Tag: children

daily prompt

Strange

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Do you or your family make any special dishes for the holidays?


We often hear that men do not know how to cook, or even worse, their cooking is terrible, don’t we?

But isn’t it strange when you find out that they can, or can do very well.

Cooking is mostly one of everyday mandatory chores, but it can also be fun and a special hobby.

I still remember my father’s baked potatoes with meat. Although he mainly used basic spices, that dish was like nothing else- delicious. I remember he used to cook this dish, mainly, but not often, during the summar holidays. The aroma would waft through our house, making our mouth water. I remember how he looked so proud and happy of his achievement.

Strange how simple things, such as baked potatos with meat, can be carved in children’s memories. And, how strange that some parents deny their children such beautiful moments to relish later on when they grow up.

If it weren’t for the speciality of the chef, the love it was made with, and my family around it, I am sure that dish wouldn’t have crossed my mind for today’s prompt.

With all the best wishes,

Nahla

daily prompt

Fiction or real life?

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What would you do if you lost all your possessions?

In fiction, sometimes, the main plot is about making new beginnings. Things like how the change, the end, or the loss of something or all things is nothing but a different route for new beginnings, new journey, or new life. But, isn’t fiction, in most cases, a representation of our lives, a mirror of ourselves?

It’s heartbreaking to read a war story, a report in the news, and, of course, posts on social media about a mother who lost everything; her husband, her children, her house, her land, and all her possessions. Why? Did she do anything to have this punishment? No. Then why? Simply, because of Evil: evil that aims at destroying everything, everyone, and all possessions for its own benefit, its own growth, its own lies. But the story doesn’t end, won’t end, at this stage.

The mother is still alive, have memories, dreams, breath, and faith. She starts again with new people, new children, new life around her. Goodness prevail, always prevail.

Isn’t that we read in fiction? Isn’t that what happens in real life? What’s happening now?

Life goes on. Even if we lose all our possessions, we can have new ones, always find new ones as long as good exists, as long as we are real.

With all the best wishes,

Nahla

Just writing

Money-free service

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What job would you do for free?

Years ago, one of my neighbours, a Muslim but not from an Arabic country, asked me to teach her daughter to read and write in arabic and wanted to pay for the lessons. I welcomed the idea but insisted on teaching the little girl for free. When she first asked me, the thought of earning money didn’t even cross my mind. But then, I was taken aback when she asked me how much I am going to charge her for the lesson.

There’s nothing wrong or embarrasing about charging others when you are doing them certain job and giving them some of your time. But, that, in most cases, depends on the person’s motivations and the workload of the job. Taking both into consideration,  I decided to make this job for free for certain reasons; First, I was already teaching my children Arabic at home which means I am used to the job and had the materials. Second, she was my neighbour, and do we charge our neighbours for doing them a favour? For me, that cannot be. Third, I wasn’t planning to make it a business. It was merely a sort of a small help I can offer to the little child.

I did that again, and I will do it more if need be. Although that was money- free service, I earned things more precious than money; a child’s smile, a pleasant mememory and my neighbour’s appreciation.

With all the best wishes,

Nahla

Just writing

Generation gap

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When you were five, what did you want to be when you grew up?

Have you ever thought that, from years ago, a five year old child is totally different from their peers today.

Years ago, when parents or  grandparents asked the younger ones what they wanted to be when you grow up? They answered; a doctor, a teacher, an engineer, a pilot, a mechanic, …. . Their  dream was to go to university, to work hard and earn their living from a prestigious job. Sometimes their dream came true, and sometimes not.

Nowadays, a five years old child, in most cases, doesn’t have a specific dream. They don’t even have the ability to talk and think about that at these early years of their age. Although, they are far smarter in technology than their peers years ago.

The generation gap is massive but perhaps that depends on how we raise up our children and what changes are taking place in the world around us. Unfortunately, the modern phenomenon of easy money is erasing the what do you want to be when you grow up question from the dreams of this generation’s young children  

By the way, I remembe I always wanted to be a teacher though that changed later on in my life.

With all the best wishes,

Nahla

daily prompt

The best compliment!

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What was the best compliment you’ve received?

You’re right.

That’s the best compliment I’ve received and would always like to receive. Please, don’t think that’s because I like to show off or to belittle anyone else. No, that’s not me.

Simply, I receive the ” you’re right” complement, neither in an argument nor a fight. So, there’s no chance I’m thinking of any gain or loss. It’s usually said unexpectedly and spontaneously after I gave a comment or an explanation to something.

