What If They Are Behind?

Does this sound familiar?  This thought often times creeps up in the back of my mind.  Even after 11 years of homeschooling.    After All in my previous post I had mentioned that it was a blessing if we were able to get Math & Reading done.

Yesterday I decided to do Islamic studies, as they always seem to get put on the back burner.  Me and the kids started discussing the blessings of being homeschooled.  My son Luqman who would be in 6th grade is, as I also stated before, very active in sports.  Therefore he is “Socialized” with his public school peers.  He told me that his fellow team mates have no clue what he is talking about when he  talks about some of the things he learns at home, because they haven’t learned it yet.  This made me feel so relieved, as I thought for sure he was behind.   Masha Allah, Allahu Akbar.

This is for those who have this thought, to give you hope and some relief Insha Allah.

Been a long time.

As salamu alaikum,

I know it has been a long while since I’ve been working on this.  I have really had a lot of tests these past couple of years.  This blog may be changing some of it’s tunes here.  As my attitude on life has changed some.   This year I looked back on my life and realized that I had been through a lot before I became muslim.  I never really dealt with the things I had been through.  I always stuffed them down and tried to laugh them off as this is how my mom dealt with life.  Had to toughen up that shell and don’t show what’s inside.  Anyways this blog is going to be more about my life experiences for awhile.  Both before and after Islam.  Some things may be a little tough to chew, but I am just trying to keep it real, as I hope that my experiences will help those who are going through it. Insha Allah

Your sister

Aminah

 

Our Year

As salamu alaikum wa rahmatulullah wa barakatuhu.

Sorry I haven’t really posted much here.  It has been a very busy, very stressful, and very difficult past year for me.  I have reached a point in my life where I have burnt out.  So I just want to tell YOU from one sister to another to please take care of YOU.  Take time out for YOU, make sure YOU are doing what needs to be done to keep YOU healthy, physically, mentally and spiritually. 

I think as women we tend to get everything thrown on us.  I think our spouses and children tend to forget that we are not robots but human beings.  So if your family treats you this way, my advice is to sit down and make them realize everything you do for them and how important you are.  What would happen tomorrow if you just disappeared?  What would happen if they had to do your job?  Do this before you do burn out and then everyone will have to take over your job as well as take care of you.  Anyways I don’t want to vent on here as that would not be fair.  I also want to say that if you have someone who appreciates you and everything you do for them then be grateful to Allah for that and show them the same in return.  May Allah help us to realize the importance that we are to one another and to realize our self-importance in caring for and raising the next generation of muslims.  Amin.

Workboxes Craze

Ok I’ve been researching this whole workbox craze and have decided to give it a try.  I just started today so we will see if it actually sticks for us, as everything is so disorganized for us right now.  Our house isn’t finished so we are currently doing school in my bedroom.  So it’s me, L, K, and Z 1year old now and in 2 months we will have another baby insha Allah so I’m just waiting to see what things will be like then. (Sigh)  

Anyways due to lack of space we are using hanging folders in crates.  I will keep you posted on how it works also Insha Allah.  Below are a list of sites that I have been checking out on the topic.

The first one is where I first heard about it all…

http://ummihomeschoolsme.wordpress.com/

http://docs.google.com/View?docID=dwstdgn_447mphsmf8&revision=_latest

http://heartofwisdom.com/blog/workbox-directory/

http://forum.homeschoolshare.com/viewforum.php?f=19

Neat Writing Idea For Reluctant Writers

Today me and my son (9) tried a new writing game idea I got from here .  It really did work for us.  He whines everytime I try to make him write so we did this idea and he couldn’t write enough.  Ofcourse we are very silly so we did do a silly, story but I will try to do something a little more serious at times too ….Maybe .  Anyways she mentions the book where she gets the idea.  I have already reserved that plus two others by the same person.  I will try to post reviews after I get to read them.  Insha Allah.  Hope Insha Allah this will help some of you as well as it has us.

SparkleBox Key Stage 2 – Fantastic FREE KS2 teaching resources to download and print

SparkleBox Key Stage 2 – Fantastic FREE KS2 teaching resources to download and print.

It Sure Has Been Awhile.

It’s been a long time since I’ve done anything here due to computer issues.  Well not a whole lot has been going on these past few months.  I’m pregnant again so I’ve been under the weather for a few months.  I am now in my second trimester so I’m feeling much better masha Allah.  Baby Zakariyaa  is almost a year masha Allah. We have started up homeschooling again.  Ofcourse we are taking things slow due to Ramadan, pregnancy, and chasing little one.  

Now that I have a computer again Insha Allah  I will try to post more.

Dusting Idea For Kids

I read this idea somewhere once, but if you have an old pair of cotton socks that you are throwing out give them to the kids to put on their hands and tell them to dust the furniture.  Watch them scatter to dust as much as possible.  The only dilema I have is they always argue about who will dust what.  sigh!  If you have any advice on this let me know!

The Things Kids Can Do

I think sometimes as parents we tend to underestimate what our children can do.  I know I have been guilty of thinking mine are to young to do certain tasks, only to be proven wrong.  My 6 and 8 year old actually do a lot of things.  Especially since my pregnancy and child birth.  Some of the things they can do are;

In the Kitchen they can

1. sweep and mop floor
2. wipe down cabinetts, fridge, stove.
3. they can shred cheese, butter bread, make toast pretty much anything (I don’t let them cook or handle knives).

In The Bathroom they can,

1. Clean the floor, toilette and sink, empty garbage, wipe down walls.  I don’t let them do the shower since we use a heavy duty cleaner. (I usually have them clean with bakingsoda or vinegar)

They can also

1.  make their own beds
2.  vacuum
3.  my 8 yr old can do laundry. 

Don’t underestimate what they can do.  They may surprise you.  It also helps to get them started as early as possible.  I learned my  lesson with my oldest.

Alhamdulillah for his blessings

Baby is 5 Months

They grow to fast don’t they?  Having a new baby is tiring, stressful, you can’t get nothing done, the house is a mess, the laundry is piling up as well as the dishes, but in the end when they smile at you, you just want them to stay that way.  I thought I was finished having children six years ago.   Then Zakariyaa came along and now I want 2 more. 

Allah is so Great.  Throughout my pregnancy and giving birth and now raising the new one, Allah has proven to me his mercy.  Eventhough I complained, whinned and moaned through it all.  Allah forgive me.

My children have been a great help.  This baby is so spoiled.  He hasn’ t received no less than 100 kisses a day as well as hugs.  Alhamdulillah!  May I never complain again about Allah’s blessings.