SS2E1 - Những lần tìm việc thất bại của mình & Bài học

- Love and Dubai is officially live on TV. - Good morning, Dubai. This is the Love and Dubai Show. - I love it in Dubai. - You're watching me on Love and Dubai. - It's entertainment contributor of the year. - You guys, thank you for having me. I'm super excited to be here. - Bringing the city's first local news and lifestyle channel straight into your living room. From daily news to inspiring people, to the best things to do in the city. All Dubai, all day. Tune in to the Love and Dubai Fast Channel. On LG Channel #200, and watch Dubai like never before. - Love and. - Trace Guest are the adorable Jamila and her mom Noha, who are spring smiles, sharing their journey with Down syndrome and showing everyone the joy in their everyday little moments. - Welcome back to the Love and Dubai Show. Today's guest runs a page where something unusual happens. When the star goes quiet for a few days, her DMs and comments fill up with the same message. Where is she? We miss her, we want her. (laughs) She is four years old. She has a smile that stops the scroll. A little sister who adores her and a mom, who has learned to do three different things at once, therapy sessions, bedtime stories, and teaching a whole community. What life really looks like. Please welcome the beautiful Jamila Jojo and the superhero of a mom Noha. Welcome to the show. - Hi. - Jojo. - Say hi to the class. - Hi. - She's the cutest. She's the cutest. - Thank you so much. - Good morning. - Thank you for joining us today. - And thank you for so much for this introduction. - I don't know what to say. - Jojo is so popular on social media. Everyone loves her. They love her for her beautiful smile. Mashallah for her beautiful soul with energy. She's just amazing. Mashallah God bless her. Do you usually wake up this early in the morning? - No. - She does. But for me, no, I just wake up in the morning and then go back to sleep. (laughs) I mean, I wish. But if no one has ever met Jamila before, what would you tell us about her? - Jamila is a little girl with a big personality. Like, I feel like she has her own personality. She's four years old. She has Down syndrome. And she loves dancing. She loves music so much. Yeah. She loves playing. She has her sister Habiba. She is gonna turn three soon. Yeah, that's it. Well, can you tell us or take us back to the day you found out that you had Down syndrome? - Yeah, so I didn't know when I was pregnant, I knew after pregnancy. So this day was hard, of course, because not because of the Down syndrome, but people always, you know, they fear of what they don't expect. So I didn't know what is it gonna be. So it was hard, I cried a lot. But it didn't take me much time. So it was just for this day, I was so afraid of what's gonna happen next. - Yeah. - After that, it took me like maybe three days of just worrying, what's gonna happen? What should I do? What, and then people started telling me, oh, you have to take her to sessions. You have to do that. You have to tell her, keep your tongue inside. You have to, there's a lot of you have to. And I'm not even a mom yet, you know? So it was hard at this stage. But after that, and that's the thing I tell people about, that you have to take it slow. So yeah, just enjoy the joy now that you have a new baby, treat her like any other baby. And after that, let's see, when you're, when you feel comfortable enough to start knowing and start touching, that's okay. So yeah, that's what I did. - When did you move to Dubai? - Actually, we moved when Jamila was seven months. So she's four years now. And then we went back to Egypt and then came back from two years maybe. When, after I got birth with her sister, Habib. - What's something that you would say, you wish someone sat next to you and told you when you first knew that Jamila has Down syndrome? - What I just said now, that take it slow. There is joy coming ahead. There's challenging, of course, it's challenging, but take it slow. Every child is different, do what you can, but actually accept it. And I don't know how to say it, but maybe wait and embrace every moment. Like, you're gonna be happy and she's gonna be happy if you're happy. - Of course. - Yeah. - And also people are always afraid of what will people think about her? What how would they see her? I don't want them to think like that because people will see her the way you see her. So that's what I always tell the two moms. - When did you start to post videos and stuff? Like, how did you come to the decision? Okay, I want to start taking this publicly and stuff. - Okay, so we had an Instagram page from maybe when she was five month old or six month old, but it was private. I wasn't sure if I want to make it. - Make it a public account. - So after that, I was okay. Actually, I was okay when she was six month old, but the thing is, I felt like, why not? I felt like other moms need to listen, need to know because I needed this at the beginning. In the beginning, I approached a lot of moms that has Instagram pages and it helped me a lot. If they were positive and they were showing me the good side of it, it helped me a lot. So I felt like maybe, because I feel like I'm happy with her and we're okay in Hamdulillah. So why not show other moms what to do? And