Well, it's been a month since we welcomed our son into our home, and it's amazing how much there is to learn with each new addition to the family.
Prior to his birth, I thought I had everything planned out. I had spent the bulk of Ramadan and the months afterward decluttering my home. I had cooked a couple of meals (not enough though) and frozen them to deal with the busy days after his birth. My baby bag was packed weeks before, diapers purchased, a couple of new outfits, caps, and undershirts included, as well as my clothes.
Well, babies are hardly ever predictable, and if I was under the illusion that I could simply manage another child with good preparation, boy was I ever wrong!
For starters, I had forgotten in five years how completely dependent a newborn is. I'd say that's the hardest part. I cannot sit and check email in peace, let alone write this post without having him lie next to me in his crib, while he is still crying.
And yes, the crying. It's enough to make you go mad. I was used to communicating with words. Now, deciphering the code of the newborn is a lingo I have to relearn, if I even remember it from my last child five years ago. Babies cry. And cry. And cry. On good days, they cry when they need: a. a diaper change b. food c. are tired d. need to burp. There is logic to it.
On other days, it's because there's some underlying issue (e.g. digestive/colic) that, try as you might, you just cannot do anything about, with or without gas drops, complicated holding techniques, or constant swaying in the carseat. And then there are the times you have no clue and want to join along in the crying in frustration.
In other words, adding a newborn means true sacrifice, even with a helpful husband and older kids. There are days when it's easy to embrace the role. Other days where you just want to jump in the car and drive off, at least for 20 minutes, to just savor being alone again, no crying, no carseat, just you and your much battered state of mind.
And then there are the days you want to sit wrapped up in a blanket with your newborn and stare and babble and make all those funny noises that are supposed to build your baby's brain, talking and communicating with him or her. If this was your first child, you probably would be doing that. But since it is your fourth, you try to squeeze in some quick bonding before rushing off to help child #1, 2, or 3 with homework, or some other intellectually stimulating activity. And that of course stimulates your mommy guilt at supposedly neglecting this latest addition.
So now that I've vented, I ask God to please help me through these difficult days (and nights!) and am ready to offer a couple of tips:
1. Pacifiers can be a necessary evil. Get your kid used to one early.
As long as you can limit usage to times when you are truly going nuts with the crying, your kid should ideally not have nipple confusion (if you are breastfeeding him or her). This is also useful in public spaces, where other people have little tolerance for crying infants.
2. If you have a normal delivery, don't do anything for two weeks, at least
Day 5 after delivery, I wanted to resume my normal schedule, and proceeded to drive my kindergartner to her school, which is almost half an hour away. Big mistake. I was in major pain for days. The first six weeks after delivery are a time of rest if you don't want to end up with potential lifelong health problems. Your body is recovering. If you can enlist the help of family and friends to drive your kids to school, do it before your delivery. You will truly be glad you did.
3. Freeze two months worth of meals
Something I deeply regret. I wish I had frozen more meals. It is a pain to deal with cooking when you are recovering and dealing with a newborn who has to nurse right when the other kids are hungry as well. And I say this despite the fact that my husband took over the bulk of cooking duty during the first two weeks, and I had other family members send food.
If you do have to cook, rice and stir-fry are the way. If your kids are older (e.g. 10 and up) and can safely use the stove, enlist their help as well.
4. Skip the dishes if you can
If you have older children who know how to do dishes properly or can load a dishwasher, you can and should skip this option. But if you don't, avoid using dishes, glasses, plates, and utensils for meals and go disposable. You simply will not have the energy to deal with a messy, smelly kitchen, and dishes are the number one cause of that (after the garbage can).
5. Arrange for housecleaning
If you are given enough cash as a gift, consider hiring a maid for at least one week to give your home a good scrub down. You are going to be tired, and will have way too much to do to be deep cleaning your house.
If you cannot afford it, and your family does not already do this, call a family meeting and explain that with a new baby, everybody, daddy and all children, have to pull more of the weight around the house. That means doing laundry, cooking, general upkeep, etc. This article offers some age-appropriate ideas.
6. Take breaks away from the baby with the other kids
Lest they feel neglected, after you've fed the baby, and s/he has been burped, changed, and is ready for a nap, take your remaining kids and do something fun with them. It could be sitting and playing a board game, baking cookies, or volunteering for a good cause over a short spurt of time. Have daddy watch baby for you.
