Mrs. Fitaihi has often been quoted as saying that her childhood was easier than it would be now, even though the country has progressed enormously on women’s rights. At that time girls were not allowed to join Girl Scouts, go on field trips or become involved in school shows; let alone work. “But it was nothing in our religion that prohibited this. It was tradition. So my mother encouraged me and my father lent his support even though it was not the norm. I went to the Dar Al Hanan School. Most of the prominent ladies you see now are alumni of that school. It was under the patronage of Queen Effat Al-Thenayaan, the mother of Princess Loulwah Al Faisal. The Queen lent her vision to the curriculum when she opened the first private school for women in the Kingdom.”