My Hijrah Blog

For those who are not aware of my other blog that I have recently started…it is:

 

http://www.hijrahtoalgeriafeesabillillah.wordpress.com

Hijrah

Bismillah

I haven’t posted in quite a long time. I gave birth to my son, alhamdulillah and then spent time adjusting to having two children. We then went to Algeria to visit the in-laws and by the specific will of Allah, I made hijrah on 22nd May 2008. I know it is a shock to so many, but Allah made it very clear and very easy for us…my istikhara was answered very clearly. I will be continuing to homeschool my dear daughter and will insha’Allah be posting about our experiences of homeschooling here…should be interesting. Please make dua for us, this hijrah was very sudden…but all is from Allah (Swt).

He’s here…

At 24 minutes past midnight on Friday 28th March 2008 (Yawmul Jumuah), we were blessed with a new addition to our family. Our son, and R’s little brother entered into the world. It has been a week and a half since he graced us with his presence and I can honestly say it is not easy being a new mother again. I am desperate to return to schooling R as she is clearly affected by the attention shift. But as my labour was long and traumatic, I just don’t have the energy to do very much. It is taking longer than I anticipated to recover, but I know that I will not be any use to anyone 50% fit. One thing I must say is having my newborn son has really reiterated to me how important it is to homeschool. They are born so innocent, and to think of sending such an empty vessel to school, risking their upbringing and akhirah is unthinkable. I just pray and hope I have the energy to undertake this important role…

Jungle Mania…

Please click on the images to see them enlarged!

My husband was off recently and the weather was wet and windy…so we spent a nice day at home together as a family. I was quite ill so asked him to pleeeeeeeeease entertain our daughter for some time so that I could rest a little. ‘Just do anything with her!’ I exclaimed in frustration. ‘Read a book, colour in a picture - I’m really tired and need to rest!’ So, in true male fashion - he couldn’t just do a simple activity like I would have done. Oh no! He had to show how rubbish my arts and crafts lessons are with her and built a jungle for her collection of animals to reside in…from scratch!

I couldn’t believe my eyes when I walked into the room to find a complete jungle/rainforest with mountain and river and trees and…and….and. Well, I hate to admit it but I was deeply impressed. So this is how he and my daughter did it:

They unfolded a huge cardboard box and painted it green for grass. They then took a bunch of flowers a sister had bought me, and hot glued (with the glue gun) branches of leaves and flowers to form trees onto their ‘grass’. They then scattered leaves and petals from my beautiful bunch of flowers all over like a jungle floor. Sand was used to create the mountain. Blue paint was then drizzled from the mountain top and painted on the green ‘grass’ to form the river. And there you had it - your very own home-made jungle. My daughter played with it for days. Her fish were placed carefully in the river. Monkeys hung from the trees (literally!). Cows and tigers feasted on leaves of other trees. It was definitely a spectacle. I videod it with the animals in there. I will try to post the video on the blog. Not quite sure how you do it yet, but I just think you’ve got to see it. Anyway, thats her art lessons shifted over to hubby then…

Internet…

 

Today I spoke with a lovely homeschooling ummi of 8, masha’Allah and we got on to the topic about the INTERNET! Recently, I have been thinking about how much time I spend on the internet. Alhamdulillah, we don’t watch TV, and only use the TV for my daughter’s Arabic and Islamic DVDs/videos. However, is the internet the new TV?!

 I feel like so much time is wasted on the internet. For example, you intend to check your email and end up spending hours on there jumping from one site to the next! I really think we have to discipline ourselves as homeeducators when it comes to the internet. There is so much out there - but we must remember that we are not homeeducating the computer, we are homeeducating our children!

Anyway, the sister I was speaking to does not have the internet (horror upon horror - 8 homeschooled kids and no internet!) and I told her that she shouldn’t get it! Now don’t get me wrong - I wouldn’t be able to write this post and share my homeschooling journey with the world if I didn’t have the internet, however it takes me back to the good ol’ days.

My mother, a graduate in Literature always bought me books when I was younger, our small flat was full of books - fiction and non-fiction and the library was my favourite place as I was growing up. When the internet took its first steps, my father did not allow us to use it and so our knowledge about the world and interests arose from books. Looking back, I could not have hoped for a more enriching experience. I am still attached to books and reading will always be a passion of mine and I believe this stemmed from my upbringing. I want this for my children insha’Allah. So, as a result, I have recently been thinking about ditching the internet (WHAT?!). But, then I thought no, I do need it for other committments. What I need to do is ditch my attachment to it! I want my family - Hubby, myself and my children to have a love for books, an attachment to literature and knowledge without technology. So, when hubby came home from work today, I sat him down - told him all of this and told him of my…sorry OUR action plan. Alhamdulillah he surprisingly agreed and thought it was a fantastic idea.

Basically, we have drawn up a timetable of who uses the computer (not just the internet) for how long and when during the week. And we will insha’Allah aim to stick to it. Once the buzzer goes (so to speak) then the time is up on the computer. I hope that this will create more time for family, more time for other interests, more time for Allah and more time for reading. Lets see how it goes…

Doing it right?

