a mother of two children, I’m a midwife and I have an amazing supportive husband. I did a gap year and I met some Irish guys. My grandfather died the same year and he left $2000 to each of his grandchildren. So I used the money to go to his country, which was Belgium, and France, because we had some relatives there, England, and Ireland to meet those guys. I had so much fun and I learned so much that I wanted to find a way to stay there. I didn’t really understand America’s place in the world, I was so sheltered, and this trip was the beginning of learning more about America’s involvement in the world. Ever since then, I tried to study abroad, to get work permits, I did all of these things. I went to a college where you’re required to study in 2 other cultures than your own. I studied about the conflict in Northern Ireland. As a student of conflict studies I attended a conference and workshops with the Irish, Basques, and Palestinians and was curious about who the Palestinians were (I thought they were Pakistani at first). I saw the Golda Meir story on TV growing up, which denied the existence of the Palestinians…that is all I knew. I was kind of shocked and I wanted to go there and see what was happening. The next place I went to within the college program was Jerusalem. It’s so beautiful in Israel, the society comes from all these different countries and they all have different opinions. I felt like I couldn’t speak, the whole year, I didn’t have the right… I just listened. People would tell me I didn’t have a right because I wasn’t Jewish to understand. Then I spent more time in the West Bank mostly, I did get to go to Gaza as well. I listened to the Palestinians too and then I realized there was a different problem there. These people don’t have rights and those people have rights. It’s obvious that if you don’t give them equal rights, which they wouldn’t because that would make Israel a multi-culture instead of a Jewish state, then, you know, of course, people would fight for their rights. I totally got it and then I would speak about it and people would get quiet: Ok, she knows what she’s talking about now. Then I met my husband who’s Palestinian and I spent a lot of time with his beautiful family. I was so lucky to have all those experiences. We came back to the US and we worked and we helped them to build a house outside the refugee camp. Eventually, we got divorced. I would still go back to visit and I would do some work there. Then I came home and I met my husband and we had children and I didn’t ever go back, which is 20 years now without seeing my family, but thank goodness for evil Facebook which is such a horrible place and a beautiful place too, because I get to talk to my family and see what’s happening and watch their babies grow and vice versa. During that time period when we were getting divorced, I became a midwife. I became a domiciliary midwife, which means I’m on call 24/7, I don’t have much vacation, so I didn’t do a lot of traveling. But my husband and I always wanted to have our kids live in another culture because America is so ethnocentric. In the educational system, I didn’t really learn about the world, what our place was, and what we supported. I think if Americans knew half of what we do in this world, it would be a different country and a better country. So that was very important to my husband and I. One day, a recruiter from Vietnam called. We thought we had to do it or we would never do it as our kids were getting older. So we did it. We loved being in Vietnam for three and a half years. We didn’t want to go home because of the political happenings and the danger of gun violence. We wanted to continue and here we are in Georgia. I’m applying to emigrate as a midwife to New Zealand. So let’s see what happens. Knowing myself… One of the biggest teachers was being in the Middle East and getting to know my ex-husband’s family. Their story, their amazing resilience, and loving kindness, in the face of occupation and apartheid. Of course, they taught me so much but to be honest about knowing yourself, really about knowing yourself, you think you’re a good person, you’re going through life, you’re doing your things as an adult… The most humbling experience in my opinion is having children. Because they will really show you, on an intimate level, who you really are as a person and how you deal with adversity. My children are constantly teaching me and forcing me to evolve, even though I go down screaming sometimes (laughs). I always thought I was a good person and when I became a mother, I was like, I have a lot to work on. And I still do. We hug each other, we say we’re sorry, we cuddle, we give kisses, there’s so much love… I really wanted to be a mother, my whole life I just thought that I should be a mother. I thought I should have ten kids. The conservative background I was raised with made me feel that way. I met a wonderful man. Giving birth and becoming a mother kind of rocked my world. I went from wanting to have ten kids to thinking, should we even have another?! Motherhood is hard, it’s the hardest job ever. It was also really hard because I was so dedicated to my clients. They are everything. I don’t know if they even understand how dedicated I am but to be on call for somebody and to show up for them… You know my biggest fears are that something happens to me and I’m not there for them. Of course, I’m not Goddess and any other midwife can take care of them and they’ll be fine. But they expect you, we build a relationship, and continuity of care is important. We didn’t have family that lived near us. As a mother, I had to have a list of friends who could take my kids at any moment if I needed to run out to a birth. When they were newborns, I would take them with me because I could nurse them, and my assistant could also nurse them and that was great. You know, it really takes a village to raise a child. For my kind of work, I really needed to have that support and the