It’s worth adding that I like it the most from my children. When any of them surpises me with; “Yes, mama you were right.” Sometimes this compliment came after days of me telling them something. But then, I feel over the moon. I feel as if I have reached the summit of highest mountain.

Nowadays, it’s not always common for your children to agree with your views. Is it?

With all the best wishes,

Nahla

Just writing

The Tortoise and the Hare

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Yesterday I asked my daughter:

If there is a second part to the tortoise and the hare story in which they will decide to go for another competition, who do you think will win?

While she was thinking, i said in my head the Hare. Surely he would have learned the lesson. He would never think to have a nap under the same tree. No way.

The tortoise, my daughter said and i looked at her surprised.

How? I asked believing the hare would never repeat the same mistake.

The Hare will copy the tortoise and crawl all the way next to her.

Why? I asked still surprised

Because she had won the first race and he thought if he followed her pace, he would too

Any why do you think it did not work with him?

Because his legs hurt. He got different legs to those of the tortoise. So he became very very tired and had some rest under the tree and fell asleep again.

Oh poor hare! Surely he was very disappointed, i said

No, he was not, my daughter said

Why? I asked.

Because he wasn’t himself in the race this time, my daughter said

Don’t understand, i said

He was pretending to be the tortoise but this can’t be. He should be himself, the hare, to win, my daughter said.

Good point! I smiled

Children will always give us wonderful lessons.

Wishing you all the best,

Nahla

Just writing

She Came from Heaven

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I have just read a beautiful myth about mothers, but I will tell it in my own words;

Mothers came down from heaven just for you, her children.

Your father met her, and they went home.

From the first night, the house brightened up.

From the first day, she brought love, delight, and warmth.

Such bliss, such a heavenly surprise!

May  The Lord grant all mothers good health and peaceful life.

And, May The Lord forgive our passed away mothers’ sins and grant them the joy of eternal paradise.

 

Wishing you all the best,

Nahla

 

Just writing

Oat soup

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Image result for oat soup

 

Hello everyone. It’s been ages since I posted anything, but sometimes one gets busy with other things or a bit lazy.

Today it’s about my oat soup. It wasn’t my recipe, to be honest; I watched a Youtuber cooking it and decided to try. It’s good to try but not so much when you’re fasting. But, why not?

These days we are fasting the month of Ramadan. We usually break our fasting with dates, water or juice. Then we started with soup. By the way my boys sometimes ( or always)  didn’t follow the same order, and started with the main course.

Ah, back to the oat soup, it looks delicious on Youtube but turned into a totally different thing on our dining table at Iftar time. Untouched. All the soup was poured back into the pan, and today I’m waiting to see if the birds in the garden will have a different view.

Do you like Oat soup?

Wishing you all the best,

Nahla

PS the photo is of course not mine. It’s on google, but maybe next time, next year,  mine will be yummy.

 

Just writing

Ayla

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Image result for ayla turkish movie

 

 

 

Ayla is a 2017 Turkish movie; tells the story of a Turkish sergeant and a Korean little girl.  It is based on a true story happened during the Korean War.

It’s about humanity and pure love. One night, when the moon was full, the sergeant found a little girl, terrified, shaking, not just of the freezing cold but also of the disaster, the inhumane massacre surrounded her fragile little frame.

A stranger, with a different tongue and a kind heart, became the girl’s papa. He saved her, cared about her, and never abandoned her. And she understood him, trusted him, and even loved him as her real papa.

But when the mission ended, the sergeant had to go back to his country, and by law, the little girl could not leave with him.

Did she forget her foreign papa? Did he forget the daughter of war? Never.

Fate brought them back together after sixty years.

It reminded me of I’m David movie by Paul Feig; wonderful stories with beautiful messages.

It’s available on Youtube, but with no English subtitles.

Herewith snaps of the movie, hope you will enjoy it.

Wishing you all the best,

Nahla

 

Just writing

The Thief

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Related image

 

 

‘The mother warned her child to be careful and not to open the door to strangers unless she (the mother) or her father was in the house.’

This was part of a funny story which I was telling my daughter yesterday. But she asked why?

Sometimes, thieves break into houses to steal things.

Then, she asked me not to put in any thieves in the stories. She was scared, and I immediately changed the whole plot, or we’d have been awake all night.

But today, I remembered a short video on Facebook which shows a different image of a thief. A kind image.

In this video, instead of stealing, the thief helped his victim to return safely to her home. Why? Because everyone has a good side. And next time in my story, I’ll make sure that my daughter understands this point.

Watch this video to know how the thief helped the young lady.

With my best wishes,

Nahla