A $20 bill says everything

After begging to go to school, i called the Islamic school nearby to ask about registration and tuition and stuff. Was shocked at their prices (being new to this whole ordeal was shocking enough), because it was a little too high for us (sarcasm).. So Sara asked me if i called her school, and i told her we couldn't afford that specific one this year.. she got sad, and said " yeah, we have no money" ... Rememered that her youngest aunt goes to school, she immediately said "YASMEEN HAS MONEY!!!" like she solved the problem.. My sister is 12 and goes to public.... end point.
Next morning (after the whole preschool thing started) my husband offered Malik & sara a $100 bill and a $20, and asked which they would like.. Sara refused them as she only deals with quarters, and Malik jumped for the $100.

Finding it funny, Ahmed rewarded both of them with a $20 bill, and asked each of them what they would like to buy..

Sara: " I wanna go to school with it"
Malik: "I wanna buy money...!!! "
So I asked " yes mama what do u wanna buy with the "money"?
Malik: " more money!"
Us: ok then what will u buy with the more money??

Malik: "CANDY!!!!!!!"

Us: hahahahhahahhahahaha

Sara: "um I want candy too.... No no I wanna save for school!"


That $20 bill actually helped me realize. Their personalities shined already from an early age, for Sara will be the university graduate and probably get her masters.. While Malik will be a businessman, in the stock market.. Until he saves enough to buy everything he desires... ( maybe a candy factory...)

But for now, both $20s went into their savings jar... Safely tucked in until needed..


btw, we decided to put her in pre-k in Public school... Kindergarten in public with Sunday school on the side.. then When first grade comes around inshallah we'll figure out the expenses..

Preschool obsessions

Let's just say it... Sara is in love with school.. She loves the books, toys, kids, teachers, buses and everything else u can think of... The shocking part is probably that she's NEVER BEEN TO ONE....

Yeah, she dreams about it day and night. Not one hour passes without her mentioning school one way or another.. But usually it goes like this: "mama, I want to go to school."
Then an hr later, "mama I have to go to school"
Then 5 mins later, "MAma!!!! I NEED to go to school!!!!!"


MEMO TO SELF:

Source

NOW!

Then the whining starts: " mama I told u!!! I said I need to go to school NOW" in a "what part of going to school do u not get, mom??" kinda attitude.

Akhhh, the joys of motherhood. It makes me both happy and sad that she's soo obsessed with school..
Happy, because she will be a bookworm nerd with excellent grades, just like her mom.. And she'll probably actually complete her college education and become something (dr perhaps) hence her love of books and reading ever since she was 3 months old..
Sad, because, well I can't do anything about it til she's 4. I'm not sure if she can wait til next august. I mean, that's like a century away for her.. Also sad, because I have a feeling that this love for school might end up to be temporary, and as soon as she starts school she'll actually realize that i wont be with her (no matter how many times I've explained it), being the clingy shadow she is.... she'll hate it... Also sad because my baby is growing up and ready to leave the nest, for a few hrs a day at least.. But I'll grow up and get over it, someday I hope..

The least I can do now is help her at home, with teaching her how to write..got some pre-k workbooks and stuff she's interested in.. Also trying to do activities she'll likely be doing at class.. I also signed both kids up for the parents as teachers program, and they'll test her and make sure she'll have all the skills she needs to survive her first year of school..

The other day she woke up straight to her closet, grabbed her pretty pink dress she wore for eid, and ran to her dad who was eating breakfast in the kitchen...

"baba!, I need u to drive me to school!! I'm gonna go wear this!!" and she ran out... We all laughed!! It was hilarious and soo outta the norm ...

Anyways.. For now all she asks for is school.. I guess I should enjoy it while it lasts.. She probably won't ask for it when she's 12..

Sara's dream

Sunday morning 10am: me barely waking up finding her next to the bed, standing...

Sara: mama, remember when I was a baby?

Me(surprised): yes mama

S: and I was walking outside.. But I can't talk to u.

Me: why not?

S: because I had another baby girl, push in a stroller, and I bumped my head and u inside the house.

Me: baby?? Another baby? What was her name?
S: "another Sara"

Me: oh, like ur sister?

S: yeah my girl sister

Me: ok, why did u bump ur head.

S: because I push baby stroller and fell down the sky then I fell in the snow.

Me: fell from the sky!??!!?