support of my husband who knew that if I left in the middle of the night he might be late for work having to go through the list to find someone to watch the kids. He was willing to do that. I think that midwives have a very high divorce rate for that reason. We are passionate about our clients. I want to get care like this in the healthcare system, I want to spend time with someone, I want someone to educate me about my body and breastfeeding, I want that kind of relationship. I don’t want some arrogant doctor. I want that kind of care and I love my job. Having kids? It made it a lot harder but still, my husband supported me. I think the most earth-shuttering part of this was realizing how hard it was. You have this huge responsibility to care for entirely and help create these kids and when you feel that way towards your clients as well, it is a “pull” in both directions. But I never had to do that because my husband really supported me, and he’s such a loving father that I never felt like my children were deprived because I wasn’t around this period of time. I think I’m lucky. What worries me? What makes me happy? What worries me is my children and my husband being happy. It’s hard to move to a new country. You think you’re giving them a gift by living in other places but when it’s hard for them to move, it’s heartbreaking to see it. I worry about the world that I’m raising them to live in. I worry about people like Donald Trump, I worry about family in Palestine. Those are the things that I think I worry about the most. When I’m feeling most vulnerable? I love the work that I do as a midwife and I think I’m good at it. But I’m having to apply for immigration, and I don’t want them to say “no” to me. Because my educational background is so different I’m afraid of that kind of rejection when your midwife identity is being judged. Or even more importantly being able to listen to collegial or client feedback about your work is a hugely important and vulnerable place to be in. Listening to your partner and being vulnerable when you know you have made mistakes.  It’s so hard but it brings growth and rewards. Meeting new friends, food, traveling, nature, and being in this cool weather after living in Vietnam - it all makes me happy. People that I get to work with in my job, these amazing women and their power and the miracle of life, and to see them come on to the other side from being pregnant to having a baby. It’s also stressful and a huge responsibility but it’s a gift also. The midwives I get to work with are amazing and bring me great joy. I’m a guide, a travel guide to motherhood. I know where we’re going on some level and we talk about what kind of trip they want in this journey. It’s fun. It’s the hardest thing that you’ll ever do and it’s also a miracle and the most amazing thing. If you have people who are supporting you and loving you through the process, it’s going to be a completely different experience than if you feel like it’s just something that happened to you. I truly believe that it’s such a gift because my mom would always say, the best thing to do in life is to help other people. She didn’t meaning the job that I do, she was saying that in general but it’s really true because you get so many gifts back. My gift back is to be able to see how strong people are and how they cope with different situations. To see them empowered by their journey and to know that I helped with that in some small ways. It’s a huge gift. THE CHALLENGES OF MOTHERS I think the biggest challenge is that it’s the hardest thing you’ll ever do. You need help. Well, you do it if you have to do it but that raises maternal morbidity and mortality. The less help we have, the more we are at risk. We’re left alone postpartum with our babies and we can’t get sleep and nobody’s helping us. Your chance of hemorrhage… of not being well nursed, your body not well rested, you can have an emergency hemorrhage. Postpartum depression, is also deadly, if we don’t have support. Why don’t we have support? We’re not getting paid for maternity leave, or we’re getting very little and we can’t hire someone if we don’t have family. Circumstances are such that we moved and we don’t really have a community to help us. Or our community is just one person and that’s it. Our governments aren’t supporting us in so many cultures that I’ve seen. Especially, in America. I think people do have families in Georgia but there are always people in every culture who can’t be with their family for different reasons. In every society, we need to identify and help women and have those structures within our communities, and that’s the responsibility of our governments. We’re half of the population and most of our political leaders are men and we don’t have those policies, how does your political structure work? If we took money out of the campaign funding and gave the same amount to everybody to use, that would be a whole different story, that would be a true democracy. But we don’t have that. We don’t have women supported very well. One of the most powerful mothers that I’ve seen is my mother-in-law in Palestine. There were times when the father wasn’t around. Everything was her. You speak of her in that way and she’s the most powerful woman in the world. She’s fighting the soldiers who’re beating her to get into the house to get to her kids. She’s so powerful, she’s forced to be. Does she have the capacity to go out and be political? No, because she has to put bread on the table for her seven kids every day. She’s got to just survive. She’s in a refugee camp. A lot of times I think that people you see working in organizations are privileged to be able to do that. How did it happen in other countries where women have more rights, and have more support and families? How did that happen? It can happen. You have to try and you have to fight for it. We’ve had movements, like The Million Mom March in Washington DC, where people do show up. There are more talks than ever