Tag: Family

daily prompt

Would You Live in Your Parents’ Garment?

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What’s something you do completely differently from how you were raised?

In Arabic, there’s a saying or perhaps an old adage says: I’m not going to live in my father’s garment. 

Actually, this saying became the title of a famous TV drama in the nineties.

Anyway, parents, in most cases, want their children to live a far better than life than they did. That’s why they often work hard, save money, and build big dreams for the future of their children.

And, sometimes, parents believe that their children will always follow their footsteps. 

But the thing is, life is unexpected.

And this garment whatever it may be; a profession, a business, or even certain traites, won’t always fit the size of their children.

So…even though you and your siblings may have been raised in the same way, your lives don’t have to be the same. 

It’s not only about choices, whether to follow this path or that, but it’s also about how life changes, and how it changes you along the way.

With parents’-garment thoughts,

Nahla

Daily thoughts

Hello September 

nhpureandsimple

S for school, studies, and those warm and chilly sunny days,

E for early mornings, early alarms, the early race to have the first access to the toilet.

P for parents with their checklists: school uniform, school bags, and lunch box packed just right.

T for timetable, for lessons, exams, and that copy you pin to the refrigerator.

E for every day, with its new drama full of moans, excuses, and the latest friendship-challenge test.

M for mothers, rushing through those few free hours they try to enjoy, while the clock hands keep running towards home time. 

B for birthday, have you ever thought how lucky you are if your birthday falls in September?

E for every night, when the lights turn off, the roads get quiet, and everyone tucks themselves into their own little nests.

R for remember, school days make precious memories, just do your best to create good ones.

With new September thoughts,

Nahla

Just writing

Play the Adult

nhpureandsimple

What’s a moment when you realized you were officially an adult?

I was the youngest of my siblings; my sister was the eldest, my brother was the middle, and the youngest was me.

So I didn’t have to play the adult much. 

It wasn’t until I cradled my first baby in my arms that I felt both the beauty of motherhood and the weight of its responsibilities. And since that day, I realised it was time to play the adult.

As a full time mother, I played the adult with its different characters, moods, and shapes.

Yes, I played the kind nurse, the angry doctor, the mad teacher, the patient counsellor, the strict inspector, the loyal lawyer, the secret keeper, the watching owl, and so many others.  

But the youngest sibling in me always finds a time and a space, to laugh, to play, and to have fun with family, friends, and even her own-self, with no adult roles to play.

With play-the-adult-role thoughts,

Nahla 

daily prompt

Is There Anyone Who Doesn’t Worry?

nhpureandsimple

What’s something you used to worry about but don’t anymore?

Well… that reminds me of those old school years when I used to worry far too much about my grades.

Punishment, rewards, and competition were never the real reasons behind those childish worries.

A quiet, shy, dreamy child wouldn’t care much about such concepts, or would she?

But of course, somehow, they found a way to feed my worries. 

I used to worry about my grades because I was hardworking and independent in my learning.

My siblings and most of my friends took private lessons to improve their marks.

I didn’t have any… well except for French, but that was only because I didn’t like my French teacher at school.

So a child and later on a teenager, relying on her own self-learning strategy would naturally worry about her grades. Right.

And I never disappointed my parents, my teachers, or myself. 

Those old worries have now become good memories.

Years later, when I began my postgraduate studies, I didn’t worry  much about achieving perfect results.

Perhaps because a mother has far more important family duties in her heart than the pressure of flawless grades.

And when her sons are in their twenties and her daughter is fourteen, her worries naturally turn towards their choices and decisions, accompanied by a quiet prayer that God always guides them to the right path. 

Amen

With unworried thoughts,

Nahla

holidays

Jet Lag, Humidity, and Writing

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A flight with almost fourteen hours and a three hours transit, is not easy at all.

If you’re accustomed to these long… really long flights, then you really deserve an award for endurance.

I think I deserve two, since this is my first holiday with such a long journey.

Perhaps I deserve three, since this flight also comes with a big time difference.

Three or two hours difference wouldn’t be such a big deal.

But… wait, 1,2,3,4,5,6, 7 hours make a significant difference.

Time suddenly feels as if it’s going in opposite directions.

In the morning, you drag yourself out of bed, your eyes so heavy that you fall asleep again everywhere, at any moment. 

At night, you feel wide awake, and surprisingly hungry and ready for outdoor activities.

Breakfast time becomes dinner time and dinner becomes breakfast.

The sun that plays tricks on you in the Uk is now punctual, serious, and happy.

How happy?

So happy that she’s laughing all the time, watching people out and about in sunglasses, hats, and face fans; all enjoying her majesty’s presence. 

Rain visits often but, lightly so far, as if trying to lighten the mood.

Unfortunately, the mood refuses to be lightened because of humidity.

And humidity is that heavy, sweaty, stick neighbour no one likes.

And finally, after those first confused, steamy, lazy days, a gentle nudge of writing arrived, with a smooth landing, to save these funny moments in this post.