S: yeah I fell into the house and fell on the computer. (the computer is beside a window that looks out to the main street. It's on the first floor, above ground level)

Me: how were u outside and then fell inside?

S: mama! I fell from outside into on the computer. I bumped my head.

Me(trying not to laugh): did u tell baba about it?

S: yes, he said no more jumping into windows..



Hahahahahaaah kids, and the way they tell stories.. I wish I caught it on tape

explanation......

"Bounce it off " is my new motto... 

whether it is a harsh undeserving remark given to you by anyone, that they probably didnt mean..
or a misunderstanding by a close one, making you always the "wrong" one..
or something really bad your kids did that makes you just wanna burst into flames, or burn the house down leave for a moment..
whether it is something that didnt go the way you planned..
or whatever can make you lose your mind and almost get into the verge of madness, just

BOUNCE IT OFF (funny illustration of what i mean)


yeah like reflecting off sunlight, or a ball that is thrown at you, only to hit you at one tiny spot, then bounces off and never heads towards you again..

Thats how I try my best to treat matters as such... I've always heard stuff that would make a normal person mad. Yet, I just easily take it and don't think about it, because I want to be the better person who forgives and forgets, the person who isn't rude, and can control their feelings.. The person whom Allah describes In surat Al-Emran {133-135}

            "{133} Be quick in the race for forgiveness from your Lord, and for a Garden whose width is that (of the whole) of the heavens and of the earth, prepared for the righteous,-
{134} Those who spend (freely), whether in prosperity, or in adversity; who restrain anger, and pardon (all) men;- for God loves those who do good
{135} And those who, having done something to be ashamed of, or wronged their own souls, earnestly bring God to mind, and ask for forgiveness for their sins, - and who can forgive sins except God?- and are never obstinate in persisting knowingly in (the wrong) they have done."

وَسَارِعُوا إِلَىٰ مَغْفِرَةٍ مِّن رَّبِّكُمْ وَجَنَّةٍ عَرْضُهَا السَّمَاوَاتُ وَالْأَرْضُ أُعِدَّتْ لِلْمُتَّقِينَ"

 الَّذِينَ يُنفِقُونَ فِي السَّرَّاءِ وَالضَّرَّاءِ وَالْكَاظِمِينَ الْغَيْظَ وَالْعَافِينَ عَنِ النَّاسِ ۗ وَاللَّهُ يُحِبُّ الْمُحْسِنِينَ

وَالَّذِينَ إِذَا فَعَلُوا فَاحِشَةً أَوْ ظَلَمُوا أَنفُسَهُمْ ذَكَرُوا اللَّهَ فَاسْتَغْفَرُوا لِذُنُوبِهِمْ وَمَن يَغْفِرُ الذُّنُوبَ إِلَّا اللَّهُ وَلَمْ يُصِرُّوا عَلَىٰ مَا فَعَلُوا وَهُمْ "يَعْلَمُونَ

And because: "Whether people speak evil of you, in your presence or behind your back, or they do evil to you in either of those ways, all is known to Allah Almighty.  It is not for you to punish.  Your best course is not to do evil in your turn, but to do what will best repel the evil.  Two evils do not make a good." Source

So to each their own actions, the good will gain rewards for good deeds, and the bad will backfire on those who speak it. 

Be patient, forgive and love, have faith and throw away your tears and sadness.. you are a Good person, and will be known for that.. To Allah and to all mankind.. 

SO........... 

if your husband says you can't take good care of your house, and it isn't as clean as his mom's, (while God knows you're trying your best )... just bounce it off. (or have them do it haha)

if they say you are too spoiled and spend to much money,( while ur trying to save each and every penny u can) ... then just bounce it off. 

When they say someone is better than you because you can't do something right or the same way... just bounce it off.

when someone compares you to others and starts talking about differences between you (who does that?).. just bounce it off.

When someone thinks you're snobby and stuck up while all you want to do is please them.. just forget it and bounce it off.. 

When kids do their best to make sure u have no rest all day whatsoever, just say alhamdulilah, and enjoy it, they wont be small for long.. and bounce it off,..

When your in a hurry to prepare your best meal, and stuff happens and it burns and turns out your worst meal ever and people come over for dinner.. laugh about it and order pizza.. and bounce it off.. everyone makes mistakes! 

Try it, it works! for me at least!