7. Plan some things to do while feeding the baby
You may want to lock eyes and hold your baby's finger while s/he is feeding, but other times, you will be bored out of your mind. Check out from the library or invest in a book you've been wanting to read, a DVD you've wanted to watch, or something else that you can do with no or one hand during this time. It will make you feel less stressed.
8. Pray, pray, and pray again
I can't emphasize this enough. It's the only thing that will help you get through those nights you are getting what seems like barely 15 minutes of sleep. Just make a deep Dua from the bottom of your heart. And keep in mind that insha Allah, yes this will pass very soon.
Monday, December 12, 2011
Sunday, September 4, 2011
Tips on Talking to Your Kids about 9/11 this week
Depending on your children's ages, whether they go to Muslim or non-Muslim school, and how sensitive they are, you've no doubt had to wrestle with the issue of how to talk about the 9/11 attacks with them at some point.
How do you explain, as a Muslim parent who wants to instill a strong sense of faith and pride in Islam, the ugliness of 9/11, and the false "Islamic" basis for it? I've been thinking about this quite a bit this year, especially considering it's the 10th anniversary of the attacks. Here are some things I plan to do with my kids insha Allah.
1. Turn off or limit television viewing and radio listening these next few days
This is not to hide reality or run away from it. Rather, it's about content quality and content control. You and I cannot control what some Islamophobic or not-so-Islamophobic commentator, anchor, radio host or guest will say about the attacks, Islam, and Muslims as memorials are covered in the next few days.
While the better ones will no doubt avoid the kind of bias and one-sided coverage that does and has led to hate-mongering and division, let us not rely on program directors' and staffs' goodwill to give our kids a balanced perspective.
2. Set aside time to discuss the issue at length in an age-appropriate manner
If your kids have already been exposed to the topic of 9/11 through classroom materials, textbooks, events, or other methods at school, make sure you get a rundown from them of how it was discussed. Then fill in the blanks.
In other words, while the teacher may have done a good job of avoiding demonizing Islam and Muslims, reiterate that this act was absolutely against Islamic teachings, which emphasize the sanctity of life (Quran 5:32).
Also important to include in the discussion are the countless statements from around the world by Muslim scholars, institutions, and organizations, that immediately condemned the attacks. A number of these also offer good Islamic arguments against terrorism and violence committed in Islam's name.
If your kids are older, you can discuss the issue in more detail, depending on how much information they want. But definitely talk about Islam's clear condemnation of the attack and Muslims' statements about it.
3.Be careful about what kinds of books your kids read
A few days ago, I checked out a book from the library about 9/11 for my kids, with the intention of reading parts that were relevant to them. A friend suggested I first check the index and read the pages devoted to "Islam", "Muslims", and "Mohammed" or "Muhammad". It turned out to be a smart idea.
Sure enough, there was not one mention of Islam and Muslims' condemnation of the attacks when I searched for the term "Islam". Rather, I got this: "Al Qaeda was founded by a wealthy Islamic man, a native of Saudi Arabia named Osama bin Laden. (Islam is one of the world's great religions, with more than one billion believers worldwide. Followers of Islam are called Muslims. Extreme Muslims, like bin Laden and his followers, make up a a small part of the world's Muslims community)."
In a kids' book about other terrorist attacks (e.g. bombing of abortion clinics, settler violence against Palestinians, destruction of Babri Masjid in India), I doubt the last line would be used to describe extremist elements within Christianity, Judaism, Hinduism or any other faith.
4. Watch what websites you choose
Make sure to vet even the major news sites for balanced information on 9/11. When you check your email or Facebook today, spend a couple of minutes to look up "how to talk to kids about 9/11". Pick four or five sites you feel have done a good job and encourage your kids to read them as a run up to your discussion about the attacks.
5. Attend memorial events
If your kids are old enough, attend 9/11 memorial events in your locality. In particular, look for those that have an Imam as one of the speakers. If that is not possible, contact organizers for an event and ask that you be the speaker or suggest a couple of good ones representing the Muslim community.
This will allow your kids to not only get the Muslim perspective, but to also understand that this was a shared national tragedy, something that affected all Americans, including Muslims.
6. Participate in the 9/11 Day of Service
This has become an annual tradition. Choose a service project to participate in on September 11 and write about it on the Day of Service's website. If you can choose something with an Islamic flavor (e.g. passing out or collecting food for the hungry at your local mosque) that would be ideal. It would offer your children a sense of connection to the Muslim community while setting a good example in the face of all of the negativity toward Islam and Muslims that often surfaces during difficult times.
