Journalism, a way of life.

He cried.
He cried while I was interviewing.

He was hungry.
He was hungry and I couldn't feed him while I was on the phone.

He was cold.
He was cold and I couldn't hold him as I completed the interview.

Journalists have to ignore life.
They have to ignore real life to get to facts.

Facts take up time.
Facts help people.

Journalists have to make sacrifices.

They have to lock themselves up in rooms.
They talk on the phone at undesired times.
They go to places they would've otherwise not have entered.

Journalists are truth-seekers, people "savers," investigators.

Best of all, journalists are human beings.
Human beings who ignore their life to get to a message.

A clear message -- is it worth family sacrifice?
Is it worth letting the baby cry?
Is it worth the few cents you get while spending hours?

Journalism, the cost of life.

Respect, mercy and paradise

Have mercy, respect others

The Messenger of Allah (may Allah bless him and grant him peace), said,"He who does not have mercy on our young, and does not respect our elders is not of us (Tirmidhi).

Who are the most honored?

"Those who control their anger and are forgiving towards people; Allah loves the good." (Qur'an, 3: 134)

"Pardon them and overlook - Allah loves those who do good" (Qur'an 5:13)

The good deed and the evil deed cannot be equal. Repel (the evil) with one which is better (i.e. Allâh ordered the faithful believers to be patient at the time of anger, and to excuse those who treat them badly), then verily! he, between whom and you there was enmity, (will become) as though he was a close friend.

The man of paradise, forgave others.

The Messenger of Allah was seated in a gathering with the Sahabah when he looked towards the entrance and said, “A man of Paradise is coming."

At that instance someone who seemed to be very ordinary entered the mosque where they were seated. A Sahabi was curious as to why the Prophet said this, so he followed the man to his house.

This Sahabi told the man that he was a traveler and stayed as a guest. For three days the Sahabi saw nothing unusual, so he finally told the man what the Prophet had said and asked him what was so special. The man thought for a long time and said,

“There might be one thing — before going to sleep every night I forgive everyone and sleep with a clean heart."

She and I.

She runs downstairs on Sunday mornings to shine up the dishes, using Clorox bleach. One after the other, she puts teacups, saucers and small plates into a big white round plastic bowl of water, bleach and soap suds.

While she lets them soak, she scrubs the kitchen stove, sweeps the floor, pulls out the mop and gives the refrigerator a few wipes. If she has time, she will examine the microwave as well.

Her morning may start at 8 a.m., or 9. It always ends by 11 a.m., when she heads to the mosque to learn a few more things on how to carry out her life.

She has three kids; one infant, a toddler and a kindergartner.

---

I wake up and pray. I feed my son and fall back asleep. When I awake, I examine my to-do list for the day and debate how much time I have before going to the mosque.

I trail downstairs around 9:30 a.m., start breakfast, as the rest of the family is about done. I make rice, vacuum unless it's been done and make rice for the family. I feed my son, then clean the dishes and finally stomp upstairs to help my husband on his files before getting ready to go to the mosque.

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On other days, I come from school, change my clothes and decide what to do first: feed son or start homework. Usually I take care of my son first.

I eat, pray and finally sit down on my laptop or prop open a book to read.

The doorbell rings. Someone comes over. I decide how to get through my next task.

Should I go downstairs, clear the room, or continue my work?

How shady will it be to ignore the visitor, who I have probably ignored in the past to do homework, simply to avoid gossip or work that will push back my to-do list.

On the other hand, she takes out the snacks, that she made while either staying up late or waking up early on weekdays.

I fry the snacks. I make (or pour)the tea. I wash the dishes. She entertains the guests.

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There's free time on weekdays, where the family sit and talk. I stay in my room, locked up partly avoiding extra tasks or not wanting to waste time that I may not have later.

My priorities start with my son, end up with school and finish with family. I can't seem to shift the pyramid upside down.

And still, I go to bed later than them.

(Stock Xchange photography)

School-aged children, curriculums.

What kids should know: rough curriculum for school-aged children.

Public School system
http://www.worldbook.com/wb/Students?curriculum

Top Michigan Elementary Schools:
http://www.schooldigger.com/go/MI/schoolrank.aspx?pagetype=top10

Full Islamic School Curriculum:
http://www.islamicedfoundation.com/islam/newpage3.htm

Sound Vision, sample for weekend school:
http://www.soundvision.com/Info/syllabus/

Islamic Weekend Learning curriculum (grades 7, 8, 10)
http://www.weekendlearning.com/curric.html

Blurbs.

(Google images)


New Baby

The 6 lb. 2 oz. newborn moves his head from side to side, peering at his new room, although he can barely see.

His mother lays next to him, stiff with pain. Her feet are swollen. She's in the hospital again.

The newborn tags along for his first ride since his trip home on Thursday.

Husband

The hours never end. From 8-5, from 6-10. Counting, waiting, sometimes ignoring, I spend my days.

I sit in the other room doing my assignment, baby on my lap sleeping or eating, while I try to multitask.

Today I avoided the dishes in the kitchen sink. I cut my finger and it stings. Forget formalities.

Naturalization

Naturally the naturalization process for U.S. citizenship is hard to pass, especially if English is not your language. Tomorrow my mother-in-law is going for her interview.

Hope it goes well, the officers aren't rude and she is able to recall some the answers.

Busy

Of course I knew people would be coming over after the baby came home. I knew they'd come when I least expected or wanted them to.

So how do you say, "Please don't come over." Or, "I have homework and I can't do it while you're here," either because it's rude or "I can't concentrate with a handful of people walking around my house."

Neither can I feed my baby, eat in front of other people without offering food, make tea, and conduct an interview at the same time.

I need to get things done.