about having a miscarriage, about having a maternal death, about racism and healthcare. It’s happening, it’s a discussion. It’s making change slowly here and there I hope, that is my hope. We, the midwives, are trying so hard to get licensed so that we can help make the change and meet the need for higher quality healthcare, better outcomes, and support for families. Doctors have that power and how do we flip that the mothers have that power? So that everything is done for the best of the mothers and their health. What are we fighting against it’s really hard. I had the privilege of having a supportive partner and I would drag my kids to the state house and we would go visit people two or three times a week. My kids were like: Mom, no more. Even if it’s taking this long, people become more aware. Maybe from all the offices we visited, they at least know what a midwife is. So, maybe, it will work someday. I know it will. Every year I’m like: come on, I’m ready to drink champagne! MIDDLE EAST I volunteered with the International Solidarity Movement in Palestine. ISM does direct non-violent actions against the occupation. A Couple runs it. He is an American-Jewish and she’s Palestinian. It’s a Palestinian-led movement and they call us for help. Knowing that we’re white, Americans, or Europeans when Jewish soldier sees our faces, we can kind of be a buffer. We did things like standing with an Israeli group of women called Women in Black, to make sure that the soldiers were behaving when they were letting people in and out of the checkpoints. The Court system is a Jewish Court system. They’ll just take what they want. There’s no justice in the judicial system if you’re not Jewish. All the Israeli, Palestinian, and International human rights organizations have documented this truth. It was so dangerous the last time I was there. It was when Sharone invaded the West Bank. What I saw then scared me. It didn’t matter that we were white anymore, because people were gonna get killed. After I left, one of our volunteers, young Rachel Corrie, was run over by a bulldozer and crushed to death. There was a little Palestinian boy with our group, who was acting as a translator. He was 12 years old. They shot and killed him in front of our group. Can you imagine living with that, that you brought that boy along to help with the translation? This kind of stuff happens to Palestinians all the time, we just thought it would not happen because we were there. Doing a direct non-violent action is so risky now. I wasn’t afraid then, I was younger. I didn’t have kids. And it’s so much easier as a white person. But as an indigenous person, trying to stand against your oppressor, or even against your own people who are pressuring you, it’s so dangerous. The bravery, it’s amazing to me. And even if you choose to not do anything because you’re afraid, I understand that too. You know? I never went back after that as I had kids. Would I do that stuff again? Probably, just it’s so brutal and so depressing. One of the most important experiences in my life is going to the Middle East and learning about Israel and Palestine and meeting the people that I met, including my ex-husband and his amazing family. Spending time in Balata Camp, which is the largest refugee camp in the West Bank. Amazing people, they really are amazing and resilient, and also sadly tormented and hurt. I could leave, because I’m American and they couldn’t. My ex-husband could leave and maybe now some of his family can, because he’s American, but it takes years for that to happen. He chose to go home. I don’t blame him at all. At home, he’s just a normal person. He’s got a good status because his family is just so beautiful, they help so many people. It’s hard being an immigrant in America. If you’re not white and you don’t speak normal American. It’s really racist, and I don’t mean a hatred racism. It’s just so ingrained in white people. People always say that America is so great and there are so many opportunities… Yes, they are opportunities and you can become successful but it’s a lot harder if you have a different skin color and accent. So, I don’t blame him for going home at all. But, the pressure that they live on a daily basis, and in times like this, is horrific and heartbreaking. I feel stupid even sending messages, like, how are you doing? Of course, they are doing horrible, I feel horrible and helpless. I just could tell them I love them, it’s just so out of control. We have family in Gaza and they call to check in. I don’t know if they’re gonna be able to check in because there’s no electricity or water or food, I don’t know if they lost contact or not, but they said they were just waiting to die because the bombs are falling all around them. That’s what they said when the family checked in on them last time. Jews have suffered so much. I can never come to any understanding about how it is okay for Israel to do the same to other people. What Hamas did and is doing to hostages, which was horrific and horrible, I am sick about it… but can anyone be surprised that they exist, when you see the way Israel controls and cages Gaza and practices Apartheid and all of the horrors that come with that in Gaza and the West Bank? No no no. When you treat people like this, like caged animals, what do you expect? Every day I eat my food and I have the most beautiful food and I have this nice apartment and my family and every day I’m like: Oh, they can’t get water and food. They can’t have their nice Friday dinner. They can’t live. They just wait to see if they’re going to be killed or not. And there’s nothing. Thirty years of being actively engaged in the protests and talking to representatives, my country still fully supports Israel no matter what it does. It’s so hopeless and heartbreaking. The Palestinians, they don’t know any Israeli people, they don’t know any Jewish people, the only people they know who are Jewish are the soldiers coming and killing people, imprisoning, and