7. Talk about the Muslim heroes of 9/11
For all the talk of Osama bin Laden which will dominate coverage of this year's anniversary, make sure you highlight the Muslim heroes of 9/11: those who chose to save lives, not take them. One such individual is Muhammad Salman Hamdani. Others are mentioned in President Obama's speech at the White House Iftar this year.
When discussing these Muslims, talk about how their actions reflected what Islam teaches (saving lives as discussed in Quran 5:32) versus those of the 9/11 killers who claimed to be acting on behalf of Islam.
8. Make Dua together
Dua is a powerful tool to connect us to our Creator. At the end of your discussion, sit together with your kids and pray for the victims of 9/11, all of them. Ask Allah to have mercy on all of those who have lost their loved ones; ask for God to have mercy on those who are suffering from the fallout of the attacks because of war; ask Allah to heal our hearts and to open them to our neighbors and vice-versa. Finally, ask Allah to make us what the Prophet Muhammad, peace and blessings be upon him, was: an agent of good in the world based on the beautiful teachings of Islam.
How do you explain, as a Muslim parent who wants to instill a strong sense of faith and pride in Islam, the ugliness of 9/11, and the false "Islamic" basis for it? I've been thinking about this quite a bit this year, especially considering it's the 10th anniversary of the attacks. Here are some things I plan to do with my kids insha Allah.
1. Turn off or limit television viewing and radio listening these next few days
This is not to hide reality or run away from it. Rather, it's about content quality and content control. You and I cannot control what some Islamophobic or not-so-Islamophobic commentator, anchor, radio host or guest will say about the attacks, Islam, and Muslims as memorials are covered in the next few days.
While the better ones will no doubt avoid the kind of bias and one-sided coverage that does and has led to hate-mongering and division, let us not rely on program directors' and staffs' goodwill to give our kids a balanced perspective.
2. Set aside time to discuss the issue at length in an age-appropriate manner
If your kids have already been exposed to the topic of 9/11 through classroom materials, textbooks, events, or other methods at school, make sure you get a rundown from them of how it was discussed. Then fill in the blanks.
In other words, while the teacher may have done a good job of avoiding demonizing Islam and Muslims, reiterate that this act was absolutely against Islamic teachings, which emphasize the sanctity of life (Quran 5:32).
Also important to include in the discussion are the countless statements from around the world by Muslim scholars, institutions, and organizations, that immediately condemned the attacks. A number of these also offer good Islamic arguments against terrorism and violence committed in Islam's name.
If your kids are older, you can discuss the issue in more detail, depending on how much information they want. But definitely talk about Islam's clear condemnation of the attack and Muslims' statements about it.
3.Be careful about what kinds of books your kids read
A few days ago, I checked out a book from the library about 9/11 for my kids, with the intention of reading parts that were relevant to them. A friend suggested I first check the index and read the pages devoted to "Islam", "Muslims", and "Mohammed" or "Muhammad". It turned out to be a smart idea.
Sure enough, there was not one mention of Islam and Muslims' condemnation of the attacks when I searched for the term "Islam". Rather, I got this: "Al Qaeda was founded by a wealthy Islamic man, a native of Saudi Arabia named Osama bin Laden. (Islam is one of the world's great religions, with more than one billion believers worldwide. Followers of Islam are called Muslims. Extreme Muslims, like bin Laden and his followers, make up a a small part of the world's Muslims community)."
In a kids' book about other terrorist attacks (e.g. bombing of abortion clinics, settler violence against Palestinians, destruction of Babri Masjid in India), I doubt the last line would be used to describe extremist elements within Christianity, Judaism, Hinduism or any other faith.
4. Watch what websites you choose
Make sure to vet even the major news sites for balanced information on 9/11. When you check your email or Facebook today, spend a couple of minutes to look up "how to talk to kids about 9/11". Pick four or five sites you feel have done a good job and encourage your kids to read them as a run up to your discussion about the attacks.
5. Attend memorial events
If your kids are old enough, attend 9/11 memorial events in your locality. In particular, look for those that have an Imam as one of the speakers. If that is not possible, contact organizers for an event and ask that you be the speaker or suggest a couple of good ones representing the Muslim community.
This will allow your kids to not only get the Muslim perspective, but to also understand that this was a shared national tragedy, something that affected all Americans, including Muslims.
