As a mother, I've experienced the profound joy of watching my daughter, Sonia Marta, blossom into a changemaker, award-winning author, podcaster, and leader. Our journey together has been a collage of shared experiences, where my role has been nurturing her dreams and actively supporting and collaborating with her on everything she wanted to do, even from the moment she started to talk. I was so happy when I discovered I would have a child, and I wanted to offer her my unconditional love and support from the first second. I am grateful I found the time to build our relationship and a career at the same time.
I enjoyed and cherished every moment, from singing lullabies to playing with sand, running, dressing, and undressing dolls. I am very childish and playful; she loved that, and her friends too, and usually, her colleagues would come to us to spend super fun weekends. Travelling often for my job, I would bring back picture books and toys from each trip, sparking conversations about the places I visited and igniting a desire to read, discover, and expand her horizons. These moments laid the foundation for her creative journey and instilled a passion for storytelling. A fond memory is when she took a book and, for the first time, said, “Now it is the time for me to read the story, and you listen!” even though she was not at the age of reading. But she memorised the story as we read it so many times and followed the images, reading out loud very seriously.
My support for Sonia's dreams didn't stop at bedtime stories; it extended to actively listening to her aspirations and working alongside her to turn them into reality. From when Sonia was very young, I fostered her curiosity and love for learning, testing with different games, toys, and sports, playing with various musical instruments, or attending theatre, ballet, or concerts. As any child, she loved exploring multiple extracurricular activities, from science labs, to painting, drama, dancing, playing piano, creative writing, sports and many others. When Sonia expressed her desire to become a published author and share her stories with children, I immediately embraced the opportunity to learn about publishing, writing, and marketing. Our collaboration wasn't just about launching books but nurturing her creativity in an environment where her ideas could flourish organically. I worked with her as I worked with my clients, listening attentively to what she wanted to achieve. I was taking notes and brainstorming, so I checked with her what are the next steps we would focus on. Of course, as these were her projects!
We were thrilled about every single message, email, and feedback she received on the way, as Sonia's literary projects, from "The Rapping Astronaut" to "Women Leading the Way," gained acclaim and inspired readers worldwide. I remember reading every review on Amazon out loud or every comment on Instagram; we were so happy to see the story's impact on a family in a faraway country. Our journey together has shaped Sonia's path and brought us closer, creating cherished memories and moments of growth we couldn't have foreseen six years ago when the first book was released.
I work for Alcott Global, and the "From Source to Sold" book launch, a project I coordinated, became a #1 Amazon Bestseller. I had the opportunity to acquire new skills to navigate the dynamic landscapes of publishing, PR, and marketing at a global level. Interestingly, I landed this role based on my passion for books, my editorial projects with Sonia, my love for reading, and my mindset for growth and personal development.
That is why encouraging Sonia to explore diverse genres and themes came naturally. Our house is full of books, which has enriched her perspective and sparked creativity and critical thinking. I encourage every parent to foster a love for reading and discussion, as it enriches our lives and strengthens family bonds. I remember that every weekend before going to the park or a restaurant, we used to buy a book on the way, to avoid being trapped, to give my phone and play until the food arrived, and we had a nice chat about it. We still do it. I read books she recommends, and she reads something I suggest, and we talk about them and love the conversations we have. Sonia now quips, "When I move to university, I won't take much with me, except for my beloved books! It is not just about the books, but also about the memories they unfold".
One of the most rewarding aspects has been witnessing Sonia's love for trying things out. Besides writing, she experimented with podcasting, loves drama and has a few leading roles in school plays. She also did a series of videos for school projects for her YouTube channel, she was having a blast in London last year, where she was recognised for her educational efforts with Silver for the Young Women Changing the World Award and had the opportunity to participate to the launch of Women Leading the Way Book at the London Book Fair. She needed to play with various programs for all projects, so we supported her and encouraged her to use Filmora, Adobe Suite, or Canva to create layouts and videos. She also needed some devices. But she studied what was available and had particular requests. Considering the required features and costs, she had to do the work and see what suited her. This helped us first have a conversation about projects and budget management, as well as understand and clarify the expected result to see what we need.
Our story is a testament to the transformative power of nurturing creativity and fostering resilience in our children. It's a journey of collaboration, inspiration, and mutual growth, where each milestone is a testament to the bond between a mother and her child.
Here's to mothers everywhere: Thank you for your enduring love, unwavering belief, and the inspiration you provide to nurture dreams and empower future generations.
Claudia Marta
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