Generation TV

So, as some people know…We don’t have satellite TV at home. We just never got it installed and have lived without it.

The other day, at work…one of the ladies was talking about a new turkish soap opera and mentioned that I should watch it…apparently the guy is super dreamy. So, I informed her that I don’t have tv and she was shocked. Her response was “disconnected family” or something to that effect. I’m horrible at Arabic to English translation. I’m sure it was meant as a joke but I just paused to think about it.

Is a TV what keeps a family together? I mean, I usually thought that the TV was what kept families from talking, communication, sharing, enjoying each others company…not kept them together…but silly me.

I know that people crowd around the tv to watch Arab Idol or whatever other shows are out there…I guess, I just don’t really care for that stuff. 

What also is bothersome is the effect of tv that I have seen on my kids at school. The way they speak, the things they believe and just their ability to be mesmerized by any thing that is put on the projector. It truly does amaze me. I don’t think that is what I want my future children growing up with. I think a house without a tv or satellite is a house that spends time together…but then again, what do I know?

Or maybe I do know and people around me don’t. 

28 years and counting

I have recently turned 28. Yep, I’m getting older and closer to 30 (Yikes!) I’m not sure what scares me more…the fact that 30 is so near or that I don’t feel like I accomplished all that I wanted before 30. 

But in birthday tradition (a little late this year). I want to share 28 things I am thankful for. 

1. Allah 

2. Mr. Chemistry

3. Viber

4. Friends

5. Summer time

6. my home

7. My family

8. baking

9. my computer

10. being strong

11. laughter

12. stories

13. my kindle

14. books

15. Memories

16. Photography

17. My students

18. Beautiful Jordan

19. America

20. Air Planes

21. Tears

22. the world wide web

23. Ice cream

24. love

25. Jokes

26. the future ahead

27. Movies

28. the ability to laugh at myself

This list has changed over the years. I’m not the same person I was last year or the year before…but some things haven’t changed. Check out the old birthday posts, here, and here

Bring on the 28! 

I prefer a broken neck…

I love def jam poetry and this is one of the most powerful ones I have seen. I think we sometimes forget that nothing can replace time spent with our children and the love we give them. 

Some people just don’t seem to get that. 

 

I hope to be a good mom someday…InshAllah. 

What are we teaching our kids?

This question has been popping up a lot lately. “What are we teaching our kids?” I have been noticing that I have had a lot of issues with my kids lately.

I have had kids repeating what their parents are saying but not only that using threats to get their way which makes you wonder what is being said at home.

but it’s not just something I see at school, in other places as well.

Today, Mr. Chemistry and I were out to lunch and in came a mother, 2 boys and their maid (I mean, come on…she has 2 kids!) Anyways, they sit down…order and the mom gets a phone call. She says something to the lady on the line about coming to her house…or something (yes, I was eavesdropping) and then gets up, goes to her car and drives off. Doesn’t say anything to the maid, waiter or the kids. Just. leaves. without. the. kids. LEAVES! 

but the thing that kills me the most was the kids didn’t even notice. It’s like who cares? She left? The kids were young, too. I would say between 7 and 10. I just can’t imagine ever leaving my children in a restaurant without saying a word to the staff or the help or just LEAVING them. Period. 

What is this mother teaching her children? Mommy doesn’t care? She has more important things to do? Why would we want to teach our children that?

Why?

I wish I knew. 

Having children is a privilege not a right, a gift from Allah that not everyone is blessed with and like all gifts they should be cared for, treated with respect and above all we should thank Allah for giving us this gift, not throwing it away. I hope I never forget that. 

I’m funny.

My kids melt my heart every stinking day. There are days when I just want to give up but then days like today and this past week that make you think “Yep, I can do this.” 

Yesterday one of my kiddos commented after I dropped the bottle of hygiene and made a funny face that I am funny and should have my own show. The rest of the kids chimed in and decided that it would be “Samar’s funny show” Yes, my kids are creative (What about it?) Which makes me think, I do make a difference and hey…7 year olds think I’m funny! Which I have announced to the world, btw. I tell Mr. Chemistry this all the time and now I have proof! 

Who doesn’t want to be funny?

 

 

7 year old logic

A couple of days ago, I was having some issues with my kiddos at school. They started this bad habit of erasing on their chairs and keeping the shavings. It got to the point that they would sit on the edge of the chair, leaning toward their erasing and erase with their hand sort of behind their backs in a way only a 7-year-old can do. I usually caught them and made them throw out their hard work. (Yes, I’m cruel.) The other day it just became too much to handle and I decided to have a little chat with the kiddos about it.

I explained that we should not waste our parents money by erasing and the fact that Allah gave them talents and that they should not be wasted on this kind of thing. I also threatened with the infamous “black dot” on our behavioral charts. 

So, one of my biggest perpetrators of this issue got on board with my chat and was telling me how he had missed half the work we were doing because he was too busy erasing, how they knew that their parents didn’t want them to do this, it’s a waste of time and it has no purpose. So, I thought “Hey, you got through to them! Way to go!” with a mental pat on the back.

Boy, was I wrong.

Not minutes after I finished my talk, did they start sharpening all their pencils and kept the shavings. They then informed the Arabic teacher that Ms. Samar told us that we can’t erase anymore but she didn’t say anything about sharpening. I’m sure their logic was “Well, my pencil needs to be sharpened and it’s not wasteful!”

It just made me laugh, because it’s so true. I just love how their little minds work. I love that they find ways to work around a problem instead of just giving up. I just wish they applied this same logic to their studies. I’m sure they will, someday. 

Until then, they will find ways to work around my “rules”. 

3 generations.

3 generations of women sat around the table making stuffed grape leaves. It was a labor of love and family togetherness. This was the scene at my grandma’s house a couple of nights ago. My grandma, aunt and myself all sat around making stuffed grape leaves for a lunch I was hosting. My aunt and grandma telling me to put less rice, roll more tightly or that I was doing a great job and catching on well. It was a labor of love on their part and I got stuffed grape leaves to show off to my guests and eat, of course.

It is so wonderful to have these moments with my family. I feel like knowledge is imparted over a shared activity that can’t be given any other way or time. Advice on the best way to make the dish, advice on how to cook it and not just that…it’s a time to share stories. My grandma talked about traditions and how “other” people make the same dish. We laughed about stories that everyone shared. Discussed the latest news in the family and of course caught up on the latest Turkish soap operas.

I still believe that nothing tops my grandma’s cooking but I can learn. 

I cherish these moments with my family, it’s a powerful experience. I just wish I remembered to take pictures.