6. Participate in the 9/11 Day of Service
This has become an annual tradition. Choose a service project to participate in on September 11 and write about it on the Day of Service's website. If you can choose something with an Islamic flavor (e.g. passing out or collecting food for the hungry at your local mosque) that would be ideal. It would offer your children a sense of connection to the Muslim community while setting a good example in the face of all of the negativity toward Islam and Muslims that often surfaces during difficult times.
7. Talk about the Muslim heroes of 9/11
For all the talk of Osama bin Laden which will dominate coverage of this year's anniversary, make sure you highlight the Muslim heroes of 9/11: those who chose to save lives, not take them. One such individual is Muhammad Salman Hamdani. Others are mentioned in President Obama's speech at the White House Iftar this year.
When discussing these Muslims, talk about how their actions reflected what Islam teaches (saving lives as discussed in Quran 5:32) versus those of the 9/11 killers who claimed to be acting on behalf of Islam.
8. Make Dua together
Dua is a powerful tool to connect us to our Creator. At the end of your discussion, sit together with your kids and pray for the victims of 9/11, all of them. Ask Allah to have mercy on all of those who have lost their loved ones; ask for God to have mercy on those who are suffering from the fallout of the attacks because of war; ask Allah to heal our hearts and to open them to our neighbors and vice-versa. Finally, ask Allah to make us what the Prophet Muhammad, peace and blessings be upon him, was: an agent of good in the world based on the beautiful teachings of Islam.
Monday, August 8, 2011
Ramadan issue: should you let your kids fast?
It's a question many Muslim parents grapple with every Ramadan, as they struggle to fast themselves. Kids, especially younger ones who are still in the phase of wanting to copy their number one role models, want to fast. This despite the lengthening days (which are due to continue for at least four or five more Ramadans) and the heat of summer.
I've seen Muslim parents sway in both directions, and then some in between. The best approach I've seen is letting younger kids (under 10) fast part of the day, especially long ones like we're experiencing this year. Parents let them (or should I say insist on, since so many children want to roll full steam ahead) break for water and a small snack, then allow them to resume until the fast breaking at sunset. Most kids need just one or two breaks in addition to this.
The other alternative is encouraging kids to eat their breakfast at the regular time instead of waking up to eat Suhoor, the pre-dawn meal. With this approach, children have a full meal, drink a large amount of milk or water, then begin fasting from that point. This is probably more doable for the older kids.
From an Islamic perspective, fasting is not a requirement until a Muslim reaches puberty, the time when an individual is considered accountable before God. But in most cases I've seen, kids nevertheless want to start early, even becoming rude or rebellious at times (I know one seven-year-old this year who sneakily fasted all day behind his parents back). Peer pressure has a lot to do with it. Young kids who fast the whole day rub off on others. Or perhaps it's the challenge and the confidence boost a full day of fasting offers. Then again, maybe it's the age-old desire to be all grown up.
Regardless of the reasons, every child and every parent are unique and strength, stamina, as well as health issues all play a role in any decision taken. But parents should be on guard and watch their kids carefully, especially given the heat and exhaustion normal to summer. A child fasting quietly could be putting him or herself and danger, which is a violation of the very Islamic teachings that neither insist on children fasting, nor encourage the sick and weak to fast.
May we all have a fruitful Ramadan and may our children benefit from this blessed month in the best way, strengthening their own belief while maintaining the balance and moderation that are key to the Islamic way of life.
I've seen Muslim parents sway in both directions, and then some in between. The best approach I've seen is letting younger kids (under 10) fast part of the day, especially long ones like we're experiencing this year. Parents let them (or should I say insist on, since so many children want to roll full steam ahead) break for water and a small snack, then allow them to resume until the fast breaking at sunset. Most kids need just one or two breaks in addition to this.
The other alternative is encouraging kids to eat their breakfast at the regular time instead of waking up to eat Suhoor, the pre-dawn meal. With this approach, children have a full meal, drink a large amount of milk or water, then begin fasting from that point. This is probably more doable for the older kids.
From an Islamic perspective, fasting is not a requirement until a Muslim reaches puberty, the time when an individual is considered accountable before God. But in most cases I've seen, kids nevertheless want to start early, even becoming rude or rebellious at times (I know one seven-year-old this year who sneakily fasted all day behind his parents back). Peer pressure has a lot to do with it. Young kids who fast the whole day rub off on others. Or perhaps it's the challenge and the confidence boost a full day of fasting offers. Then again, maybe it's the age-old desire to be all grown up.
