All-American Muslim Moms

Moms on the new TLC show, “All-American Muslim” prove we all share something deeper than our cultural practices.
by Lavanya Sunkara on January 06, 2012

Girl scout meetings, football games, and balancing work and kids—things moms on the new TLC show, “All-American Muslim” tackle. While some of these women wear the traditional hijab (head covering), some sport tattoos, wear flashy clothing, and go to hookah bars.

Filmed in suburban Dearborn, Michigan, which has the largest concentration of Muslims in the country, the show delves into the daily lives of five diverse Arab Muslim American families where Muslim cultural practices are still part of the lifestyle. Cast members talk about how their Islamic faith affects their actions and choices. On the surface, it may seem as if their lives aren’t so different than the rest of American middle class, but viewers soon realize that’s far from the truth.

New parents Nader and Nawal Aoude fuss over their baby and worry about finding quality time for each other. Nawal, just like any other new mom, stresses about her post-baby body, and if her husband still finds her attractive. Although she likes to dress fashionably, she opts for clothing that’s modest with matching head scarves for her hijab, even though her religious expression sometimes attracts strange looks at restaurants and other public places.

Nina Bazzy, a mother of a seven-year-old and a successful event planner, is anything but modest in her clothing. With blond hair, a confident smile, tight outfits and high heels, Nina sure gets attention in the community, even if her ultra-modernism goes against Islam’s modesty rule. To top it off, Nina wants to open the first nightclub in Dearborn. The club would be serving alcohol, which most Muslims don’t consume. As bold and ambitious as Nina is, she still cares about what her tight knit family thinks, and hopes that they’d support her new goal. Sadly, both her business partner and mother think no woman, especially a mother, should be opening a nightclub.

Angela Jaafar, who is a mother of four, balances work and children, while helping her husband, a deputy chief sheriff. She hosts girl scout meetings, takes kids to games, and manages to work as an automotive marketing consultant. She believes that there is no right or wrong way to approach life and work, but is protective of her kids when it comes to their faith. She doesn’t want others to think negatively about them because extremists elsewhere in the world hijacked their religion and made them feel less safe in their own home.

“All-American Muslim” takes viewers into a world many are unaware of, but can also relate to. We are all different, yet so similar in a lot of ways. Whether it’s the way we dress, or the way we approach children and work, our values and faith play a major role. But at the end of the day, what we all want is to be ourselves, protect our families and reach our goals in the land of freedom and opportunity.  

Catch the season finale of “All-American Muslim” on TLC this Sunday 10/9c.

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More About: balancing work and home life, entertainment, just for moms, TV, work-life balance
 

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