I attended a qiyam at the local masjid a while back and left my daughter at home so that I could focus and get the most out of a spiritual event that – although it should – does not happen very often. As I went around, passing my salaams to friends and strangers alike I was asked over and over again, “Where’s your daughter?” to which I replied, “At home.” What followed was so funny and so telling; over and... Read more
I recently posed the question to my third grade students, “What makes you happy?” Anticipating answers such as, “my D.S.” or “silly bands”, I was surprised when they each answered something money couldn’t buy. “My family”, “watching the sunset”, “being with friends”, and “when my parents are proud of me”, were among the replies I received. I was impressed. So impressed in fact, that I decided we would write and publish a class book about what makes us happy. It... Read more
Many things remind me of fall. Stomping on crunchy leaves as a kid, volleyball practice as a high-schooler, and yams baking in the oven, always. These memories are cozy ones and are reignited as the humidity of summer is replaced with early morning dew. And maybe this one particular memory is so embedded in my mind because baba and I have made it tradition… Baba walks into my room. “I think you should put on a shirt that you don’t... Read more
Something trivial and maybe insignificant, but I was on a trip with a friend to a farm a while ago. She bought a couple of gourds and squashes, and I asked her what she was going to cook with them. She replied , “No, they’re for decoration.” For an instant, I was confused. My mind instantly associated the gourd decor with Halloween. But Alhamdulillah, I had a window of understanding opened, and a bit of stereotyping removed. I went... Read more
Wishing you and your families a blessed Eid Al Adha. Read more
Monday, November 15th is the blessed Day of Arafah, where millions of hajjis are standing on the great Mount Arafat supplicating to Allah for forgiveness and acceptance. Even though we may not be with them this year, we can still join in the great blessings of this day by fasting, increasing our remembrance of Allah and sharing joy and good will with our community. May you have a blessed Day of Arafa and a wonderful Eid. As Prophet Muhammed (pbuh)... Read more
Dear mothers and sisters, Ramadan was a fleeting visitor that vanished as suddenly as it appeared, leaving us with sweet memories and mountains of reward or regrets. The month left us heart-broken, each for our own reasons. Some of us missed out on the great month, failing to invest in its nights and days. Others savored every moment, growing closer to Allah and increasing their worship. In those few special days, we lived with Allah, the Generous, the Giving; only... Read more
To all the pilgrims headed and heading to Hajj this season, May Allah accept your Hajj! Hajj Mabrour! – GrowMama Team ————————————————————————————————– In the nick of time, he grabbed my arm. Earlier this past Ramadan, I had the opportunity alhamdulillah to perform ‘Umrah, and despite what seems so routine for the millions of Makkah-going Muslims, every visit to that blessed place holds a unique treasure from The Most Generous that is tagged explicitly for each one of His guests. This... Read more
The weather was cool. The day was perfect for walking, and we had already walked three miles. My twin girls were getting a bit impatient, but that was understandable. We had walked to the library that morning, and then headed for a park I had seen on the map. But as much as we walked, we never came to it, and we had already asked two people about it and they had never heard of it. So, knowing my two-years-old’s... Read more
In getting the house prepped for a baby I became mindful of dangers around the house. I could see how outlets were the perfect size for tiny fingers and therefore covered them. I understood that bottle caps could be unscrewed (generally by the gums) and the poisonous cleaning product contained, ingested; so I moved them to high cupboards and shelves. However there were things I wasn’t ready for, and have come to realize that danger lies around the... Read more
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