Regardless of the reasons, every child and every parent are unique and strength, stamina, as well as health issues all play a role in any decision taken. But parents should be on guard and watch their kids carefully, especially given the heat and exhaustion normal to summer. A child fasting quietly could be putting him or herself and danger, which is a violation of the very Islamic teachings that neither insist on children fasting, nor encourage the sick and weak to fast.
May we all have a fruitful Ramadan and may our children benefit from this blessed month in the best way, strengthening their own belief while maintaining the balance and moderation that are key to the Islamic way of life.
Friday, June 10, 2011
Rediscovering the Classics this Summer
Well, summer reading programs are already underway in libraries across the nation, an annual tradition and a great way to keep kids from suffering summer learning loss. But while some libraries specify certain books and others simply reward kids for hours of reading, parents should, if they already don't, pick those old-fashioned classics over more recent fare for their children's summer reading list.
While there are no doubt good books out there published in the last three or four decades, most don't hold a candle to those like Charlotte's Web by E.B. White. And while PBSKids.org, video games, and movies are no doubt enticing, the benefits or reading classical literature can't be underestimated.
The quality of the language is one, in my view. My kids are currently into the revamped Nancy Drew series, which is written the way many kids talk. That's fine, but it doesn't expose them to a higher level of vocabulary, or for the most part, new ideas and out-of-the box thinking.
Contrast this with books like Charlie and the Chocolate Factory (another classic), which not only features creative and novel ideas (e.g. Oompa Loompas), but stirs the imagination and offers rich descriptions of the world being painted. Here's an example from the above-mentioned Roald Dahl book: "Graceful trees and bushes were growing along the riverbanks-weeping willows and alders and tall clumps of rhododendrons with their pink and red and mauve blossoms. In the meadows there were thousands of buttercups." And that's not just descriptive writing, but a science lesson on plants should you choose to make it one.
And lest you fear your techno-savvy kids could never enjoy older books, remember that the reason classics are classics is less because of the specific time and context of the story and more because they powerfully evoke timeless themes and emotions. That means even a Wii-addicted seven-year-old will cry when reading about Charlotte dying, and a Netflix-happy nine-year-old can wonder at Willy Wonka's incredible chocolate factory.
From a social perspective, classics for younger kids also have less of the stuff many of us parents worry about when looking for good books for our children. That includes themes focused heavily on dating and boy/girl relationships, as well as cleaner language.
So, pull up your library's online search catalog and make those requests today. Here are a couple of classics I'll be getting for my kids insha Allah:
1. Charlotte's Web by E.B. White
2. James and the Giant Peach by Roald Dahl
3. Mr. Popper's Penguins by Florence and Richard Atwater
4. The Wind in the willows by Kenneth Grahame
5. The Tale of Two Bad Mice by Beatrice Potter
6. The Wonderful Wizard of Oz by Frank Baum
7. The Story of Ferdinand by Munro Leaf
8. Homer Price by Robert McCloskey
9. Treasure Island by Robert Louis Stevenson
10.The Wheel on the School by Meindert DeJong
I'd appreciate any additional suggestions on classical books for kids.
While there are no doubt good books out there published in the last three or four decades, most don't hold a candle to those like Charlotte's Web by E.B. White. And while PBSKids.org, video games, and movies are no doubt enticing, the benefits or reading classical literature can't be underestimated.
The quality of the language is one, in my view. My kids are currently into the revamped Nancy Drew series, which is written the way many kids talk. That's fine, but it doesn't expose them to a higher level of vocabulary, or for the most part, new ideas and out-of-the box thinking.
Contrast this with books like Charlie and the Chocolate Factory (another classic), which not only features creative and novel ideas (e.g. Oompa Loompas), but stirs the imagination and offers rich descriptions of the world being painted. Here's an example from the above-mentioned Roald Dahl book: "Graceful trees and bushes were growing along the riverbanks-weeping willows and alders and tall clumps of rhododendrons with their pink and red and mauve blossoms. In the meadows there were thousands of buttercups." And that's not just descriptive writing, but a science lesson on plants should you choose to make it one.
And lest you fear your techno-savvy kids could never enjoy older books, remember that the reason classics are classics is less because of the specific time and context of the story and more because they powerfully evoke timeless themes and emotions. That means even a Wii-addicted seven-year-old will cry when reading about Charlotte dying, and a Netflix-happy nine-year-old can wonder at Willy Wonka's incredible chocolate factory.
