Moment of Aww... & Doll stroller seat Redo

A couple of  months ago H's doll stroller seat ripped.  Since then she has been asking  for another stroller. So I decided to Redo the stroller seat instead of  buying another.  It literally cost $0 since I had all the supplies at home.

The reason  why I wanted to share this  was H's reaction to it.  Mashaa-Allah she was so happy to have her stroller seat back. What made the whole thing more wonderful was the smile of feeling  special she had on her face when I said  to her "I made this for you".  (this happens for everytime I make or do something for any one of them. And Yes! This goes for hubby too)

There is just something about "making/ doing"  things, clothes, food, duas, lessons, toys and much much more for your family. The feelings you get and give are so powerful that it makes you want to do it again and again. To blossom  the whole experience up even more it helps me by purifying my intentions only for Allah SWT.  I feel this gets me up and going / doing even on those days when I am feeling down. 

File Folders

I made a few file folder games for the kids to go along side with their everyday main lesson plans.

I used online resources and store bought books. MashaAllah the kids are really enjoying and benefitting from them. 

DIY - word family house.

This year our main lessons have revolved around writing and reading year (not reading and writing).  We approached literacy this way because  this is how AR liked and enjoyed it. Plus that is how language evolved, through storytelling, writing and then reading. Alhumdulillah, AR has gotten good at writing (still learning) and now reading... He has written many of his own small books and really enjoys reading them. 

Recently  I introduced word families in an interactive way to see if he would be interested in them.  He totally loved them. I just leave them out in a bin on the table and he just picks them up randomly and tries to play and read the words.

Here is the link to these great interactive word family houses. And the second picture is from a book I just had to cut and color them.

How and when did you introduce literacy to your little ones? Please share in comments.

Why we love everything coconut

Coconut is a staple in our home, we love it "in" and "on" our bodies.  Hope this inspires you to include this wholesome superfood in your lives too.

Prioritizing & Reconnecting at deeper level with the Quran

Starting  each day with the recitation of the Quran puts ones heart at peace and in a state of calmness. This helps one to take on the challenges of the day and stay focused on the important things. The most beautiful part is every time one opens the Quran there are lessons and reminders for one to hold on to and work on for the day. 

The goal should be quality not quantity. Reading half a page, a page or two, but reading with understanding is important. If one doesn't understand Arabic then reading a translation can be useful. Trying and testing different amounts and seeing what works best can be helpful. 

As Muslims parents everyday we strive to instill in our kids the love of Quran and the Sunnah. What we forget is... If they don't see us loving Quran - by spending "one on one time" with it (I am sure we as parents are very familiar with this phrase) how exactly  do we expect them to love it.  If they don't see us turning to the Quran when we are overcome by negative emotions so we can return to our normal states. How will they learn to channel their emotions in a positive manner, or control them. To function at our optimal level we have to first and foremost connect ourselves with Allah and Quran. Having this spiritual connection can help us see this world and the people around us from a whole new lens.

I just have too much on my plate and that is the case of most moms. So I have set a goal to read one double  sided  page a day no matter where I am and how busy the day ahead might seem. I feel so dependent on it that if I miss it I feel out of place in all my roles as a woman, Or more like everything feels out of place. 

Every time before sitting with the Quran I just remind the kids that it Mama's time for what Allah created us for, if they need something I will listen to them after I am done. Of course, it took them some practice but now Alhumdulillah it so amazing,  while iI recite they quietly listen Mashaa-Allah. Before I use to explain in simple words to them that "Allah SWT created us only to worship Him, pray to Him and to read understand and implement the Quran. There are other important  things that we have to do but before all that comes Allah. And when pleasing Allah is our goal then Allah SWT helps us with everything " 

Here is a glimpse of the reminder I got from my time with Quran today. 

He said, "I only complain of my suffering and my grief to Allah , and I know from Allah that which you do not know. {Yusuf:86}

How is that you spend time with the Quran and make it an important of your day?

Life with a baby

Alhumdulillah  for older siblings and their tiny helpful hands.  Mashaa-Allah every  morning AR volunteers to feed baby S while I do some kitchen work.  And for some odd reason S is always more excited to eat with bhiya then Mama anyways.

I wanted to share some nutritious quick and easy baby food recipes ideas and tips. I puree fruits and veggies weekly and freeze them in ice cubes trays. I don't freeze any grains or seeds. Baby food is a great way to involve kids, they love blenders and pouring.

Every morning first thing I do is in a small pot I put 2 tablespoons of either organic brown rice, hulled millet (I use hulled because it's a lot quick and easier to cook), quinoa or brown rice flakes. While I prepare breakfast for the rest of the family the seeds are fully cooked. I just add a cube from the freezer of the puree while it's still warm, and it's ready to be served to our little man.

