Dear Mother
Letters from the Heart
For mothers, fathers and all those who do the work of raising children and keeping a family together. 'Dear Mother' joins you on your journey from a place of empathy and understanding...
Back cover:
Dear Mother... brings together mothers of all ages and backgrounds in a compendium of fictional letters, written from the heart.
Great challenges and responsibilities, hopes and disappointments are explored without apology. As one mother prepares for a new-born, another shares her experience of being a single parent.
Why is a mother at the primary school gate feeling burnt out by 9 am and what advice does a grandmother pass down to her granddaughter?
Whether she's sitting in the ante-natal clinic, on a bus or in the masjid, these letters reveal a variety of mothers' inner dialogue - one which is rarely heard in society.
Publisher: Kube Publishing Ltd
ISBN: 9781847742032
Number of pages: 100
Dimensions: 185 x 121 m
The letters in Dear Mother
reflect realities
puts the work of mothering on the collective agenda
values the emotional, spiritual, physical and mental labour of raising children
unapologetically come from a faith perspective, relevant to so many parents raising a family.
From the Introduction 'Dear Reader, In a book of fictional letters, the introduction has to be a letter and it has to be a real one to you. We don’t know each other but we have one thing in common: we started life in our mothers’ wombs. What happened to both of us after our births may be very different but our shared beginning is enough of a connection between us. It’s this universal connection that makes the subject of motherhood so emotive. Unlike any other relationship, this ‘tie of the womb’ gives birth to an array of deeply held feelings based on our own experiences. As much as childhood is a time of innocence, growth, awe and wonder, nurturing a child isn’t a parallel experience. Motherhood is a magnificent, humbling, chaotic experience; physically, emotionally, mentally and spiritually. It’s an ongoing, invisible labour of love, long after the umbilical cord is cut. Given the strong views held, why would I or anyone else write about the maternal journey? I’ve questioned myself about this scores of times. The answer lies at the source of most endeavours, if we dig deep enough: it’s personal. So, here’s a window into my mothering experience and the motivation for writing this book.' Continued in the book, pre order at the links above, thank you!
Review Excerpts “Who would have thought a book of fictional letters would produce such deep reflections about my 19 years as a mother? I found my safe space as a Muslim mother within the pages of Dear Mother - Letters from the Heart. The chapters took me back to when my children were young, made me feel seen and validated as I navigated being a mother to teenagers, and provided insight into what is to come in the future inshaAllah. This is the book I wish I had from the moment I discovered I had conceived my first child. Suma, my dear, you've done it again. Beautiful and comforting mashaAllah. A must-read for every mother and mother-to-be.” Aliyah Umm Raiyaan Founder and CEO at Solace UK for Muslim Revert Women & Sunday Times Best Selling Author of Ramadan Reflections “Suma Din's writing in this series of heart warming letters is like a welcoming invitiation to go back in time, and forward into the future, through the lens of motherhood. It's like speaking to a kind and nurturing figure who understands what is sometimes unconveyable. Islam, and our unique relationship with Allah, is the connective thread that ties this deeply insightful piece of work together, and anchors our experience together as Muslim mums. It is truly a book, and a moment, to savour. I am genuinely thankful that you've created such a beautiful piece of work that I know will be of comfort to many of us. The thing about motherhood is we all experience it differently. I feel like this work offers us the unqiue opportunity to experience it with the kind of love, kindness and compassion that we all deserve and don't always have access to.” Mariya bint Rehan author of The Muslim (M))Other @Muswell Books “Suma writes with such gentleness. Each letter is so poetic and poignant making it a perfect companion for Muslim mothers everywhere.” Ruzina Ahad, author of Dream, Du'a Do.
Join the conversation on motherhood Part of a Book club or want to read Dear Mother with a few friends (it doesn't matter if you don't have an official book club!)? Then download my book club PDF with discussion ideas and questions. Use one or two or all of them as you like to have guided discussions. As there's so much packed into the thirty letters it can feel overwhelming - where do you start? That's why this pdf offers plenty of ideas. FREE DOWNLOADABLE HERE
Readers' comments... “A Father’s Perspective on Dear Mother by Suma Din” As a father, I didn’t expect Dear Mother: Letters from the Heart to resonate with me as deeply as it did. Suma Din’s collection of heartfelt letters, written from the perspectives of Muslim mothers, offers a profoundly intimate and eye-opening look into the emotional and spiritual journeys of motherhood. While the book is primarily written for mothers, I found myself drawn into its raw honesty, quiet strength, and deep reflections on family life. Reading this book made me realize how much of a mother’s experience goes unnoticed, even within a loving and supportive household. The struggles, silent prayers, and sacrifices that mothers make often happen in the background, unseen and unspoken. Each letter felt like a window into a world that, as a father, I had only partially understood. The way Din captures the exhaustion, love, faith, and resilience of mothers was humbling. It made me reflect on my own role as a husband and father—not just in providing, but in truly appreciating and supporting the emotional labor that goes into parenting. One of the things I loved most about Dear Mother was how it didn’t idealize motherhood but instead presented it in all its complexities. There were moments of joy and gratitude, but also exhaustion, doubt, and longing. These letters weren’t just sentimental reflections; they were real, raw, and deeply moving. They made me want to be more present—not just for my children, but for my wife, to acknowledge her struggles and offer more than just occasional words of appreciation. I believe more fathers should read this book. Too often, discussions about parenting focus on what mothers do without encouraging fathers to truly see the emotional weight of that role. This book serves as a powerful reminder that parenting is a shared journey and that understanding each other’s struggles is essential in building a loving and supportive home. Dear Mother isn’t just a book for mothers—it’s a book for families. It’s a book that reminds us of the unseen battles fought in love, the quiet strength of women, and the importance of gratitude in everyday life. I came away from it not only more appreciative of my wife but also more determined to be a better father and partner. For that, I’m truly grateful. M Chaudhry 31st March 2025 published on Waterstones.com UK