bombing. My nephews went to take out the garbage one day, like always. They witnessed a missile attack, right in front of them. The garbage bins are near the cemetery. They watched a bunch of young men near the cemetery get blown up by a missile, meters away. Where does Hamas come from? It doesn’t happen in a vacuum. Regardless of what it was, whether it was with the Ottoman Empire, The United Nations split countries into kind of two countries, which was false. Think about the Kurdish people. They are divided into different countries. So, it wasn’t a creation of the people who lived there, it was actually the creation of the colonialist powers. But indigenous people still lived there. The Christians, and the Jewish, but the majority were Muslim. And they all lived there. When I was living there back in the 1990s, there were Jewish folks who lived there since 1948 who refused to take Israeli passports. There are a lot of good Israelis but the truth is that it’s a colony, and it’s a colonizer because it doesn’t give equal rights. It controls the borders, and it won’t allow Palestinians to be a part of what is now Israel, because it wouldn’t be a majority Jewish State. You can’t have democracy for Jews only, Israel is not a democracy. So, Israel occupies the land and confiscates the land from the Palestinians, and the Palestinians do not have rights. That’s how you retain the rest of the Jewish state. Now when they take land in the West Bank from Palestinians they give it to Israeli Jewish Settlers. Israel not only gives land for free, like the US did out west with the Native Americans but they incentivize big families so someday they can have all the land and be a majority. It’s ethnic cleansing. You can’t say that Palestine never existed. It did exist. The British and the European powers outlined all of the Middle East, but it didn’t matter because people still lived there. And you can’t take their land when they’re living. They are an indigenous population. It’s not that they came to the country suddenly. They were there before. Nobody wants to get rid of Israel. Palestinians know Israel is there, they don’t want to get rid of all Jews. They just want to live in freedom and comfort and have equal rights. Just like you and I, don’t they deserve freedom and equity? YES Palestinians exist and they are always going to exist. And they are there and you can’t treat them like that. Because if they do, then you’re endangering yourself because people will always fight for their rights. If it was you, if someone came to your home and arbitrarily wanted to take it, would you fight? How does it make sense? In the name of religion? No, that is not the Jewish religion. That’s colonialism. Many people, especially Americans, who don’t really know what’s going on, refuse to believe it because there’s such a good propaganda machine, they just believe the propaganda and they refuse to see that there’s another side, and it’s so sad.  Racist Israeli propaganda has made them believe Palestinians are less than deserving, they are animals.  It's sooo sad, and so hard to understand.

Lali Papashvili, 58. I live an ordinary life. After getting married, my daily life has changed radically. My workload increased dramatically. To support my family, I did everything without shame and embarrassment. I have had prestigious jobs and I have had jobs that are considered disreputable. When my son, Giorgi, was diagnosed with Friedreich's ataxia (a rare, inherited, degenerative disease. It damages the spinal cord, peripheral nerves, and the cerebellum portion of the brain) at the age of 15, my life has been turned upside down. It was in 2010. He was healthy, mentally and physically. In the age of 15, he started to experience coordination problems. Since then he needs personal assistance to move around. We went to Istanbul. We were told that he needs regular therapy to prevent illness from progression. We help him do exercises at home, but it’s not enough. Ken Walker clinic in Tbilisi provides this therapy, however, we can’t afford it. There are no healthcare programs provided by the government for this kind of illness. I hope in God. I’m always on the war field, never getting a sense of any kind of success. I think without protege one can’t get help in Georgia. Mayor of our province was a type of individual who helped and supported everyone in any way he could. Sadly, he’s not an authority anymore and we’re left alone. I lost hope to see my son healed and healthy again. For now, my wages can only afford medicine. My son needs me 24/7 and I have limited time for work. I know myself. Hard work is my innate quality. I’m generous and unselfish. If I choose to respect an individual, I do it with love. Recently my nervous system weakened and I get easily irritated. However, I manage to calm myself down. I guess this is strength. Oftentimes, I seek for solitude, but I don't have the luxury of being so. When my husband and my sons go to bed, I stay alone with myself and the universe. Then I feel a great fulfillment, to just be. I don't like internet and social media. It makes no sense to me to spend so much time on texting and commenting. It’s not real. Some people get dressed and cook delicious food only to impress others with the photos. Maybe they even travel the world with the same intension. I can recall one evening, it was 8pm. My son went to bed early than usual and I was free to do whatever. I thought I could look through the social media for a few minutes. When I put the phone down, it was 1am already. I was chocked to realize how much time it took away from me. I decided to value my time more and never ever spend it on looking at other people’s impressive sharing. Internet is great when one uses it wisely, however, wasting so much time on social media makes no sense to me. I worked at the hospitals and I worked at the kiosks, when I had no choice. I had to provide my children with everything they needed, from clothes to education. When Giorgi opens