Back home after a long work day, opened the door and found my lovely wife waiting for me and suddenly I found out that I did not buy her birthday present yet. In a quick move I put my laptop on the table and told her I forgot something downstairs.
Twenty minutes later I came back with the present and teased her that she will get it only on her birthday, tomorrow morning when the kids woke up.
That night I slept a little bit late and I couldn’t imagine how will I be able to wake up for tomorrow’s run at 5:30 in the morning. However as usual I had a light sleep, anxious so as not to miss the run.
At 5:15 am I was standing in Zamalek waiting for the run to start. We took a different route this time, passing the 15th of May bridge, through Maspero corniche to downtown, and back to Zamalek through the famous Kasr El Nile bridge.
The streets were a little bit filled with people compared to our usual morning runs, especially the Maspero area. I noticed how sometimes men gaze or take a laugh when they see a running woman.
I admit, it’s unusual to see women running in the streets of Cairo at 5 in the morning and it is this unfamiliarity that makes these women brave and courageous.
We finished at 6:30 am and I was in hurry to see the kids before going to school and witness the moment of giving their mom her birthday present, which I left in my daughter’s room.
Sadly, I came back a couple of minutes late, they were already left and the ceremony ended, however, my wife was very happy.
At this moment, I had great admiration for my wife and all the moms out there looking for their kids, fighting to keep everybody around them satisfied. My wife who’s pregnant had to wake up early as usual, even on her birthday, to wake up the kids and make sure everything is running smooth and in order and that all their needs are fulfilled despite her neediness to rest and celebrate. And just as my wife was so beautifully doing her mom’s role beside her work, in my mind I saluted the early morning running moms, who are trying desperately to fit their running schedule into their usual work-mom routine.
Women in Egypt are doing an extra workload, fighting the cultural norms, avoiding gazing and harassing men in the streets and work environment, raising their demanding children, and taking care of their sometimes-selfish husbands in addition to their work.
If I can say a word to them, Thank you.