Okay, so I’m nine months pregnant, slightly uncomfortable (understatement of the year), and quite irritable. Seems my poor daughter is getting most of my frustration. Am I the only homeschooling mother who seems to shout all day? Was talking to a sister recently and she gave me a compliment saying that I was so patient. If only she knew. Now, I’m feeling quite emotional at the moment - I feel like I am too hard on my daughter, always pushing her, shouting at her, disciplining her and not allowing her to be the 3 and a half year old little girl that she is. Right now, I feel like a bit of a monster. (Oh Allah help me!) She is quite a sensitive child but clearly is quite upset at all the shouting (at her) that has been going on recently. I rarely smack her, but shouting…there isn’t a day that goes by!

As I was tidying up, the ’shall-I-put-her-in-school’ thoughts passed through my mind. Surely she can’t be happy at the moment? Wouldn’t she be happier in an environment where she isn’t shouted at? Why do I shout so much? Is it because I’m ill and stressed? I really do not feel like mother of the year at the moment. I think I’m too much of a perfectionist and want her (yes, a 3 1.2 year old) to do things right. But surely, the best way to educate her is to let her do it her way and learn?! Oh I just don’t know. Things don’t need to be cut and stuck to perfection. If she sticks something upside down - so what? This is how I should be thinking but unfortunately I don’t most of the time. I don’t know if it is because of the pregnancy hormones, but I honestly don’t feel like I am giving her my best. I just seem to get annoyed all the time. *sigh* I’m just really really tired at the moment…

Organization

I can’t believe I haven’t posted anything on my blog since late February. Shame on me! Apart from being extra busy at the beginning of March, my health hasn’t been too terrific. Alhamdulillah for everything.

Last week, spent the entire week contracting at night and suffering from bad period like pains during the day. The first time it happened, I was so excited as I thought baby was arriving - however…nothing…zilch! And basically, I am still in the same situation. Alhamdulillah, baby will appear when Allah (Swt) has decreed for him to do so. Meanwhile, I must learn to be patient and endure this small test. It literally has slowed me down. For those who know me, I never stop - homeschooling my daughter is actually the easiest of the things I do in my life. So, this week has been me resting and sitting and resting and sitting. And although I would love to zoom around as I usually do, I physically cannot! Definitely Allah preparing me for what is to come…

So, have been planning the next 12 weeks (in advance) of homeschooling. That way, when baby arrives and we all spend some quality time together, I can just get back into the swing of things (homeschooling) easily - insha’Allah.

A few sisters have been asking me how I get to manage homeschooling, dawah committments, family life and other ‘extras’ that I do. And it is quite simple - organization. Aside from the homeschooling timetable that I have, I live by timetables and absolutely everything goes in there - from cooking to ironing, surah kahf on a Friday to when I shower and when I give my daughter a bath! I know it might seem extra, but that is how I can get so much done and keep on top of everything. I really do recommend it to everyone. Just sit down one day, preferably when the children are sleeping and write down everything that you do in a week - don’t leave anything out! And organize your week. That way, when you wake up each day, you know what to do and when to do it. My life would just be so chaotic if I didn’t do this.

 Just a few things that might help for all those homeschooling mummies out there:

*   I tend to do a ‘Quick clean’ every morning. This includes, making the beds, washing any dishes, folding any dried clothes and a general tidy away. That way, when we are ready to start school, everything is tidy. I am a firm believer that one cannot concentrate if their environment is messy.

*   I cook for 2 days. I know some people enjoy cooking. Unfortunately, I am not one of them. Don’t get me wrong, I used to be - but now I just don’t have the time. So, on a Sunday I sit down and plan what I am going to cook on Monday, Wednesday, Friday and Sunday. With my weekly meals planned out, I then form my shopping list for the week. I do one big shop on a Monday. This is something new that I have implemented. I used to shop as I needed, but with a huge bump that does not permit me to power walk down the shopping aisles, I have had to limit shopping to one day. It has worked perfectly for me, as I am more free to concentrate on ’school’ and other more important things.

*   I limit ironing to once a week and I tend to put a machine on when I need to.

*   With the homeschooling area, I tend to sort all drawers and shelves every two weeks, I need to do this more regularly I think. As everything is reachable by my daughter, she simply thrusts things back into drawers. Alhamdulillah, masha’Allah she is a tidy little girl - but often things go in the wrong drawer. So a quick sorting once a week would help - something I really need to start doing.

Aside from all of the above, I think what really helps is storage. Shelves galore! Boxes galore! And zipper files galore! That way, everything has a place. Would be interesting to know how you organize yourself… if you can or would like to, please comment on this thread with your own tips!

Bare walls and Bob Books

Yesterday, we took down all of her work that was displayed on the bedroom wall and stuck it in two large scrapbooks. I also printed out pictures from the blog of activities we had conducted together and stuck them in as well. She helped me take them off the wall and stick them in and it reminded her of lessons we had done together. However, now her walls are bare and are screaming to be filled again. She is very proud of her two scrap books and wants to show any visitors when they come around. For me, it is a good way to organise displays and to keep work that she has put a lot of effort in and also allowing space for new 6 weeks blocks of ’school’. I have planned for us to make a number daisy chain and will insha’Allah make it extra big to cover up all that white wall paint!

