Who is OTAmma?

Who is OTAmma? What is Occupational therapy? And why would I want to look at motherhood through said lens? 

Occupational Therapy has nothing to do with finding you a job. As therapists  we work in so many different settings it can be hard to pinpoint exactly who we are and what we do.  I help people of all ages engage in their daily activities when there are roadblocks presented by disabilities, illness or any other change in their lives. As a School Based OT I helped children with Autism  participate in class activities by either modifying their environment or addressing visual motor or fine motor concerns. As an OTA in a nursing home I help patients who have fallen and broken their hip learn how to  put their clothes on and go to the bathroom without reinjuring themselves. If you want to learn more about OT click here! 

As a former school based OTA it’s hard for me not to look at my son through the same lens I’ve been looking at everyone else’s child. I find myself  going through textbooks and ensuring he is meeting milestones and and putting him in situations where he gets enough sensory play and tummy time. 

Who is Amma? My son will call me Amma which means mother in Urdu; so I’m OTAmma. And if we’re going to name all the titles I hold, this includes being a wife, sister, daughter, therapist… snack bitch. But who am I really beyond all of these labels? 

In order to explore this question, I’ve had to do a lot of soul searching and journaling. I was at a gathering of mothers in Oakland, CA called the Filled up Cup and one of the exercises we performed was to answer three simple questions: 

Who are you? Who do people think you are? And who do you need to be?

When asked “who are you?”, I had no idea how much emotion this one questions would evoke. I was sitting on a pillow on the floor facing another mama as she repeatedly asked me, “Who are you?” My initial answer was “I’m a mom.” Then she asked again, “Who are you?” “I’m a Fijian- Indian Woman.” Her response was the same and this continued on for at least 3 minutes. Each time she asked me this question, I had to dig deeper for a more meaningful answer. I am a vegetarian because I care for animals as well as the environment. I am a clean beauty advocate because I care about the well-being of myself and others. I am an advocate for children with special needs. I believe that wellness, health, the environment and climate change are all interrelated and every day the choices we make can affect all of these. I am a woman with an opinion on how we can live in better harmony on our planet. 

 If you are reading this, it’s because you were called to my blog for a reason. I don’t know what that reason is, but I have faith that in time you will figure it out. Maybe there is something you need to read or feel from this blog or you’re here to teach me how I can improve my life. In any case, I should introduce myself so we can get to the shit I really want to talk about. Yes I said shit. I didn’t stutter or politely censor myself for the comfort of others. My intention is for this blog to be filled with raw revelations from my soul.

My soul’s purpose is to promote Public Health. When I was in undergrad I thought I wanted to  become a pediatrician but the universe sent me on another path. I discovered that my calling is in health education and disease prevention. When Zuzana Bic introduced Public Health as a major my university and even set up a summer study abroad program where I was able to visit the United Nations (UN) and World Health Organization (WHO) in Geneva Switzerland. In 2009 I earned my degree in Public Health Policy with a minor in Biology from the University of California, Irvine.   

After graduation I  worked as a nanny, tutor, and teacher’s assistant  at a preschool for children with autism (which is where I discovered OT).  In my previous career as an environmental consultant, I remember being in the stockroom of a drug store staring at tubes of mascara in the flammable section of hazardous waste bins. I was there to ensure the proper disposal of hazardous waste and I found myself dumbfounded by the fact that I had on the very mascara that was ready for disposal. I remember thinking to myself  “How safe is it to put this stuff on my face if it’s considered hazardous waste?” As I looked through the rest of the bins I saw way too many personal care and household products that I used myself!

After leaving my environmental consulting job and moving to Denver for OTA school I began my  fertility health journey. I discovered I had Polycystic Ovary Syndrome (PCOS) and I was pre diabetic. I overhauled my diet, dove into  the rabbit hole of green beauty and cleaned up my act in order to increase my chances of getting pregnant. My research and dedication to health allowed me to welcome my first child into the world this year!

I intend to use this blog as a platform to educate about safer products and lifestyle choices. To create space and facilitate a healthy discussion that leads to learning on all topics health, safety, sustainability, and environment as they relate to motherhood.  My goal is to provide others with information so they have informed consent. I believe in empowering people of all backgrounds to choose safer. As mothers we have the power to lead our households down a healthier path by making better lifestyle choices. I want you to join me as I heal myself and choose to do better.