actually it helps me as well, not only them. Because when people start sending me either moms with Down Syndrome or other people, I feel like, oh, she's loved. She's everyone, Yani, if I stopped posting about Juju, they just send me, where's Juju today? (laughing) - Yeah. - That's very cute. - It's so cute, I'm not gonna lie. This is honestly one of, like, I am personally a huge fan of you, you know how first of all, you're an amazing mom. And the beautiful Juju here, like, she's amazing. So it's such a star. - Thank you so much. - Can you tell me a bit more about her relationship with Habiba, her younger sister? - Yeah, she loves Habiba so much. She loves her so much and Habiba loves her. She, Habiba, every day in the morning, once she wakes up, she wants to wake up Juju. And there's a struggle in the morning, Habiba cries in the morning, Juju, Juju, Juju, I want Juju. She doesn't go anywhere without her. She always asks about her. But at the same time, she hits her a lot. And she, they always fight again. - I think basic sister acts to you really. - Exactly, yeah, exactly. But maybe the challenging thing that Habiba's jealous a little bit of, not of anything else, just because of the sessions. Jamila goes to sessions, therapy sessions, speech therapy, ABA and occupational therapy and physiotherapy. So we have a lot of sessions. Habiba doesn't understand yet why does Jamila goes to a place and she's not. So she cries, she doesn't want Juju to go to the session. But when we went Egypt in our vacation, I used to take Jamila to a session there. And I used to take Habiba with her. So she knows what's happening in the session. But yeah, this is the main thing that she doesn't want Juju to go to the session. Either that, she loves her so much. - So how are you managing that you're not in Egypt? But like your office, she has to go for sessions and stuff. So how are you managing Habiba not going? How are you taking care of it? - It's hard. I'm not gonna say it's easy. Because the age difference is one year, one year and two months, I think something like that. So they're as if twins. At the beginning, it was so hard for me. I didn't have my driving license yet. So I used to go with taxi all the time with the two kids. And after that, when I had my driving license, I used to leave Habiba at home and I go with Juju. But then Habiba started the jealousy thing. She wanted to go, so I take her with us. So yeah, I'm not gonna say it's not challenging. It is, but I'm managing. I'm thinking about it and that's what I tell everyone who's asking me about that, moms, other moms. As if you're taking your kids to their training, they're going to football or going to swimming or whatever. It's the same, don't think about it. That it's something burden on you that you're going to sessions, yeah. - You have been so very supportive to so many moms here in Dubai and Egypt, I think all across Habibi, all across the Arab world, really. Do you feel that you have some sort of responsibility now that you post online? - Sometimes, when someone sends me messages, what Juju? When someone sends me messages, what they want to talk to me. So yeah, I feel like I have to talk to them, but at the same time I'm not the therapist. Because some moms, they really need help, so they need to talk, they need to talk and they need to cry, you know. So it takes, every mom is different, so I just encourage them to go to therapists and you need to talk more about it. To someone professional, not me. But I feel like it's hard a little, because I have to reply all the time. I do my best to do that. Who supports you through all of this? Do you have family with you here or are you alone? I have my husband, he's really supportive with Jamila and the kids he loves them so much and whenever I ask him about anything, he just helps me. Whenever I feel like, because we're humans, sometimes I feel like I'm down every month, I feel like something I don't want to go to therapy today. To deal with having a crying because of whatever. So when this happens and I'm done, he just comes in and rescues the moment. One of these low days. Yes, exactly. So when you have these difficult days, do you feel the pressure of having to be positive, to show up different, to show up really happy? With the kids, you mean? Yeah, with the kids on online. I feel this. The thing is, in our page, I don't want to. I don't want people to feel that we're happy all the time. Because this is not the case and this will never be the case. We are humans and we have our ups and downs. So yeah, of course, I feel like sometimes, because kids scream all the time, they fight, they're overwhelmed. So I feel like, no, sometimes I feel like I want to scream now. Just stop talking now, you know. Not because Jamila has downs in them. And that's the thing. People are telling me, "Oh, because you have Jamila." No, it's not because of Jamila. It's because I have kids. So kids are hard. It's full of your hair. Yes. Hello, hello. And then at the same time, oh my god, we have to pose a parent thing. So yeah, I have to stop. Why are you starting this? Yeah, yeah. Slowly, I'll count to ten, you know. Did you expect Jamila to have to receive so much love on social media, or did it come to, as a surprise to you? Not that much, but yeah, I feel like, because