“They met at a camp when they were 15.” Rayhon Ulasenova on her son’s wedding and negative comments on social media

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The well-known actress and presenter Rayhon Ulasenova married off her son Azizbek on August 7 of this year. Having achieved the status of a mother-in-law, the actress gave an interview for the first time, speaking about the young couple's love story, the "Marry me" ceremony held in the mountains, and the lavish wedding night.

“It felt as if the sun entered our home”

— I host wedding events almost every day. Seeing the brides and grooms there, I would open my hands in prayer and ask that my children would also be blessed with such beautiful days. Now I have achieved this aspiration. Everything starts with a hope and an intention, and everyone's wedding is destined according to their fortune. My children's fortune was like this, and my aspiration was so high that it turned out beautifully, even more beautiful than we had wished. Now it feels as if the sun has entered our home, the actress said at the beginning of the interview.

“They met at a summer camp”

The actress spoke about the love story of her son Azizbek and her daughter-in-law Azizaxon, which began at a children's camp.

— After going on vacation, our children used to go to summer camp. The camp is usually for children up to 14 years old. The year my son turned 15, he made a fuss, saying, "I will go too, my sister is going." Then my husband specially bought a voucher for the camp from his workplace.

That year, Azizaxon had also turned 15, and she was also restricted from going. But her parents also bought her a voucher. My son and Azizaxon met and got to know each other for the first time at that camp. Azizaxon has a brother, and my son became friends with him too. The following year, they agreed again to go during the same shift. Going every year and being friends, this friendship gradually turned into love and affection, Rayhon Ulasenova said, sharing her son and daughter-in-law's love story.

“I delayed my flight to go matchmaking”

— Our matchmaking visit was also interesting. I told my mother, "You make the call and talk to them, let them not know we are the Ulasenov family, let them just think we are people calling because we like their daughter." They asked if the groom was educated and if he worked. After they approved, we agreed on a day to visit. Due to their work, it got postponed to another date. I was supposed to fly to Turkey for a vacation. I said, "Mom, call them, I have to leave tomorrow, let me visit before that." When my mom spoke to them, they said, "Come tomorrow." My flight was at 7:40. I sent my daughter ahead with my friend and said, "Wait for me in Istanbul, I will come soon" (laughs). I went matchmaking myself and scheduled my flight for five in the afternoon. Where I thought I would talk for fifteen minutes and leave, we ended up staying for an hour and a half. A week later, my son also came and spoke with the girl's father. After that, we went officially once more and held the "oq o‘rar" (engagement) ceremony, Rayhon Ulasenova shared.

“When I saw Azizaxon’s picture, I thought it was my own daughter Mohinur”

On social media, there were many comments comparing the bride to Rayhon Ulasenova's own daughter. The actress herself shared that she was amazed when she first saw her daughter-in-law.

— When I first went matchmaking, I hadn't even seen Azizaxon's picture yet. After we returned, I told my son, "Send me the bride's picture, let me see who you fell in love with so much." He sent it, and a picture of my daughter appeared. I said, "No, this is Mohinur, send Azizaxon's picture." He said, "Mom, this is Aziza." I was in shock. We have a family group chat called Shahobiddinovlar; when I posted it there, they asked, "Has Mohinur's eyebrow changed?" When I said this is Azizaxon, they were also amazed. If you look closely, they don't actually look alike. But at first glance, they are very similar. My daughter-in-law looks like members of our family. Look at the craftsmanship of Allah, my in-law gave birth to such a beautiful child who fits our family so well, and we were blessed with this girl, Rayhon Ulasenova said about her daughter-in-law.

“We made up stories for the Marry me ceremony”

— We organized and filmed the young couple's "Marry me" ceremony at the very camp where they met. They told me, "Rayhon opa, can't we do this in Tashkent? It's cold, there's snow, and it will take time to get there." I said, "No." They met at that camp, so it had to be there.