As he is getting older he is not interested in puree foods, he wants more texture and boiling fresh grains  and seeds adds that.  Sometimes I toss fresh fruit or veggies while the seeds still boiling and just mashed it slightly with a potato  masher.

I have done this all three of my kids and all of them have different reactions and tastes. So it important  to change things around depending  on individual  child's needs. These are no just easy to make but frugal too.

Here's our fresh pear and organic millet breakfast with a dash of organic cinnamon powder from this morning.

Lessons from life

I always find such simple yet profound wisdom and truth in these words of Ronald Russell. It's something I want to reproduce and hang in our home as a constant reminder.

Product review: Substance - Nappy Rash Onitment

Bismillah

This post is mainly inspired by my life revolving around a baby these days. Its about a product I have been using for about 4 years now, and really feel I need to share its immense benefits we have had. Its like the only baby skin care  product I carry in my diaper bag. 

It works great for almost everything! I have used it for the kids on cuts, diaper rashes, sunburns, burns, mosquito bites, dry skin, irritation my daughter gets in her private because of swimming and for her . It is the only product we used on our son when he got circumcised . If you are like me and love good smelling things, you will simply love the way it smells.

It is however a bit on the expensive end but the way it works is a little goes a looong way. I have only bought it 2 times in over 4 years and still have enough to inshaa Allah last this whole year or more.

- We ask You O Allaah to protect our families for any evil in this World and the Hereafter, and to make them great thinkers and make us of those who fear You due to knowledge. Ameen.

Organic versus conventional food

A few weeks ago AR asked me "Mama what is the difference between organic and not-organic?" before going to bed. So I told him we learn about it tomorrow inshaa-Allah. So At night I looked up some simplified information that a 6 years old can understand. I knew and had a lot of resources and information but but not at a child's level. I didn't want to give him unnecessary information that he doesn't  need to know at his age. Of course some things are necessary and need to be known.a


Here is what we found for kids to learn about their food, where its coming from and what are our alternatives.

We read these 2 books Meet Pauly and Organic Farming. Alhumdulillah since it is getting slightly warmer here now we prepared our organic seeds for planting in our good soil. We also watched the following Youtube videos.

What is Organic?

Epipheo TV - What is organic? Fresh versus Processed

(I love Epipheo TV videos)

Organic in Ontario Canada

11 year old organic food activist 

Jamie Oliver

What Farmers can use instead of Chemical sprays

A day in the life of a farmer

 Potato Experiment 

We watched these two documentaries Home and Food inc. There are many more but for his age these were enough, even these I supervised and skipped some parts. Inshaa-Allah as the weather gets warmer we will be visiting and doing some hands on learning in the local organic farms.

If you know of any other resources please share with us.

Learning through real life

  "...‘How will they learn to read?’ you ask, and my answer is ‘Remember the lessons of Massachusetts.’ When children are given whole lives instead of age-graded ones in cellblocks, they learn to read, write, and do arithmetic with ease, if those things make sense in the kind of life that unfolds around them."

 – John Taylor Gatto

This has proven to be totally true for us. Mashaa Allaah on his on time and pace AR learned to write and read, and is still learning. He took his time to let things sink in and make sense to him. On the other hand H is already writing/copying letters and words wherever she sees them. Early learning is not our thing so I am just leaving it at that, not planning on pushing her into it.

Children learn on their on pace if they are provided the right environment to promote imagination, be creative and explore. They need boundaries to feel secure, they need us adults to show them how and what to do, they love to imitate. They look up to us to see how we deal with challenges of life and take on a positive role in our homes and communities. They need to see us turning again and again to Allah SWT and not to people when a difficulty arises. They need to see us following the sunnah, worshiping our Lord and reading the Quran, to know that this is what is most important in our lives... THIS is the purpose of our creation.

                     And I did not create the jinn and mankind except to worship Me.

Every  child should be given the freedom to learn on their on pace.... learning and gaining knowledge is like the vast oceans, the deeper one goes the more amazing things one finds and learns. Learning should not be restricted to books, and classrooms (although these are great and beneficial)... we can learn a lot without them too.

- We ask You O Allaah to protect our families for any evil in this World and the Hereafter, and to make them great thinkers and make us of those who fear You due to knowledge. Ameen.

Long time no seee

Bissmillah (In the name of Allah)

Its been a loooong time. I really feel a part of me missed blogging, and a part had not time to think. Alhumdulillah we are well settled with our new addition and managing home, fun and learning.

Inshaa Allah (God willing) hoping to be back in the blogging world and to inspire and get inspired (by the Permission of Allah).

Until next post...

- We ask You O Allaah to protect our families for any evil in this World and the Hereafter, and to make them great thinkers and make us of those who fear You due to knowledge. Ameen.