she's adorable. So I felt like, yeah, people will love her. Not that much, but yeah, I felt like people will enjoy her Instagram. So, is there something that people actually don't get to see behind the camera? The Habibah thing, my other daughter. So a lot of people sending me messages and DMs and comments. And oh my god, I feel sorry for Habibah. Why aren't you showing Habibah on Instagram? You're not supporting Habibah as you're supporting Juju. I received this like every day. Every day, Juju, right? So yeah, this, at the beginning, it didn't. Hi, hi Fah. At the beginning, she didn't bother me because I know what I'm doing. But now, it started like, you know, because when someone tells you this a lot, you start thinking about it. Am I doing something wrong? And the thing is, I just want to. I don't want her to be exposed to camera now. I'm doing this page to a purpose. Yeah, awareness. And I'm showing us as a family as well. Habibah is already on Instagram, but I just posted two, three videos or something. So, I'm showing us as a family, how do we deal with Jamila and how are we dealing with our life as a normal family in Dubai? But showing Habibah a lot, I don't feel like I'm ready for it now. I know it's included in the awareness because she's her sister. So how she's going to deal with her and everything. But I feel it's not the right time now. Of course. Yeah, of course. Has there ever been, like a moment, someone said something to you and you wish they would stop saying this to a parent with a child that has Down syndrome? Like, has someone said something to you and you wish people would stop saying that to parents with Down syndrome? I didn't receive anything that bothered me, actually, but I heard other parents that they heard things like that. Maybe one thing is high tutu. What? Sit, sit, pick. Okay, thank you. We love that. We love that she doesn't want to scream time. Thank you, tutu. Maybe that they're not capable of doing things. Every child is different either with Down syndrome or not. So you want to sit like that, sit. You have to talk to the child, see him first and see what is he capable of rather than making any assumptions and they just can't do that. No, they can. It just takes a lot of time. But eventually, they can do a lot of things. How did you manage to meet all these celebrities as an Egyptian? I know how big of names Jojo has met and they're so familiar with her. You have like Tina Sharpeen, you don't need one, Ahmed, you don't need one. A lot of really big names. How did this happen? Actually, I want to thank them all because they're all been amazing. And Tina's amazing, Romi's amazing, Ahwa did Sukari and even Injiki won. Yeah, Injiki won. She's amazing. They all love to meet Jojo and they were so welcoming. And actually, when I sat with them, it wasn't like we're going to meet them for just to take the video and the moment and just leave. No, we sat with each other. Even Tina, she started, what did you do? What? You want to sit on me? You sit on my lap? Sit here? Dinah, she told me we have to be friends. I love her so much and she sent me messages after Romi's amazing. And so yeah, they were all supportive and I really want to thank them so much about that. And then you just reach out to them. So, Tina? Everyone is different, but Dinah, her best friend, she already follows Jojo. So yeah, we sat together. We talked and we managed to meet. Romi, I sent him, I approached him and he was so welcoming when he was here in Dubai. Oh, he's Jojo. And Ahwa Dianyara, it was by luck. We just saw them there. No, don't do that. Okay, okay, okay. Thank you. And in Ji, I sent her a message and she was so welcoming. They're also nice. I love seeing them. What is something you used to worry about that doesn't feel as important anymore? What are you about? Actually, not for me. Maybe other months they worry about things, but for me, I'm not worrying a lot because I feel like God with us. I think so. Whatever happens happens. I just want her to be happy. I'm doing my best. I know that I'm doing my best. So, whatever happens at the end, it's God's will. So now what we're working on is that we want her to start talking towards sentences. She just say one word. So this is a bit challenging, but I'm doing my best if it happens, if it's going to happen at all. How does life in Dubai feel like in comparison to life in Egypt? Because they're very different and very distinct. Can you tell me what Dubai does right for Jojo, for your family? Okay, so here in Egypt there is the positive things as well, and therapy and everything. We see our family and we speak Arabic because you know here it's very challenging. It is, of course. Yeah, it's very challenging to talk in Arabic. So yeah, and therapy everyone loves Jojo there because since she was born, we used to go to therapy there, so they know her. Here in Dubai, it's easier in other ways. Like there are a lot of discounts. There's this card that we make the POD card or the Sonnet card. We make and there's benefits from it. We go to play areas for free or 50% of even the taxi. I just don't want to drive now, so I'll order a taxi and I'll take 50% of the taxi. So yeah, that's really good because we're already facing other things, other challenges. Like I have to go to therapy and I