his eyes, I have to stand next to him. When friends visit, only then I can take care of other duties. I stand next to him when he exercises. My body and mind is constantly in tension: what if he falls down now, what if he can't breath well… In the last few years his conditions worsened, especially, heart health and the nervous system. He is a normal capable individual and when he can't self-realize, he’s in worries and sorrows. He’s stressed. He worries about my health too, he’s scared that one day he might be left without me. He doesn't suffer physically but this illness makes him vulnerable. I invited a psychologist twice and it had a positive impact on my son’s wellbeing. Sadly, we can’t afford to continue the sessions. I guess God wanted me to live this kind of life. I guess this was my way. Complaining won't change anything and I never do so. One must work hard, fight hard, and just be. Accept what’s given in life. I will work without hesitation to improve the quality of my family life, however, I will accept that what is and I will be satisfied. My childhood was magical and careless. I was good looking, had wonderful friends and family. My siblings were 10 years older than me. They would take care of my education and entertainment. I was an excellent student at school. I worked at the museum after school. I got married at the age of 20 and I didn't pursue the higher education, which was a tragedy for my parents. Happiness was before 20. Marriage has become more of a burden for me. Even though I didn't have children for the first 7 years, my natural conscientiousness lead to taking more and more responsibilities in the family. Even though, my husband’s parents were rich by then, I still worked hard to earn for living. It was same in my childhood. When my mother would go to work, I would cook and clean up the house. And when my father would come back from work, I would have my lessons prepared. I don’t sleep unless I get things done. I don't think it’s something to be proud of. I don’t respect myself enough. One must go to bed today and wake up tomorrow. I go to bed today and I wake up today. A woman is capable of doing many things: she can do the house work, do the makeup, have coffee with friends and cook meals. But I do more than I should, when I can’t ignore dust on the table each morning, it’s a disaster. Ignore little things and you’ll always be happy. 90% of my life is taken by motherhood. In fact, I don't live my own life. I loved making beautiful things using my hands and creating my own world. After you become a mother, your life ends and you follow your children’s paths. At least, I’m happy for bringing up good humans. My other son too, he’s a wonderful individual. I can find joy in small things. I think this is a women’a nature. When Giorgi’s heart is feeling well and he breathes well, when our day is more or less peaceful, it’s enough for me to be grateful. My happiness never depended on money. I don’t understand why being a mother is considered problematic if your child has no health issues?! Why would I need somebody’s help to bring up the kids?! One can work and be a mother. There are kindergartens and schools and there are all conditions provided for mothers to leave children. I think that people create problems, not motherhood itself. A woman can solve any problem. I have a tidy house, a plot of land, a job, and I take care of Giorgi. If my son didn't need physical support, I can only imagine how much time I would have left for other things. Many people don't want to do a thing. They forget that we all came here as ordinary mortals. You have to do everything when you or your family needs it. We have a total of 4 million population in this country. Why is it difficult for the government to distinguish labor force from people who are not capable of working? As a healthy and capable citizen, I can take care of myself. But there should be some kind of help for people like Giorgi. How can such people survive without support?! Back in 2012, a bill was submitted for the review at the Parliament of Georgia. A pension fund should have been established for mothers who couldn’t work because their children’s health conditions required their assistance 24/7. They approved a bill that supported mothers who’s children fought in the war. Mothers with children with illnesses were put aside. Giorgi must be provided with vitamins, healthy diet, and regular physical therapy. We, the mothers, who suffer from the condition of our children, do not have financial stability and cannot get a full-time job because children require constant care, need support system from the government. Occasional and irregular help can’t solve the problems we face daily. Middle class doesn’t exist in Georgia anymore. The rich provide everything for their children, while the poor - have nothing to offer. Since I was a child, I especially sympathized with people in need. I had an orphan classmate. I was worried about her throughout my childhood. When my mother made a special dinner, I couldn't swallow it deliciously, thinking about Irina, whether she had food or not. When my parents bought me new clothes, I would run and give her all my old clothes. Sometimes I even lied that the new clothes don’t fit to be able to bring it to her again. People should learn again that we need to support each other, especially, the ones, who are in need. I worry about two things: my son’s health and people being changed. From what I’ve been through, it is especially clear what humans have become. I experienced it first-hand. I see that people are angry. You rarely meet people who are selfless and supportive. I lost trust in them and it worries me. Relationships are no longer the same. Once we had a psychologist at our place. She praised me for my personal traits and said that I could have become a good psychologist myself. She calmed me down with these wards: “nothing is permanent, this is the law of nature, if you cry today, you will laugh tomorrow.”