From a social perspective, classics for younger kids also have less of the stuff many of us parents worry about when looking for good books for our children. That includes themes focused heavily on dating and boy/girl relationships, as well as cleaner language.
So, pull up your library's online search catalog and make those requests today. Here are a couple of classics I'll be getting for my kids insha Allah:
1. Charlotte's Web by E.B. White
2. James and the Giant Peach by Roald Dahl
3. Mr. Popper's Penguins by Florence and Richard Atwater
4. The Wind in the willows by Kenneth Grahame
5. The Tale of Two Bad Mice by Beatrice Potter
6. The Wonderful Wizard of Oz by Frank Baum
7. The Story of Ferdinand by Munro Leaf
8. Homer Price by Robert McCloskey
9. Treasure Island by Robert Louis Stevenson
10.The Wheel on the School by Meindert DeJong
I'd appreciate any additional suggestions on classical books for kids.
Tuesday, March 15, 2011
Teaching Kids About Death...
is never easy. But this is where real-life experiences become those teachable moments.
This became most clear to me last month, when the older brother of one my preschooler's classmates died - at the age of 15, of cancer.
The news was stunning because this young man had only been diagnosed three weeks earlier. For my kids, it was surprising because he was so young. They, like many of us, assumed that death is primarily for the old - not for an athletic teenager who loved his mom's beef sandwiches.
Something pushed me to take two of my kids to the funeral, and later, to visit his family to offer our condolences. My eldest, age 8, had never before offered a funeral prayer. But I insisted she stand in line and pay attention to the Imam's explanation of it.
My four-year-old was somewhat clueless, and didn't see her classmate, the sister of the deceased at the funeral. However, she still asks "is she sad because her brother died?"
But it is only by giving our kids that hands-on knowledge of our way of life that we can truly teach them what being part of a community is about, and what the rites and rituals of our faith are all about. It's something I see so many young people lacking, and it scares me. When we exclude our kids from these life cycle events, be it weddings (you know those "Mr. and Mrs. Only" invitations) or funerals, we are neglecting our duty of Tarbiyya or teaching them.
We worry about test scores and we worry about admission into the coveted Ivy League. That's fine. But our worry should also be: will they continue to live their faith - the connection to God, the rituals so easily dismissed because of our "busy" lives, the sense of community reinforced by these rituals which are part of the cycle of life and death.
Death is a tragedy, but it is also a teachable moment. Let's remember that and involve our kids early on in knowing about it and preparing for it. We can do this by insisting they participate in its rituals and expecting them to rise to the challenge of handling it with faith and maturity.
This became most clear to me last month, when the older brother of one my preschooler's classmates died - at the age of 15, of cancer.
The news was stunning because this young man had only been diagnosed three weeks earlier. For my kids, it was surprising because he was so young. They, like many of us, assumed that death is primarily for the old - not for an athletic teenager who loved his mom's beef sandwiches.
Something pushed me to take two of my kids to the funeral, and later, to visit his family to offer our condolences. My eldest, age 8, had never before offered a funeral prayer. But I insisted she stand in line and pay attention to the Imam's explanation of it.
My four-year-old was somewhat clueless, and didn't see her classmate, the sister of the deceased at the funeral. However, she still asks "is she sad because her brother died?"
But it is only by giving our kids that hands-on knowledge of our way of life that we can truly teach them what being part of a community is about, and what the rites and rituals of our faith are all about. It's something I see so many young people lacking, and it scares me. When we exclude our kids from these life cycle events, be it weddings (you know those "Mr. and Mrs. Only" invitations) or funerals, we are neglecting our duty of Tarbiyya or teaching them.
We worry about test scores and we worry about admission into the coveted Ivy League. That's fine. But our worry should also be: will they continue to live their faith - the connection to God, the rituals so easily dismissed because of our "busy" lives, the sense of community reinforced by these rituals which are part of the cycle of life and death.
Death is a tragedy, but it is also a teachable moment. Let's remember that and involve our kids early on in knowing about it and preparing for it. We can do this by insisting they participate in its rituals and expecting them to rise to the challenge of handling it with faith and maturity.
Friday, November 26, 2010
Sleeping Bear Press Alphabet Series: excellent for early and advanced readers
Over the last few months, I have discovered the Sleeping Bear Press' Alphabet series, which is nothing short of excellent.