We also made up a "story" for it ourselves.

After consulting with my husband, we went matchmaking. I think during these years, he not only studied but also prepared for adult life and family responsibility, the actress said.

“They think my son singing was wrong, but…”

— Videos of the groom passionately singing Ozodbek Nazarbekov's song "Sarson" on the wedding night spread on social media and caused various discussions.

— My son Azizbek is actually not a media person. Since he is a more serious guy, he didn't like it even when I posted his picture on social media. He only appeared on social media when videos were taken on his wedding day. Since he married out of love, I think he was able to show his emotions sincerely. Many asked, "Why is this guy so emotional, why does he show himself so openly?" People expressed two different opinions in the comments as well. Some looked with admiration and said, "Here is a guy who can openly express his true love." Others considered it wrong.

In raising children, I have understood one thing — children learn more from what you do than what you say. There is a saying: "A bird does what it sees in its nest." A child grows up seeing the relationship of their parents and later repeats it in their own family. In our family, openly showing our affection for each other, saying "I love you" if we love, and speaking openly if we don't like something has never been forbidden. Neither my husband, nor I, nor our children have hidden our feelings. Therefore, they are not ashamed to show their love in public.

There is a saying: "If your food is halal, eat it on the street." She is his halal spouse; if he wants, he dances, if he wants, he sings a song dedicated to her. This is how love is expressed in our family. We saw this formula of love from our family in our children as well, Rayhon Ulasenova says.

“Others put more labor into raising my son”

— At the "kelin salom" (bride's greeting ceremony), I asked the singer Malika Ravshanova to sing the song "Bu mening onam" (This is my mother). But I asked her to dedicate it not to me or my in-law, but to my mother, my mother-in-law, my sister-in-law, and my sisters. Because these people made a huge contribution to raising my children, especially Azizbek.

I breastfed my child until he was one and a half years old, and then I worked traveling from country to country due to tours, festivals, and various events. During these times, my family gave my child love and looked after him. My mother-in-law would bring him from kindergarten, prepare his food, and take him for walks. Even during theater performances, when I went out for intermission, my sister-in-law would bring the child for me to breastfeed and then take him back again.

My mother-in-law helped me immensely so that I could work. Sometimes when I didn't have time to cook, she would wait on the road with a pot so that I could give it to my husband for dinner. My sister Zulayho, despite being young, also helped look after the child, sometimes giving up her own childhood. And Oyxon faced rumors that she had a child without getting married because she used to travel to the conservatory with my child.

Therefore, on the day of the "kelin salom," I expressed my special gratitude to everyone. I thanked them both through the song and through my gifts. Because in raising a child in such love and affection, it is not only the parents but the whole family that contributes. I will never forget this, says Rayhon Ulasenova.

What kind of mother-in-law is Rayhon Ulasenova becoming?

— My mother-in-law never oppressed me. On the contrary, she always cherished and protected me, and I have always been a pampered daughter-in-law everywhere. In my prayers, I also ask, "O God, let me be a good, fair mother-in-law." Because after parents raise their daughter with care, educate her, and entrust her to your family, how can you betray this trust?

I repeated this to my son many times. I told him, "My son, do not forget, you have two sisters. What you do to the bride will one day return to your sisters." My husband, however, was against the young couple living separately. When I said they should live separately, he said, "We have one son, let him live with us, our house is big."

And now we have sent the young couple off on their honeymoon. After that, they will fly from Antalya to Moscow. My son entered another institute to study, and my daughter-in-law entered a master's program in Moscow. Both of them will continue their studies and live in Moscow, the actress says.

“There are also many asking for my daughter’s hand”

— There are also many asking for my daughter's hand. Her father says she is still young. She is just turning 19. I am giving my mother's number to the matchmakers, saying the elders will decide. Still, families must match families, and their views must align. My mother is giving our address to families whose views align with ours, and they are visiting, says Rayhon Ulasenova.