Saira Mir was inspired to write children’s books so her kids could read about people just like them.
“I nurtured my young daughter’s identity by telling her stories about Muslim women who inspire me. Watching her face light up, the idea for my first book, “Muslim Girls Rise,” was born. It is a biographical compilation of modern-day Muslim heroes,” she says.
With the rising Islamophobia during the 2016 presidential election, Mir says, she wanted to fight hate with love.
Her “fun-loving, wild” bunch—including her husband, Imad, and four children, Raina (11), Sami (6), Deen (3) and Ayman (2)— have been lucky enough to experience a lot of love.
“Our crew prioritizes connection and finds joy in simple things like hitting the WO&D trail or visiting the library,” Mir says.
The family has lived in McLean, Virginia, for about a decade—and Mir has been an OB-GYN for about as long. During that time, her family also faced the great challenge of loss.
In 2019, they lost a daughter, Nura, at 20 weeks. “It was the hardest time for our family, both adults and children. Part of that grief process was learning how little support exists for pregnancy loss families, and I wanted to change that,” Mir says.
One way to do this was by writing again. Her latest book, “Always Sisters,” addresses grief in ways that children can understand and encourages them to continue to share their love for the person lost.
Another way was to support women with even greater compassion through her work. “Being an OBGYN is special to me because women’s needs are often overlooked, and I hope to provide the care they deserve,” Mir says.
Amid these challenges, Mir shares what she has learned, what she is grateful for and what she hopes to teach her children.
You wrote “Muslim Girls Rise” for your daughter—did it bring you closer together? What’s your advice for other parents looking to support their children in their identities?
It did! She loves seeing her name in the dedication and mentions the book to anyone who listens! My advice is whenever you can’t find something your child needs—books, activities, school resources— create it. If I can do it, anyone can.
As a writer and OB-GYN, what have you learned that has influenced your parenting?
That even when something feels impossible, keep swimming and eventually you’ll reach the shore.
How do you balance work and family time, and what makes it easier?
I don’t. There are no hacks, it’s all hard.
Grief is a difficult topic to navigate for children. When did you realize your experiences could help other families?
After our loss, I didn’t write for a year. When I finally picked up a pen, the only thing I could write was our story. Knowing the dearth of children’s books on pregnancy loss, it was an honor to share our experience and keep our daughter’s memory alive.
What do you love about parenting, and what’s one thing you hope your kids learn from you?
I love reliving experiences with my kids. It keeps me present. I hope they learn the value of a life of service and to enjoy the simple pleasures of life. T
Saira Mir is a physician and author of the award-winning picture book “Muslim Girls Rise,” which she wrote for her daughter and other children to have Muslim feminist role models. As an OB-GYN, she has cared for many families through pregnancy loss, but could not find the book she needed to help support her daughter through grief over her own family’s loss, which inspired her to write “Always Sisters.” She lives in the Washington, D.C. area with her kids and is always on the hunt for the next best playground and bubble tea.
Family Favorites
Meal: Korean BBQ
Dessert: Bubble tea
Way to Spend the Weekend Together: Hiking Theodore Roosevelt Island
Vacation: Disney World
Cultural Activity: Celebrating Ramadan/Eid
Local Spot: U.S. Botanic Garden
