The Gang
A Bit About Us & Why We Do What We Do
We are a Muslim family of three four five based in West Lafayette (Indiana), Milwaukee (Wisconsin), Singapore, Islamabad, Pakistan.
My husband and I parent Ms M (aka Ms Muffet aka Marzipan aka Mars) aged 8+ 10 and Bear (aka Cookie) aged 5 7 and Peep (aww he’s just a little baby!) in the way that we feel is best for our family. Some of our decisions may seem out of the ordinary, but they are working fine for us alhamdulillah.
I’m a stay-at-home mum and am homeschooling Mars, Bear and Peep in shaa Allah for as long as I can possibly manage. There are times when I question my abilities and have anxiety attacks every once in a while! It never ends I think… comes with the parenthood territory.
Some folks feel that I am wasting my education and skills. Others think that my husband and I are too extreme in our views – “What?! No music? No TV? No SCHOOL?” – and believe we’ll soon run out of steam and come to our senses. Still others think we are mad, malevolent scientists experimenting on our kids. *evil grin*
I have been asked what I do “all day” and I have also been asked when I will put my children in school and “go back to work”. Well, the truth is, there are days when I miss the exciting things I used to do and the interesting people I met at work, but I don’t regret one moment of my new career.
Alhamdulillah, I don’t feel like tearing my hair out on most days. *S* Allah has made things easy and most of all, a joy. I was there when Mars gave her first giggle… I was there when Bear said her first word… I get to witness the sisterhood grow. Most of all, I feel blessed that I am able to use my abilities for other than myself. I am building my family and I have more time to serve the community with a few pet projects I have close to my heart. All in all, I am actually having a blast with my very awesome kids and I cannot thank Allah enough for giving me this honour and privilege.
I thought it would be fun for me to keep track of the little things I do with Mars and Bear as they grow and learn with this blog. I hope you enjoy reading and will share your experiences with me as well… I know I could do with some help and support!
So, when will I “work” and what do I do “all day”? I AM working… and I am very busy, making memories.
The story of mine you found and loved, “The Mountain That Loved a Bird,” is one I increasingly long to share everywhere; it tells about the power of loving friendship. I like to think that love can be more powerful than hatred. To have found your website feels to me like sunshine breaking through on a cloudy day. How easily friendship would grow between us, if we could meet!
Alice McLerran
March 1st, 2011 at 9:07 am