Covering a wide range of subjects, from "A is for America: An American Alphabet" to "P is for Pilgrim: A Thanksgiving Alphabet" (which I read to my kids yesterday), the books take a topic and present themes relating to it in alphabetical order. These are accompanied by simple, lyrical text, aimed at younger readers, accompanied by more detailed information for advanced readers (and parents!) on each page's sidebar.
The illustrations are of high quality and easily retain young reader interest. I do hope they will consider producing books focused on Islam and other faiths as part of this series in the future, on the lines of their book "A is for Abraham: A Jewish Family Alphabet".
Covering a wide range of subjects, from "A is for America: An American Alphabet" to "P is for Pilgrim: A Thanksgiving Alphabet" (which I read to my kids yesterday), the books take a topic and present themes relating to it in alphabetical order. These are accompanied by simple, lyrical text, aimed at younger readers, accompanied by more detailed information for advanced readers (and parents!) on each page's sidebar.
The illustrations are of high quality and easily retain young reader interest. I do hope they will consider producing books focused on Islam and other faiths as part of this series in the future, on the lines of their book "A is for Abraham: A Jewish Family Alphabet".
Wednesday, October 27, 2010
Fall 2010 books and ideas
With Halloween hoopla in full swing, it's still important to talk about the beautiful fall season and read about it, minus the spooky themes and other paraphernalia.
I've written about Halloween-free fall ideas before (you can see last year's post about this). But here are some new books I came across this year:
BOOKS
1. Why do Leaves Change Color? by Betsy Maestro (ages 7 to 10). Part of the Let's-Read-And-Find-Out Science series.
2. Peepers by Eve Bunting. A different take on the fall season. It's a story about "Peepers", people who come to New England to see the fall colors, and how two young boys discover the beauty of this time of year, even as they mock the tourists.
3. By the Light of the Harvest Moon by Harriet Ziefert. A cute story about pumpkins that come to life to celebrate the harvest.
4. Pumpkins by Mary Lyn Ray. A very nice story about how a man plots a unique way to preserve a field threatened with development by using pumpkins.
5. We all Fall for Apples by Emmi S. Herman A good selection for early readers with apples as the fall theme.
ACTIVITY
Using the book How Many Seeds in a Pumpkin by Margaret McNamara as a guide, my husband had the kids guess how many seeds would be in the pumpkin we picked up from a fall fair earlier this month. A topical math lesson.
This can also be turned into a biology/science unit, by studying the parts of the pumpkin, opening up its seeds, etc.
ISLAMIC POINT
One thing that did not occur to me last year as a discussion point was the beauty of the cycle of life. In specific, the fact that Allah chooses the season right before the cold winter to make countless fruits and vegetables ready for picking. This makes it easy for animals who stay north in the winter to survive through hibernation, since they are able to collect all the seeds, nuts, berries, etc. they need.
I've written about Halloween-free fall ideas before (you can see last year's post about this). But here are some new books I came across this year:
BOOKS
1. Why do Leaves Change Color? by Betsy Maestro (ages 7 to 10). Part of the Let's-Read-And-Find-Out Science series.
2. Peepers by Eve Bunting. A different take on the fall season. It's a story about "Peepers", people who come to New England to see the fall colors, and how two young boys discover the beauty of this time of year, even as they mock the tourists.
3. By the Light of the Harvest Moon by Harriet Ziefert. A cute story about pumpkins that come to life to celebrate the harvest.
4. Pumpkins by Mary Lyn Ray. A very nice story about how a man plots a unique way to preserve a field threatened with development by using pumpkins.
5. We all Fall for Apples by Emmi S. Herman A good selection for early readers with apples as the fall theme.
ACTIVITY
Using the book How Many Seeds in a Pumpkin by Margaret McNamara as a guide, my husband had the kids guess how many seeds would be in the pumpkin we picked up from a fall fair earlier this month. A topical math lesson.
This can also be turned into a biology/science unit, by studying the parts of the pumpkin, opening up its seeds, etc.
ISLAMIC POINT
One thing that did not occur to me last year as a discussion point was the beauty of the cycle of life. In specific, the fact that Allah chooses the season right before the cold winter to make countless fruits and vegetables ready for picking. This makes it easy for animals who stay north in the winter to survive through hibernation, since they are able to collect all the seeds, nuts, berries, etc. they need.
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