Yes, it is official, school has begun, summer is winding down-cooler breezes, rainy days and nights, soon leaves will begin to change.
With six children and myself in school, our kitchen/dining room table is always covered in books, notebooks, writing utensils, and other miscellaneous school paraphernalia. Evenings are always fun. I try to figure out what to feed the kids as I am directing them to start on their home work, all within minutes of herding them through the front door. Laith and Sara (my 11 and 13 year olds) are terrific about settling down to work on their assignments. Omar, my 9 year old, is getting better but still needs to be re-directed every now and then. Our darling 7 year old, Salah, is the real challenge these days. He is always wanting to do anything and everything but sit down and do worksheets or reading.
Can you imagine the atmosphere? The TV is blaring in the front room because the man of the house wants to watch something. Sara is in her room studying away. Laith in his room cracking his books. Salah is running all over the place. Omar is generally avoiding his work. Then there is little Ali tugging at my clothing as I am trying to cook and bark out orders to Omar and Salah in a distracted effort to get them to settle down and work on their studies-all while trying to address Ali's concerns. Alhamdullah (all praise is for Allah- the creator).
I know I am not the only one whose evening looks like this. I also know that I am going to someday miss it all-at least that is what the older women say. In the meantime, I will muddle through the school year, always struggling to stay ahead of the next urgent matter- dinner, homework help, laundry, my own homework for my classes, and anything else you can think of.
Alhamdullah the kids are really trying to work with me and help in the house work. I always explain to them it is a TEAM effort to keep the house live able. Sara helps with laundry and dishes, sometimes cooking. Laith is great at carrying laundry baskets up and down stairs- sometimes Omar pitches in as well. Laith is also the main person, much to his chagrin, to clean up the boys room. He waits for the day he will have his own room, free of his brothers and their clutter. Omar also helps to clean the boys room but usually on his own and not when asked. Salah and Ali, well they are pretty much the shoe straighteners of the house hold and although they could do much more I am sure, it seems they always get stuck with that and feeding the cat. Ali loves to do dishes and at times I will have him help. He prefers to manually wash the dishes instead of the dishwasher and thereby showering the entire counter top with sudsy water. Alhamdullah.
On the rare occasion I have time and we are all not being rushed, all the children LOVE to help prepare our meals. Salah and Ali are very good at mixing pancake batter and setting the table in anticipation of the pancake's syrup-smothered, buttery yumminess. Another meal favorite to help with is kabobs, where the kids get to cut up the veggies. This one does not happen often and hasn't happened in a LONG time. Every child gets to cut up their own vegetable of choice. Meat is usually left for the oldest ones. WOW, I am inspired, I will have to get the grill back from the lovely people who borrowed it and never returned it. Alhamdullah.
On a side note, with the beginning of school comes, this year, Ramadan. I am happy, yet a bit nervous at the coming of this blessed month. Nervous that I will have a hard time fasting due to health issues. May Allah make it easy, Ameen. May Allah increase our faith and continue to bless us all during this month and always.
School has begun, summer is almost gone, but before we know it, it will be winter break, then spring break, and BAM! SUMMER AGAIN...how I love the summer...