Tsiuri Abuladze-Khutsishvili, 77. When I became a mother and found out that my son was born with primary microcephalies, that’s when my life changed. I got married at the age of 30. My husband and his parents were outstanding individuals. I was 33 when I had three children already. I lived with my in-laws for 25 years. However, we loved and respected each other. I never asked for leave at work. My in-laws helped me with my youngest son, and my mother took care of my second son, while I worked. I used to come back home in the afternoon and take care of all the other duties. When my in-laws became older, it became harder for me to manage responsibilities at work and at home. However, I didn’t quit. Looking after my son with microcephalies was tough. The energy I spent on his care was equivalent to bringing up 24 children. The desire to save his life was my source of energy to cope with the night tantrums and sicknesses. In search of a cure and treatment, we took my son abroad. We were told that it was the sixth case that couldn’t be cured. They suggested that we leave him at the hospital. I remember what my husband said at that moment: “I would never leave my puppy here, how can I possibly leave my son?!” His body grew, he changed his teeth, and he got a beard too. We took good care of him for 24 years. He seemed to be happy, which can’t be said about my husband and I. Our days were truly tough. If my motherhood experience went differently, I would definitely be a mother of many children, I would give birth to every child that would be given to me. He was 24 years old when he passed away. It was the most difficult and unbearable day in my life. The happiest moment that I experienced was when my second son called me a mother. There was big sweetness in our family, my husband was very supportive and we were happy together. Despite his busy work life, he would always find time for me. We didn’t have any difficulties in the family apart from our son’s health condition. My childhood and youth were careless and happy. We would travel a lot. I loved being active in many ways. Living with my first family was a totally different life. My father died when he was 51. My mother tried her best to let us experience different things and supported us all the time. I started to work for the same school where I studied after obtaining my degree in Pedagogy. My school is a century and a half years old now. Work life was successful. Diplomas, certificates, achievements - I earned plenty of them within the 56 years that I spent in service. I also was a deputy director of the school. I played in the regional team of the volleyball. Nobody could take my hit. At school, children were asking me to throw the ball even when I was already old, and I enjoyed playing with them a lot. I was good at sports, both I and my husband. At the age of 73, I started to experience vision problems and this became the reason to leave the teacher’s job. Otherwise, I still feel energetic and capable of working. Now I worry about my sons who are not married. It’s painful for a mother when you can’t imagine their future with their family. I contributed to the growth of so many children within 56 years but never had a chance to experience what it is to have a grandchild. I didn’t get any support from society and the government when I was a mother of a child with an incurable diagnosis. Now the number of children with a variety of autism spectrum has grown. It would be good if there would be any kind of support system for their mothers. From my own experience, as a mother and a class teacher, it’s a mistake to put these children together with the others in the same classroom. They need a specific environment. We can’t avoid and escape bullying from other students’ side and this has a negative impact on the children with diagnosis. The death of my son put a big mark on my other sons' mental health. They suffered a lot psychologically. I remember my second son was lying on the ground crying loudly: “Mother, don’t let him die, or I will kill myself too.” It was this difficult… His brothers were neglected at some point. They never had enough attention from their parents. They have never spent any vacations with their parents. That’s why I say that it would be better if we provided a separate space for children with special health conditions. *** I am extremely kind, and I will share my last bite with the other. I can’t hurt anybody. I will never insult anyone, nor do I tolerate it from anyone. I would leave my worries at home and put all my energy into work, organize events and celebrations, and leave people impressed by my enthusiasm. It is necessary for a woman to have a job and an occupation. My work saved me. Despite the sadness, I stood on my legs at work. I hadn’t lost my wings. I let my creativity unleash. I feel like I took away my mother’s life. She didn't accept my son, she begged me to leave him. I didn’t listen to her. I couldn’t imagine that he wouldn’t sleep next to me for a single night, even though I had to feed him three times a day and me and my husband had to wake up at night a million times. My mother died when she was 64. I call for all mothers to do everything for their children, and give them education. This is crucial. I am pleased to see that nowadays parents choose schools and early years education centers carefully. Their children will be educated and that’s a big step forward. I regret that I didn’t move to the capital city and that I didn’t give my sons more opportunities. I feel like this is my mistake. Once I planned to move, but I changed my mind after my sister-in-law reminded me of the responsibility of taking care of my old in-laws. I chose to hurt myself instead and so we stayed in the village. It’s funny that my in-laws lived in Tbilisi and they moved to the village because they enjoyed village life more. My mother-in-law was a singer at the Tbilisi Women's Choir and you could always hear her singing and playing piano at our place. My father-in-law was the best human being, very kind, I loved him so much. Cultural politeness and education are so important for a woman. I have seen mother and daughter-in-law hitting each other. They are usually illiterate and bearers of low culture. You would never see such behavior in educated people. Looking back at my life, I have done a lot. Now when people of my age meet me and tell me that I was the light of the whole province, it means a lot to me. I think I am a role model mother among those who have had a sick child. When the school principal came to my place, she was surprised by what she saw. I was taking care of my three children at the same time, all of them with fever. And I didn’t take a day off that day at work. I never missed any work-related events either. I did not fall. I didn't bother anyone with my problems and worries. It is possible to be a mother and to also live your life. However, family support is very important. - If there is an afterlife, would you like to be a mother there too? - I would definitely be a mother in that life as well, a mother of many children.

