Tag: daughters

Just writing

The Shepherd and The Wolf

nhpureandsimple

As I was teaching my daughter her Arabic lesson, we came across the story of The Shepherd and The Wolf. She already knew the story, but this time were using it mainly for learning some basic grammar.

Before we started our lesson, I asked her if she remembered the story.

‘I think so,’ she replied.

‘Brilliant. So what is it about?’

‘Little Red Riding Hood,’ she said and added a few others as options, none of them related to the one I’d asked about.

I couldn’t help laughing at these multiple choice answers that this young generation seems to master so well.

Now… it’s your turn.

Have you or your children heard of this story before?

If not, here it is:

Once upon a time, a young Shepherd was getting bored of his daily routine with the sheep. Everyone had the same chores to do and finish before the sun went down. They would wave hi and bye, and then hurry off to tend for their duties.

Day after day, the level of the Shepherd’s boredom exceeded the limits. 

Then one day, he came up with a silver idea, the one that would stir a bit of hustle and bustle in the small village.

That day, the Shepherd waited until the noon sun was shinning everywhere. He ran all the way to the top of the mountain and looked down at the people enjoying their noon meal. Then, he screamed and screamed and screamed.

‘The wolf is attacking my sheep. Help. Help!’ he yelled and yelled and yelled.

The people, old and young, men and women, left their chores, abandoned their meal, and ran up the hill all the way to rescue him.

Slippers, old shoes, sticks, pans, pots, and knives were their weapons. 

Breathless and exhausted, they reached the spot where the boy stood,

but there was no wolf, and the sheep were calm and happily grazing around.

The young shepherd apologised and explained how terrified he’d felt, hearing swishing and swooshing around, and thinking it must be a wolf.

The villagers sighed in relief and left the boy in peace.

Excited, the boy repeated the same show three times, each one with a different lie.

But the fourth time, the fake story became a real one.

A real wolf appeared, ready to play its role for a real drama.

The boy screamed nonstop,

His screams were earnest. ‘Help. Help. Please Help. The wolf is eating my sheep.’

But this time, his show didn’t win any audience.

The wolf grinned and hunted more and more.

The boy’s voice broke, and he could scream no more.

He finally realised that no one trusted him any more.

Wouldn’t it have been better if the young Shepherd had thought of some other exciting way to break his boredom without lying.

At the end of the day, even if some people smile and clap for the lair, they will neither trust nor respect them.

With never-be-the lying Shepherd thoughts,

Nahla

Books, daily prompt

Anne with E

nhpureandsimple

What book are you reading right now?

I guess you have read about the most popular children’s classic; Anne of Green Gables by L. M. Montgomery. Have you read the series or watched its adaptation? Well, I highly recommend it if you haven’t done either.

I first discovered Anne of Green Gables during the lockdown in 2020 when nights seemed so long and quiet. My daughter couldn’t sleep well at night and to be honest I didn’t either. But then I thought it would be a good idea to watch something together until her body relaxed and sleep came. After a quick search, I found the full animated series of Ann of Green Gables online. In bed, snuggling together with her IPad, we watched one episode every single day. We giggled, we cried, we dreamed of Anne, and we learned a lot from her story. We really had a wonderful time.

Three years later, the whole book series of Anne Of Green Gables was my gift for my daughter’s twelfth birthday. She was excited to read them, at first, but couldn’t read more than a few chapters. ‘ I loved the animation more, mama,’ she told me though promised to try again. To this day, she hasn’t. You know that the one who ever says that TV kills your senses was so true.

It was just last month when I decided to borrow the book series from my daughter. She handed them all with a broad smile. I have already finished the first two books and I enjoyed every bit of it. The book took you back to a different generation, different people, different place, different fashion, and different food. It is full of sounds, colours, activities, tastes, and smells. Besides, everyone is very welcome to read it.

With all the best wishes,

Nahla

Just writing

The Tortoise and the Hare

nhpureandsimple

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