Featuring @mommyadventures_with_raahat
Motherhood has a way of reshaping who we are. Our thoughts become more intentional, our choices more mindful, and our hearts fuller than we ever imagined. For another edition of Voice of Moms, we spoke to Sonia Kotak,a mother whose journey is rooted in conscious parenting, emotional strength, and raising a daughter who knows her worth.
Through her honest reflections, Sonia Kotak opens up about the quiet responsibilities of raising a girl in today’s world, the fears that come with it, and the intentional love she pours into building her daughter’s confidence from within. This conversation is not just about parenting a child, but about raising a future woman.
Here Sonia Kotak’s story, in her own words.
When did you realize you were raising a daughter, and how did that shape your sense of responsibility as a mom?
I knew I wasn’t only raising a child, I was raising a future woman. Suddenly, my choices, my words, my silences, everything mattered more. My sense of responsibility became about creating a safe, strong emotional foundation so she grows up knowing her worth without needing permission from the world.
What worries cross your mind as you raise a daughter today?
I worry about the voices she’ll hear outside our home, and whether they’ll ever try to make her doubt herself. My constant hope is that my voice stays louder than all of that.
How do you model strength and confidence for her each day?
I don’t teach her strength through lectures, I try to live it. She sees me work hard, take responsibility for my dreams, fail, try again, and still show up with love. I let her see me be vulnerable too, because strength isn’t about being perfect. It’s about being real and resilient.
Girls grow up hearing all kinds of comments. How do you protect her spirit and help her stay bold, kind, and true to herself?
I can’t shield her from every comment, but I can build her from within. At home, we talk about kindness, boundaries, and the power of saying “no.” I remind her often that her voice matters and that being kind doesn’t mean being small.
As a mom of an only child, how do you strike the right balance between comfort and guidance?
As a mom to an only child, I know I am her safe place. Some days she needs me to just hold her. Other days she needs me to push her gently forward. I try to listen more than I instruct, and guide without controlling
When she feels hurt, left out, or overwhelmed, how do you help her process those emotions?
When she feels hurt or overwhelmed, I sit with her emotions instead of rushing to fix them. I name the feelings, normalize them, and remind her that it’s okay to feel deeply. I want her to know that falling apart doesn’t mean weakness, it’s part of learning how to rise again. She comes to me with different problems every day, and I try not to fix them but teach her how to fix them herself.
As girls grow, they become more conscious of their bodies, looks, and friendships. How do you build her confidence?
I consciously focus on effort over appearance, values over validation. We celebrate who she is, not how she looks. I want her confidence to come from self-acceptance, not comparison.
What values are you most intentional about instilling in her?
Self-respect, empathy, independence, and courage. I want her to know that she never has to shrink to make others comfortable. That she can be gentle and strong at the same time. And that her worth is not negotiable.
Do you ever worry about being emotionally enough as the mom of an only child?
I show up, I learn, I grow alongside her. And that’s enough. Because being her mother isn’t about doing it all, it’s about being there consistently and wholeheartedly.
If you could leave one message for your daughter to read years later, what would it be?
Raahat, if you ever read this when you’re older, this is what I want you to know:
You don’t have to become anyone else to be loved or accepted. Just be you. That is more than enough. Be kind, but never let anyone make you feel small. It’s okay to be gentle, and it’s okay to be strong too.
Life won’t always be easy. Some days will hurt, and some days you’ll feel tired or unsure. That’s normal. Cry if you need to, rest if you need to, but always get back up knowing you are capable and worthy.
And whenever you forget how special you are, remember this. You come from a mother who believed in you, stood by you, and loved you endlessly. I will always be here for you, no matter what.
This story is a reminder that parenting is not about perfection, but presence. About raising children who feel safe enough to be themselves and strong enough to face the world. Through voices like these, Voice of Moms continues to be a space where real journeys are shared, emotions are honored, and motherhood is seen for what it truly is, layered, powerful, and deeply human.
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