Hello Friend...

Ahhh yes, I feel that I've been ignoring my poor blog. So much has happened since the last post. Summers is finally here and so are water activates bbqs, trips, open toes, short sleeves, colorful bags and sun block! Iman is definitely enjoying the summer; I am trying to do as many activities outside as I can with her. Last weekend we went to the Children’s Museum and she had a blast. Her favorite word is "no", but she says that to any question you ask her. I think she recognizes the tone of a question and then she answers "no". I am doing my best to have her speak Urdu, but seems like the odds are against me. I only speak to her in Urdu (native Pakistani language), but so far she only seems to speak English words like "ball" and "no" and "Dora". I feel that it is soo important to know how to at least speak your native tongue; it has to do a lot with defining who you are and how you see yourself.

Growing up my father did not answer us if we spoke to him in English (although our mother would), but I am so glad that he did that, b/c otherwise we would have eventually lost practice and would have stopped speaking altogether.

The hubby does not speak Urdu, but he does to Iman, commands at least..like sit, stand up, come here, eat ..ECT. It’s truly delightful to me when he speaks Urdu. I don't say anything, as to not make it a big deal..but I am very happy that he sees the importance teaching Iman Urdu, although he does not speak it himself.

Anyway, enough baby talk. However, returning to culture. Recently, we went to an Islamic Muslim Picnic. A family friend went with us and chatted the whole way there (2 hour drive by the way..uggg) about how she does not allow her daughter to go to any school functions and how she is not allowed to go to any of her American friend's houses and how she restricts her in many aspects of her life (14 old daughter). Well, I agree that I want a Muslim culture and atmosphere for my child's life, with out a doubt. But, not being involved with school activities and not making friends of different cultures, religions, and backgrounds I feel is wrong. My experience with restrictions has been this, the more you restrict them the more they lash out and experiment and rebel when they get older. This is my theory: Because everything is new and fresh, they are curious..they want to go clubbing and want to drink and want to do all the things that were soo taboo when they were kids.

My parents provided us with an Islamic atmosphere, but did not restrict us from any school activities or things of that nature. Granted, we were never allowed to spend a night even at a Muslim friend's house, but we could always attend b-day parties and make up parties and stuff like that. I have to say, nothing was really a surprise when I got older and I was never tempted by alcohol and I always surrounded myself with positive people, and turned out okay. You just have to know your limits and parents have to realize, that yes, we are Muslim, but we are American too, and we live in an American society, therefore you have to make us aware and cautiously teach us what is wrong and right in American society, b/c it seems that when kids find out for themselves they are not able to differentiate what is right and wrong and are tempted to experiment with the wrong.

Okay, let me get off my soap box.
It is so hot here in NY. But I am enjoying every minute of it. It seems that everything good to eat in the summer, like ice cream, frappucinnos and fruits seem to irritate my tummy, I am hoping my tummy learns to adapt to the flavorful fruits of the summer and behaves.

Well, this entry was longer than I had planned...will definitely try to make time to write more often. Today, I discovered that I DO have a small audience, which is awesome..SUCCESS! So will try harder to make time to write.

Blog on..Bloggers.