“A MOTHER’S LOVE LIBERATES”
– MAYA ANGELOU.
THIS JOURNAL ENTRY GOES OUT TO ALL THE MOTHERS AND MOTHER FIGURES OUT THERE... WE SEE YOU! ALTHOUGH WE THINK “MOTHER’S DAY” IS ACTUALLY EVERY DAY, LIKE ANY HOLIDAY, IT’S A WONDERFUL OPPORTUNITY TO CELEBRATE FAMILY MEMBERS WHO CARE AND LOVE SO MUCH. IN THE FACE OF THESE VERY ISOLATING TIMES, WE INVITE YOU INSIDE THE TENDER WORLDS OF SOME OF OUR WONDERFUL FREE TO FEED FAMILIES…
RIYAMA
FREE TO FEED PARTICIPANT
Who are you a mum to?
I have one daughter, she is 21.
In one word what does being a mum feel like?
Love.
What is a happy cooking memory of yours?
Every time I cook I am reminded of my mum, even today when I made a salad I thought about her before adding too much salt. She would always say, “a little bit more is better than too much more.”
What dish do you love to cook for your family?
Kibbeh and fattoush for my family. Everyone loves to eat it.
In a few words, what have your kids taught you?
My daughter has taught me not to worry about things too much, she always tells me, “it will be ok.”
If you could say thank you to your mum, for one thing, big or small, what would it be?
Raising my 4 brothers and 5 sisters, putting us all through school was hard work. I would say thank you for my life.
FARIDA
HOST
Who was your mother figure growing up?
My mum has always been my mother figure.
What is a special memory you have of her?
I have the fondest memories of my mum cooking up a feast and inviting everyone over. Every birthday of mine or every festival we had, she would love calling people over. I have tons of the old photo albums with pictures of all those gatherings.
Did they cook a dish that made you feel special?
She loved cooking and made lots of yummy dishes, but for me, the best of them all was these potato and sago sticks she used to sun dry and then fry. Every summer we went up on the terrace and laid out a big batch for the whole year. We did that this summer when she came to Melbourne.
Did you learn to cook it too? Is it as good as theirs...?
I have never tried making this because I feel like nothing could ever match her taste and I think I treasure the memory of her making it and don't want to do it myself.
If you could say thank you, for one thing, big or small, what would it be?
I would say thank you for all those years of hard work, we have been through some major downs but she always put us all together and taught us to find happiness in all those times. Thank you for teaching me to share and find happiness in selflessly giving.
Who are you a mum to?
I am a mum to a 5-year-old beautiful toddler Insiyah.
In one word what does being a mum feel like?
Defining being a mum is hard but all I would say is that I am blessed.
What is a happy kitchen ritual at your house?
She has just turned 5 so we have recently started cooking and we are enjoying baking cakes together.
What dish do you love to cook for your family?
I love experimenting with new dishes for my family but my daughter loves the dhal with soft ghee rice.
In a few words, what have your kids taught you?
Change. I never knew being a mum could change me in every way and the change is a good change.
SHAHNAZ
FREE TO FEED PARTICIPANT
Who are you a mum to?
I have 5 children, 4 daughters and 1 son. They are aged 25, 23, 19, 18, 14. I also have one grandchild who is 5.
In one word what does being a mum feel like?
Caring. It’s so important to care about our children, their health and what they eat.
Do you have a happy kitchen ritual or memory?
On Saturdays and Sundays, we always try to sit together and make a BBQ (although it can be hard with my daughter studying nursing). It’s important to enjoy being all together and to have something to look forward to. My 5-year-old grandson loves to help in the kitchen even with the cleaning up!
What dish do you love to cook for your family?
BBQ Kebab & Saffron Rice is the best dish that ALL the family loves.
In a few words, what have your kids taught you?
They have taught me to be creative, when they go to school they come home with lots of ideas for different types of food and recipes. My children have encouraged me to try new things.
LORETTA
FREE TO FEED CO FOUNDER & CEO
Who are you a mum to?
Koan 5, Sol 2.
In one word what does being a mum feel like?
Immersive.
What is a happy kitchen memory at your house?
Generally, kitchen scenes involve a 2-year-old between my legs impatiently waiting to be fed and a 5-year-old who is sniffing around for dessert. I much prefer morning family energy! A happy kitchen time is when Daniel and Koan make pancakes or crepes for breakfast, we’re listening to Augie March and I’m lazing around with a hot coffee in my hand!
What dish do you love to cook your family?
It’s all about the ingredients for me and the journey of buying them local and having a play!! I love making Mexican and putting fresh and colourful ingredients into little ramekins and home-made frijoles are always a hit.
In a few words, what have your kids taught you?
To be curious and to only spend my time meaningfully and purposefully and for the benefit of humanity because time is in short supply!
SARA
FREE TO FEED ADMIN & CUSTOMER EXPERIENCE MANAGER
Who are you a mum to?
I am a mum to Luke, 9, and Elodie, 6.
In one word what does being a mum feel like?
One word?!
What is a happy kitchen ritual at your house?
Sunday mornings call for pancakes. Because, well, pancakes make people happy!
What dish do you love to cook for your family?
Food is my love language. I like to make anything they love. But especially cake!
In a few words, what have your kids taught you?
To be courageous, to stand up for what you believe in every time.
Mirna and her daughters share a love of dance.
MIRNA
FREE TO FEED PARTICIPANT
Who are you a mum to?
I am a mum to two teenage girls.
In one word what does being a mum feel like?
Kindness.
What is a happy kitchen memory at your house?
When we all work together as a team and clean up after ourselves.
What dish do you love to cook for your family?
Kibbeh, because every single one of my family like it!
In a few words, what have your kids taught you?
To try new things (like Zumba), to look after myself and to love my life because I have them as my children..
Daniel with his Baba Musya in the kitchen.
DANIEL
FREE TO FEED CO FOUNDER & HOST
Who was your mother figure growing up?
When it comes to cooking, there was only one queen in our kitchen: my grandma, Baba Musya.
What is a special memory you have of this person?
So many! She just had my back all the time, was super dedicated to the family, and to herself. She completely turned a new page when she came to Australia from Russia and truly shone as a lifelong learner, traveller and explorer.
Did they cook a dish that made you feel special?
Baba Musya’s soups were famous among all my friends: rustic, healthy and delicious.
Did you learn to cook it too? Is it as good as theirs?
My grandma never cooked from recipes and unfortunately, I never took the time to really learn from her... too busy scoffing her food to pay attention to how it was made. What I have tried to emulate for my kids has been her crepes (in Russian: blinchiki) and I think they’re pretty close to the original.
If you could say thank you, for one thing, big or small, what would it be?
I would thank her for showing me the meaning of stoicism in the face of life’s challenges.