Parenting Lessons from Hajar

Most of us know the story behind the hajj ritual of walking swiftly between Safa and Marwa. There are lots of lessons to learn from it. (This is an excellent article on it.) Specifically, what are the parenting lessons that we can glean from it?

This is the story as narrated by Ibn Abbas:

Let Your Child Accompany You

When you attend public lectures or gather with friends to have serious conversations, do you include your child? Most parents would either leave their child with someone to baby sit, leave their child with the child care facility or shoo their child outside or the back of the room to play with other children. The more responsible choice would be to let your child accompany you and sit next to you so they can be in the company of other adults to learn and mature.

There are a few ahadeeth that tells us that during Prophet Muhammad's time, peace be upon him, the children would sit with the adults.

Abdullah Ibn Omar narrates saying: “We were at the Prophet’s house, prayers and peace of Allah be upon him, he got out palm pith, then he said: “Among the trees (there is a tree) that is like a Muslim .(What is it)?” I wanted to say the palm tree, but I was the youngest among them all so I kept quiet. The Prophet, prayers and peace of Allah be upon him, said “It is the palm tree”.” [Agreed upon]

Now You Are a Mother Book Review

Title: Now You Are A Mother

Author: Du'aa Ra'oof Shaheen

Translator: Huda al-Khattab

Publisher: Darrusalam

Recommended for: First-time Mothers

This book has given an overview of the mother's role and touched on the basics of raising babies and small children. Whilst motherhood is one of the most rewarding of roles, it is also a very complex role that brings many trials and challenges that cannot be covered fully in a single volume.

When I saw this book at the bookstore my first thought was "Oh how pretty" because there was a cute picture on the front with soft pastel colour designs. I had to pick it up. So I started flicking through the pages and my second thought was "This would make a great gift for new first time mothers and I thought who did I know that was pregnant for the first time? One of my nieces is so I bought it.

Should I Give My Child a Smart Phone?

When my children were young, the question of them having a smart phone never came up (yes it was invented by then). I've read all the articles warning parents not to give electronic devices to children before their teenage years as their brains are still growing and we don't want it to affect them. Yes, and I'm one of those who believe that the mobile phone can cause cancer. 

It wasn't until I'd upgraded my phone and we didn't know what to do with my old one that we decided to give it to my eldest to only play games on. He was a teenager by then but he didn't even asked for it. What were we thinking? We just thought it'd be a waste if I gave it away. Bad decision - I should have just given it away!