About Shirley Adams Financial services, Inc. Headquartered in Port St. Lucie, Florida, Shirley Adams Financial is a Licensed mortgage broker company assisting homeowners in Florida, Georgia, Virginia and Pennsylvania. NMLS ID # 852425. We are focused on providing each mortgage customer with the individual attention they deserve while meeting there financial needs.2018 best in customer service award NAME OF ORGANIZATION/COMPANY Shirley Adams Financial Services OFFICIAL WEBSITE/SOCIAL MEDIA ACCOUNT https://safmtg.com/ INDUSTRY Finance & Accounting LOCATION (CITY, COUNTRY) FL,USA EMPLOYMENT TYPE Full-Time WORK TYPE Remote MONTHLY SALARY RANGE Not specified JOB TITLE Loan Officer JOB DESCRIPTION Shirley Adams Financial seeks to offer qualifying candidates with no experience a trained loan officer position and the opportunity to become a high performing loan officer who supports the customers in the process of financing the home of their dreams. We will give you the tools you need to become a high performing loan originator. This is a commissioned position . Work from home .Unlimited earning potential .Eligible for bonus Come join a winning team! Apply today. ROLES & RESPONSBILITIES Loan Officer QUALIFICATIONS High School Diploma APPLICATION METHOD https://safmtg.com/jobs/loan-officer/ PRE-JOB TRAINING Yes

In-Home & Business Assembly Services Around The Clock Services offers professional assembly at your location! If you need the assembly of a single item, a home office, or multiple offices in a corporate setting - let our experienced and professional Technicians build your furniture for you! NAME OF ORGANIZATION/COMPANY Around The Clock Services OFFICIAL WEBSITE https://aroundtheclockservices.net/ INDUSTRY Manufacturing & Utilities LOCATION (CITY, COUNTRY) GA, USA EMPLOYMENT TYPE Full-Time, Part-Time WORK TYPE Hybrid SALARY RANGE $300 - $800 a week JOB DESCRIPTION Immediate openings available for assembly techs in Alpharetta, Georgia Do you prefer working by yourself? Do you like working with your hands? Hate being bored at work? Do you prefer to stay busy so the time goes by faster? Around the Clock Services is hiring Assembly Technicians in Alpharetta, GA. We are looking for candidates that are available to start working right away. You will be servicing several retail chains, building toolboxes, fitness equipment, grills, patio furniture & anything else they might request. After completing training there is an opportunity to work as an In-Store Product Assembler with some of our biggest customers, like Lowe's, Home Depot, Wal-Mart in the Alpharetta, Georgia area. You will get access to paid training, competitive pay rates, and advancement opportunities after you join our team. ROLES & RESPONSBILITIES Inspect completed product to ensure the quality of each piece manufactured and verify that each piece meets specifications Study blueprints, parts list and assembly instructions to understand the specifications of the product you need to assemble Follow all company-wide rules and regulations to ensure your safety and the safety of your coworkers Clean work areas before leaving for the day to make it easier for workers coming in after you to start their day off productively Keep a daily record of the work you complete by scanning the barcode with our app Operate smart phone app to check schedules, update manufacturing status of jobs. QUALIFICATIONS Required: Must be 18 years old or older Ability to lift 65 pounds regularly Read and execute assembly instructions, drawings, and manuals. Must have own hand/power tools Have to complete repetitive movements Good communication skills Must stand & bend for long periods of time Good hand-eye coordination Must have a valid driver's license Must have reliable transportation. Must have a working mobile phone. Must have access to the internet. Must be able to work remotely. Must be self-motivated, energetic and a good communicator. Tool Requirements Cordless drill gun (at least 2 batteries) Assorted bits and adapters for drill gun Basic hand tools Smartphone or Smart Device with WIFI or Mobile internet APPLICATION METHOD https://aroundtheclockservices.applytojob.com/apply/LEH4l8xDaq/Assembly-Tech-InStore PRE-JOB TRAINING Can be arranged if needed