Bob books are great! I ordered them almost a year ago and my daughter read one all by herself yesterday, masha’Allah. The 6 weeks of literacy lessons have paid off as she is actually reading, alhamdulillah! It was a simple book. It reads:

Mat. Sam. Mat sat. Sam sat. Mat sat on Sam. Sam sat on Mat. Mat sat. Sam Sat. The End. I asked her to read it to her Abi to show him that she can actually do it. He couldn’t believe his eyes. His three and a half year old reading, mashaAllah. And he said something which really made me feel happy: ‘You’re doing a really good job.’ For me, 9 months pregnant, exhausted, recently attacked for homeschooling my daughter by another sister - it really made my evening. And indeed ALL praise is due to Allah (Swt).

Are there toilets in Jannah?!

We had a one-week break last week from our ‘planned’ homeschooling. It was a nice week, alhamdulillah. A busy one - as there were quite a few things I had been invited to and had to get done, but overall a nice week. I used the week to plan the next 5 weeks of homeschooling, we normally do a 6 week block, but I’ll be giving birth insha’Allah. So, Saturday was our first day of our new block and we started it off with Islamic Studies and Art. We created a masterpiece of bubble painting - it was actually quite fun, but my daughter got tired of doing it after a while. I find that she is much more interested in writing and reading then crafts and drawing etc. I find it quite strange and slightly panicked on Saturday night that she is turning into a bit of a nerd. However, I spoke to a dear sister about my concerns and she made me feel reassured that reading and writing ARE her interests and that there is nothing wrong with that.

Yesterday, we did quite a bit of school. An hour of Islamic Studies, an hour of literacy, an hour of numeracy and a science /arts and crafts project which my husband made with her. Naturally ;)  it was a complete disaster, the actual model didn’t work and the floor ended up being covered with tin foil, to which they then made a foil football and played football - typical! I think next time, I’ll just stick to homeschooling and he can stick to bringing in the ‘dough’!

So, anyway, yesterday we did our Islamic Studies lesson. I have decided to follow my dear sister’s Islamic studies plan for kindergarten stage - you can find it on talibiddeenjr.amanahwebs.com. We are focussing on the Aqeedah Unit this week and daughter is thoroughly enjoying it. (Jzk sis!) So, the topic we were studying was Allah being the creator of everything. My daughter then asked me ‘ Does Allah make bad people?’ I responded by saying that ‘Allah is the creator of everything, but that when Allah made people - they were all good, but then later on they became ‘bad’.’ She then asked me ‘What about Shaytaan? Because Shaytaan is dirty.’ I explained that he used to be good but then didn’t bow down to Adam (AS). She seemed to understand and exclaimed ‘ Shaytaan is definitely going to jahannam!’ - Which then led on to her favourite discussion - jannah and jahannam. Who will go there, what it will look like, who she would like to take with her, what she will ask Allah for etc etc. She then out of the blue asked me ‘Are there toilets in Jannah?!’ I couldn’t contain myself and burst out laughing. She could not see the funny side and was extremely serious, so I surpressed my laughter. ‘No, there are no toilets in Jannah as people will not need to do a wee wee’, I explained. Her eyebrows creased and she put her hands on her hips and said in an adult fashion ‘Ummi, but then if there are no toilets in jannah, I will do it in my kilota (knickers)!’ She shook her head (matter of factly) and carried on writing the word ‘Creator’ on her activity sheet. This incident made me realise that alhamdulillah she is still young, innocent and not as much of a nerd as I thought she was becoming. *phew*

Trip to the Transport Museum

On Monday 11th February, we joined a wonderful group of homeschooling ummis and their children and went on a trip to the London Transport Museum in Covent Garden, London. The weather was beautiful, masha’Allah and the company was simply fantastic. Aside from the fact that my daughter thoroughly enjoyed seeing all the different trains and buses, it was especially nice for her to mix with other children as well as for me to meet others who are homeschooling too.

A lot of the mothers had been conversing via yahoo homeschooling groups but had never met each other in person. So when we all arrived at the entrance of the museum, it was really nice to put faces to names on yahoo group emails.

Here are a few pictures of what we saw. I thoroughly recommend it. It was clean, no music and the staff were very friendly and helpful.

PIC 1: An old steamer train

PIC 2: The museum was full of interesting buses, trains and other forms of transport. But trust my daughter to find a doll’s house in her pink hijab…of course!

PIC 3: View of the museum from the second floor.

PIC 4: A big red bus! I don’t know why they removed these off the roads. It brings back so many memories for me as a child - running for the bus and grabbing onto the pole as it slowly moved off.

PIC 5: An old (sixties) bus…I think!

We had a wonderful day and I really look forward to going on more trips with the sisters insha’Allah. For those of you who have not yet joined. Please do join muslimsandhomeeducation and homeeducatorsandukmuslims. They are both yahoo groups. Perhaps I will see you at the next trip insha’Allah.