have to pay a lot for that. So if these things are easier, I can focus on her milestones and her journey. It's kind of like a balanced equation here. And I saw your video about the sunflower lanyard. I didn't know about this initiative at all, and I really have to thank you for spreading awareness on such minor details that could be easily missed by people. Actually, at the beginning, we traveled before to Egypt a lot, but I didn't know about it as well. But actually, when people see us working there, they just let us come in, but I didn't know about it. So when I knew, and I just wear it, they just let us come in, we don't stand in queues. It's amazing. It's amazing because you know, it's already challenging with two kids, you know. So when they do this, these simple things, I really appreciate it and it's really nice. It's really nice. What does Gemela's favorite place on the buy? Where does she enjoy spending her days? She just loves to go to play areas on parks. She loves running. She loves to go outside of the house all the time. So yeah, we go to parks when the weather is getting better. We go to play areas, last time we went to Greenpat Planet and I posted a video about it. She loved it there so much. So yeah, there's a lot of things to go, attractions to go here. So, yeah, we will never finish, you know. What do you wish Gemela is like when she's in her 20s? Hey you, I want her to be happy. Yeah, and this is my main thing. Whatever she wants. Clap. Okay, thank you. I want her to be happy. I want her to feel belonged, to feel that she's valued with other people. I don't want people to see beyond the diagnosis because every child can do a lot more than what they think. Actually, I want to see a lot of people, children with Down syndrome in ads and events and like that. So, it's familiar to see, to become familiar to see faces with Down syndrome. So, yeah, to accept the differences. Being a mom, do you like ever struggled to give time to yourself? Take care of yourself? Of course. Of course, what are you asking? Of course. So, how do you manage that? I don't. I swear, but yeah, it's really hard. Not because of Gemela, as I said. Every mom, yeah. A mom of two with like such a small age gap must be so difficult for you to like make time for yourself. Yeah, of course, because even in the morning I work from home and sometimes I just feel like, oh my god, you said you work from home. But you work. I wanted to work outside, but I couldn't. So, I work from home. But it's challenging. I don't work every day and I don't have time. The kids have a lot to do. So, I have to prepare meals every day. They eat healthy all the time. We have no screen time. So, it's very challenging. And yeah, I just feel in the morning that I just want to sit like that and do nothing. I don't, I want to do nothing right now. But yeah, it's not, it's not easy. But I'm doing my best to try to figure it out. I try to write like, you know, a calendar, what to do. So, what does like a typical day in the life of your family looks like? We have two days are different than we continue with them. So, the therapy day, we go to nursery. In the morning, they wake up at 6 in the morning and they get dressed and they eat their breakfast. And after that, we go to nursery. Drop off. My husband dropped them off. After that, I get my breakfast done and then work. Oh my God. And then super woman. No. Super woman. Yeah. I'm trying, but it's really hard. And sometimes I try to work out in the morning and then come prepare their meals and then go to due to session. Get them up and get them back from nursery. Go to due to session and then come back at 5, 6 and then the bedtime routine. I mean, you are juggling like a million things on a daily and I really want, like I can't thank you enough for it. You are just as Rahala said. You are a super woman, a super mom. You spread so much positivity online. You inspire so many people and from the love and Dubai team, we do do so much for everything that you do. Thank you so much for having us here today. It was so much having you. It's our pleasure. Jojo. Jojo. Thank you for today. Do you have fun, baby? Jojo, say thank you. Thank you. Thank you. Thank you so much for this morning. Thank you so much. I'm so happy I was here today. I'm so happy. We're grateful, actually. Like thank you for coming. But is there anything you want to tell people who are watching our content, people who follow you or are joined online for you? No, I just want to say that don't make assumptions about Down syndrome and accept the differences. You're missing a lot of joy. Of course. We're going to be able to find you online. So you're Instagram handle. Say again, sorry. Where can people find you online? I have Instagram and TikTok, Jamila Omar and Instagram and TikTok. No, thank you so much. Jojo, thank you so much. Thank you, Jojo, say bye. And thank you guys for tuning into the Love and Dubai show. It is really this kind of episode that brings so much joy and positivity to your mornings. If you miss the full episode, you can find it all on YouTube or you can even listen to it in podcast form. Wherever you get your podcast from, we'll be seeing you tomorrow, same time, same place. Should we say bye-bye together? Everyone? Say bye. I love you. Say bye-bye. Bye-bye. [Music]