With July-holidays-thoughts,

Nahla

daily prompt

Religion and Practice

nhpureandsimple

Do you practice religion?

Do you practice religion?

It reminds me of the questions my children used to ask when they were little.

Why do we pray, mama?

Why do we fast?

Why are we allowed to this and not allowed to do that?

And their list of whys multiplied over the years.

When children are young, it’s better to give answers that satisfy their curiosity, not their spirituality.

Their innocent hearts believe in God innately.

They need no big, fancy words or explanations at such young age. 

So… my answers were usually simple, and straight to the point.

For example, for the first question I would say; We pray because God wants us to pray, to stay close to Him, always.

Over the years, as we grow older, we not only understand but also feel the strong connection between religion and practice. 

For me, religion without practice is….

a path without direction,

a candle without light,

and a heart without blood. 

Sometimes we get lost, confused, and even a little prodigal.

Yes… no one is perfect.

But without following directions,

without lightening the candle,

and without purifying the blood, 

life becomes a maze, a snakes -and-ladders game.

And this child’s innate belief in The Creator will easily fade as we grow up.

Only practice can restore faith.

It gives us the nudge that keeps us on track.

And it can soften the heart and purify the soul.

Religion cannot be without faith,

and faith cannot live without practice.

With practiced religious thoughts,

Nahla

Just writing

The Shepherd and The Wolf

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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

daily prompt, Just writing

Other Than My Family

nhpureandsimple

Share a story about someone who had a positive impact on your life.

But of course, my small family has the greatest share in any positive impact on my life.

But for this post, I’d like to talk about someone or something else.

These are books.

Yes — books have changed the way I think, the way I talk, and certainly the way I write.

Books have pulled me away from movies and TV programs altogether. I rarely use our TV, and when I do it’s mainly to watch things with my family. 

People look surprised when I say, “no, I haven’t watched this or that.” And when their brows rise all the way to their hairlines. I simply ask,“have I missed much?”

Of course I haven’t, I whispered to myself.

But, honestly, to draw a clear picture, social media is part and parcel of my daily routine. But, thank God, I’m active on only two platforms.

So back to books, even the books I didn’t like, or the ones that bored me, they encouraged me to form my own views, to use my brain, and my brain warn me not to swallow everything. 

And books are just other people in your life; the ones you come to know through their words, their imagination, and their experiences.

Don’t people say that books are the quietest and most constant of friends?

Indeed, they are.

And that’s why they continue to have a positive impact on my life.

With book-and-friends thoughts,

Nahla

daily prompt, Just writing

Well… I still like my one and only career

nhpureandsimple

What is your career plan?

I am a full time mother.

My sons are in their twenties, already left the nest to build their own lives. And my daughter is fourteen, a tender, critical age that needs a mother more than a mother needs a career. ( That’s my view.)

Honestly, I like to keep my first and forever career; Mother.

It happened when the idea of starting another career popped into my head. But then things usually didn’t work out; sometimes because of distance or flexibility, and honestly most of the time because of priorities.

That’s why I decided to pursue postgraduate studies, which I’ve found more flexible and enjoyable. 

But that doesn’t mean I don’t have plans for my career.

Actually, when my boys moved out, I started a new plan that lets me enjoy every moment of it:

to relax more, 

to write more,

to read more,

and to not be bothered when the wardrobe door burst open with a  scream, pushing the fighting clothes out.

With full-time mother thoughts,

Nahla

Just writing

Should I take such umbrage in this situation?

nhpureandsimple

Well… sometimes you just don’t know how or why people behave this way or that? And honestly, in this situation, it’s better not to make a big deal of it.

So, today my daughter and I took the bus home. It wasn’t busy, but it was so warm inside the bus. All the windows were locked, and most people seemed to have a bad cold.

Isn’t it normal to open the window where you sit?

I think it is, especially if you feel like sitting in a sauna.

So, I consulted my neighbour, who was my daughter, and she said, “yes please mama.”

I stood, stretched to reach it, and finally pulled it open. Sometimes you just wonder why they design the windows that high… but perhaps it’s for some safety reasons.

Anyway, how refreshing it was to feel the cool air above your head, and to smell the scent of the fresh rain instead of the thick, condensed air inside the bus.

Just a few minutes later, and as my daughter and I were talking, and out of nowhere, I heard a woman’s voice nearby, not asking or even suggesting that the window be closed but saying she was closing it. In a flash, she pushed it shut, and just like a ghost disappeared.

For a second, my daughter and I looked at each other, wondering why she closed the window. She wasn’t the one sitting next to it, and since the seats in front and behind us were empty, there was no way she would be affected by it.

As our journey wasn’t taking long, I didn’t make a fuss. I told my daughter, “Perhaps she was sensitive to the fresh, cold air.” We smiled, and continued our conversation, and soon got out into the real fresh air.

Should I have taken umbrage at such behaviour?

I think… I did better by ignoring her and her action completely.

What do you think?

With hope and peace,

Nahla