Farah Merani: Navigating the Healthcare system; Parenting philosophy grounded in curiosity
Farah Merani Actress known for See, Quantum Leap, Station 19Farah's background and journey to LA @ 0:00Farah shares her background - she is Canadian of East African and Indian origin, grew up in a small town in Northern Ontario, went to university in Toronto, and then moved to London, England for drama school. After being "booted" from the UK, she decided to move to the US, specifically LA, and got a green card just before Trump was elected. Farah discusses the challenges and uncertainties of that decision, but a conversation with a friend encouraged her to stay and invest in her career in the US.Navigating healthcare and social services in the US @ 11:19Farah discusses the significant differences between the healthcare systems in Canada and the US, and how she navigated getting coverage during her pregnancy. She qualified for Medi-Cal, California's Medicaid program, which covered her prenatal care and delivery. Farah emphasizes the importance of being aware of and utilizing available social services and resources, rather than feeling ashamed about needing support.Balancing career, motherhood, and self-care @ 24:47Farah talks about the challenges of balancing her acting career, writing, and other professional pursuits with being a new mom. She emphasizes the importance of carving out time for herself, having a supportive partner, and utilizing childcare help when needed in order to maintain her own well-being and continue developing her career. Farah also discusses the value of not feeling guilty about asking for and accepting help.Parenting philosophy and approach @ 50:01Farah shares her parenting philosophy, which is grounded in curiosity, trust, and observation of her child's needs and cues. She discusses the importance of open communication with her partner, modeling affection, and creating family rituals like regular mealtimes. Farah also emphasizes the value of her child developing relationships with other caregivers and the benefits of multilingualism.Recap and next steps @ 57:04Emily and Farah wrap up the conversation, expressing gratitude for the discussion.