CleanPower a Marsden Holding Company, is a facility services provider with an unmatched reputation for operational excellence. We clean, sanitize, and service large and small businesses across the Midwest. In a nutshell: we clean buildings… really well. NAME OF ORGANIZATION/COMPANY CleanPower OFFICIAL WEBSITE https://cleanpower.org ABOUT THE EMPLOYER INDUSTRY Cleaning & Grounds Maintenance LOCATION (CITY, COUNTRY) Wisconsin,USA EMPLOYMENT TYPE Part-Time WORK TYPE On-Site MONTHLY SALARY RANGE $13 an hour JOB TITLE Part Time Office Cleaner, $13- Portage JOB DESCRIPTION Are you a devoted duster; a super sweeper; or a visionary vacuumer? Then we want you! CleanPower has an immediate opening for cleaning fanatics! Join an essential company to service the buildings and facilities in your community. We’ve been around for over 65 years, and COVID has only made us a stronger team. Our CEO started as a cleaner- where will Marsden take you? ROLES & RESPONSBILITIES As you might expect, cleaning is at the heart of what your job will entail. For the most part, you’ll be: Cleaning Restrooms Removing trash Sanitizing Sweeping & Vacuuming Mopping & Dusting Shift: We have 3 positions available We are looking for someone to work alone cleaning a small office Monday thru Friday for 2.15 hours a night after 5 pm, $13 per hour. - This position has a flexible start time! QUALIFICATIONS You must be 18 years old Steel Toe Shoes Required APPLICATION METHOD https://cleanpower.krow.ai/application/b00f0510-1ad1-4b0e-b240-ea16beb0eab9 PRE-JOB TRAINING Can be arranged if needed

SuperMom’s is an Equal Opportunity Employer committed to workplace diversity. **SuperMom’s Bakery is located: 625 2nd Street St. Paul Park, Minnesota** NAME OF ORGANIZATION/COMPANY SuperMom's Bakery OFFICIAL WEBSITE https://workforsupermoms.com/ INDUSTRY Food&Beverage LOCATION (CITY, COUNTRY) MN, USA EMPLOYMENT TYPE Full-Time, Part-Time WORK TYPE On-Site MONTHLY SALARY RANGE $15.00 - $16.00 per hour JOB TITLE Immediate Hiring | Bakery Production Crew | All shifts!! JOB DESCRIPTION Bakery Production Crew is responsible for the daily creation of our donuts and other miscellaneous baked good products. Taking our food products from ingredients to fully prepared, packaged products that are ready for the consumer. ROLES & RESPONSBILITIES Maintain a clean, safe environment Ability to follow proper health code guidelines and Good Manufacturing Practices (GPMs) A safety-first mindset which includes wearing proper personal protective equipment (PPE) and working safely on or around production equipment The ability to multi-task, perform repeated bending, standing, and reaching, and occasionally lifting up to 50 pounds. Excitement about working on a team Detail-oriented to complete daily tasks, notice food quality issues, and properly follow procedures QUALIFICATIONS Open to applicants ages 16 + APPLICATION METHOD Apply on company site PRE-JOB TRAINING No

Our 144 restaurants across multiple states stretch from Florida and Minnesota!. We’re on a mission to bring you the best every day. We were founded on the principles of high-quality products and great customer service. We believe you can have fun and still make a difference. It's what we built our culture around and why we’re so great at what we do. Our best ingredients are our people. Like on our pizza, they combine in unique ways to deliver a world-class product. Luckily for you... Papa John's is looking to expand the team at this location and all surrounding locations. NAME OF ORGANIZATION/COMPANY DMD Minnesota OFFICIAL WEBSITE www.papajohns.com ABOUT THE EMPLOYER INDUSTRY Food&Beverage LOCATION (CITY, COUNTRY) Minneapolis,USA EMPLOYMENT TYPE Full-Time, Part-Time WORK TYPE On-Site SALARY RANGE $18.00 - $25.00 per hour JOB TITLE Delivery Driver JOB DESCRIPTION WEEKLY paychecks Mileage and Tips paid out nightly (Drivers) FREE Pizza-meal on your first shift and continuing Discount of 50% OFF Direct Deposit and debit cards Training and recognition programs $300 referral program Competitive Compensation Delivery compensation and tips. Benefits- Medical, paid vacation, **Benefits vary based on hours worked/ Position. ROLES & RESPONSBILITIES Perform assigned workstation duties including making quality products, preparing ingredients, taking/delivering orders, following proper delivery procedures, providing quality customer service through positive and professional interaction with customers by phone or in person, and acting with a sense of urgency in everything they do. Work as part of a team and assist each other by being on time for their shift, supporting other workstations during their shift, and completing all closing duties. A keen sense of direction. You should know how to read a map and find your way around your delivery area. Think of all the shortcuts you'll learn. QUALIFICATIONS Must be 18 years of age or older Have your own vehicle Valid Driver's License and auto insurance APPLICATION METHOD We would like to have an interview with you- go to WWW.JOBSWITHPAPAJOHNS.COM or WWW.JOBSATPAPAJOHNS.COM. Select the best location for you, as soon as you apply, we will contact you immediately. You apply today you get hire tomorrow!! Please SEND ME A MESSAGE when you finish. 386-562-1068 PRE-JOB TRAINING Yes