Dubai: A new campaign is reminding people to take a minute to thank their mums by signing a thank you note at three UAE malls, in an attempt to break a world record before August 9.
The campaign aims to break a Guinness World Record by creating the longest greeting card mosaic.
The campaign, ‘Thank You Mum for Raising a Champion’, was organised by Procter and Gamble (P&G) with the aim of highlighting the efforts mothers put into raising children, and giving people in the UAE a platform to showcase their unconditional love for their mums.
Visitors at three Majid Al Futtaim Carrefour stores — in Mall of the Emirates, Mirdif City Centre, and Abu Dhabi’s Marina Mall, can sign their own ‘Thank you mum’ cards, which will become part of the card mosaic displayed on an outdoor billboard along Shaikh Zayed Road.
“We know that getting to the Olympic Games begins at childhood and that on each of these athletes’ journeys, there was one person cheering for them louder than anyone…their mums. Our business is to help mums. Not just mums of Olympians, but all mums all around the world as they look to do the best to raise their little champions,” said Khalid Adawi, director of P&G.
He added that the campaign aims to share a simple message through consumers — ‘Thank you, mum, for all you have done for us.’
The modern mum
Looking at what it means to be a mum in today’s world, Adawi referred to findings from The Global Mum Report, which showed some of the challenges and attitudes of modern mothers.
The report showed that 73 per cent of respondents agreed that motherhood is more complex today than it was in the past, with almost 98 per cent admitting they did not anticipate the demands of motherhood.
The report also showed that 91 per cent of mothers want their children to feel their presence and the impact of their parenting even when they can’t be together.
“Mothers who receive help with day-to-day care for their children (51 per cent) still feel they’re successfully leading their family (84 per cent),” said Adawi, referring to the report.
What mothers have to say
Gulf News talked to mothers about their best practices when it comes raising kids and keeping them healthy.
Dunya Al Hashar, Emirati mother of two girls, said she does her best to “practise what she preaches”.
“I see the way my two girls copy everything I do and, when it comes to maintaining a healthy lifestyle, it is extremely important for me to practise what I preach and always explain the ‘why’ behind each choice. Children follow their parents when they believe in their message; once you are able to achieve that, it becomes second nature to them,” said Al Hashar.
She pointed out that education is key for her and her children when it comes to the best eating practices and daily activities. “One of the steps I take to ensure they have a healthy diet is limiting their artificial sugar intake. For their sweet tooth cravings we usually stick to dark chocolate, blueberries, dates and gluten-free healthy cookies, to name a few,” said Al Hashar.
Meanwhile, mother of three Hanaa Dalal, from Lebanon, said the most important role a mother can play is to give her kids a healthy meal every day. “A healthy diet, from preparing a lunch box with fruits, vegetables and healthy snacks to also making sure they enjoy a good meal over lunch, is very important, followed by the right activities,” said Dalal. She pointed out that portable electronic devices have become one of the main reasons why many children lead an unbalanced lifestyle. “Parents should manage the time their kids spend using these electronic devices and make sure they are replacing it with other useful activities,” she said.
New mother Jehan Abdul Karim, from Bahrain, said she tries to keep a positive and happy attitude around her 15-month-old daughter. “I’m always amazed by how alert my daughter is. She picks up on everything and learns so quickly. For me, it’s important that I am always engaged with her, and that I am happy and positive,” said Abdul Karim.
