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MILLCREEK — In a quiet Millcreek neighborhood, tucked behind a busy intersection, you'll usually find a group of kids playing in the cul-de-sac. It's what they do most afternoons after school while their mothers congregate in front of a nearby house.
It's what the women call "porch time." The diverse group talks about whatever is on their minds. During our visit, they talked about religion.
Nancy Ibrahim was born and raised in Egypt. She says most people are surprised to learn that she's Muslim, mainly because she doesn't fit the stereotype.
Just because someone does it one way and someone does it another way doesn't make one right and the other one wrong.
–Marilyn Orton
"Yes, we're ‘supposed to' wear the scarf, we're ‘supposed to' be covered. I choose not to. That's between me and God," Ibrahim said. "My mom, all my aunts wear the scarf. Maybe one day I will, but as of right now I choose not too."
"Religion can also be very dangerous. You know, you see the extremes of any religion," said. Betty Aguirre-Maier.
Though a non-practicing Catholic, Aguirre-Maier she believes a world with religion is better than one without. "I think every religion has the same principle, which is love."
These days, the women talk about the economy and how they'd improve it if women were running things.
"We would follow the budget better, because women are very good at budgeting," said Nuri Sucahyo, a stay-at-home mom from Indonesia.
"I grew up in a house where my mom was home, and there was so much beauty that came from that," said Reagan Mulcock, who would like to be at home full time with her kids. "We're fortunate enough to be in a place where I can stay home, but I also have a part-time job on the side to make sure we can continue to put food on the table."
"We have two mortgages because we can't sell a house, and I blame that on the economy," said Kat Thornburgh, a working mom. "And I blame the fact that I can't stay home with my children on the economy."
Thornburgh relies on her porch sister Nancy Ibrahim to nanny for her children while she goes to work. She believes more women need to be involved in government affairs and politics.
"I think we need to vote more women into that system to make sure it's an equal force — equal opportunity, equal answers," Thornburgh said.
"I think women tend to be more giving of themselves and not so much delegators. I think they kind of lead with their heart, and maybe more compass," said Marilyn Orton. "I think they kind of lead with their heart, and maybe more compassion."
Orton is a member of the LDS Church and considered the grandmother of the group. She values the sense of community diversity and acceptance she finds here with her porch sisters — something she'd like to see in our larger society.
"Just because someone does it one way and someone does it another way doesn't make one right and the other one wrong," Orton said.
Even though the women spend hours on the porch together, sometimes they have disagreements ̬ and they have to handle it diplomatically.
"My 3-year-old cut her 4-year-old's hair," Thornburgh said, gesturing to Sucahyo.
"We just talked about it," Sucahyo said. "Hair will grow. Friendship, we need to try to keep that."
"We've always respected everybody's beliefs, and we all have never crossed the line," Ibrahim said.
In this village these women have created, as long as the weather is tolerable, they'll be here talking about whatever is on their minds.
Email: niyamba@ksl.com
