Nayran Tabiei, a dedicated mother of four. She has suffered for the last ten years the anguish of separation from her three sons, who remain in Iran in a state of continued tumult. The 48-year-old operates her own flourishing catering business out of Melbourne though her home base is a tiny in-house café, called Flavours of Syria. Even with this success in Australia, the cost of the emotional toll taken by the separation from her children affects her deeply.
Tabiei has since leaving her three young sons in the care of their grandmother in Tehran in 2012. Little did she know at that time the monumental challenges to come. Her struggle to bring them to safety in Australia would turn out to be a difficult road. Now that her sons, who are 28, 26, and 22 years old, have grown up without their mother in their corner. She, her husband, and their four children initially escaped to safety in Lebanon. Then they made a perilous journey across Southeast Asia, often sailing the seas to reach Australia.
For years, Tabiei has made it her mission to connect with her sons. She has sent hundreds of invitations, praying that they would respond. The recent escalation in conflict across Iran, making their communication even more difficult, left her in anguish.
“The mobiles and internet were cut, so I had no news. And then my heart started to beat. I didn’t sleep at all for one week,” – Nayran Tabiei
Despite the challenges and struggles of being faced with discrimination, Tabiei has created a vibrant world of fortitude and energy within Melbourne. The recent escalating cycle of violence has only worsened her circumstances. She wrote that the last week had been the most difficult period she has ever experienced.
“I hired lawyers and sent so many emails, but still I cannot reach Prime Minister [Anthony] Albanese, to tell him ‘I’m a human being and a mum and I need help from the government’. I don’t have any chance; my boys are there and I’m staying here,” – Nayran Tabiei
Though she faces these obstacles, Tabiei is still defiant on taking care of her family and making valuable contributions in her society. She developed her focus for community engagement and childcare. Next, she launched Flavours of Syria in St Kilda, a multicultural, dynamic beachside suburb of Melbourne. Her café is a living monument to Adeline’s culinary devotion, built on the pioneering laying of a home-cooked spread of her ancestry.
“Really, I make all my food with my heart. And when you taste it, you will notice the love in it,” – Nayran Tabiei
Making a living as a small business owner in this challenging environment has not been easy. Tabiei has a hard time making ends meet and making rent while trying to be a full-time mother from thousands of miles away.
“It is too hard to earn enough to pay the rent,” – Nayran Tabiei
The toll of the current conflict goes beyond financial costs. It heightens her emotional suffering. The doubt over her sons’ safety is enough to heighten her worries. Even today, she remembers her heart sinking every time she noticed that communication started to dwindle.
“I tried every night, every day, to message. If you see my mobile, there are maybe 100 messages there. But no answer, no answer,” – Nayran Tabiei
Even in the midst of these struggles, there are clear points of respite. Just last week, Tabiei was able to take a call from her sons, taking some worry from her heart.
“I’ll have a good night’s sleep now because my boys called me. My heart is beating so fast; it is so good,” – Nayran Tabiei
Today, while conditions remain unstable in their home country, her sons are living with friends in mountainous areas on the borders of their home country. This temporary fix is just a patch, but it gives Tabiei some peace of mind.
“They are staying in the mountains, in a room with their friends. I am so relieved. Thank God because I cannot imagine if they were not alive! Thank God,” – Nayran Tabiei
Even as she looks back on an accomplished, eventful era, a heavy sadness creeps in.
“As a mum, I made a bad decision and I feel so sad about it,” – Nayran Tabiei
She reflects on how her sons have successfully grown up to manhood while she has been absent over the years.
“Now I cannot believe so many years have passed. They have grown up without me being beside them,” – Nayran Tabiei
Beyond individual hardship, Tabiei addresses the toll that crisis—in this case, the pandemic—has taken on small businesses such as hers. Patrick Coghlan, a local business advocate, noted that small enterprises are facing unprecedented challenges amid ongoing conflicts and economic strains.
“Small businesses are being hit from all sides,” – Patrick Coghlan
