Lock-down Stories Finale

The lock-down is being gradually lifted from all around the world. There's a chaos not only in everyone's life, but also in everyone's heart. Nobody knows what the future hold. Will there be a vaccine soon? How are we going to survive this unforeseen recession? Would our lives ever go back to normal? Is there a worse to come?... and many more.

We sit our children in the car, and take them out for a ride, and they're happy just to have stepped out. We don't let them get out, we don't let them open the windows, and they're still all giggly because they're looking at a wider skies..

And then I read news about how the Earth has started to self-heal itself. Its been a mere 2 month, and the Earth is healing off the damage caused in over 5 decades by the billions of people day-in and day-out. We've extracted, over-confused, and wasted every possible natural resources. We're piling up tons and tons of garbage every single day - and it took only over 60 days that the Earth started to revive and to heal. There's no wild-fire to hear about in Amazons or in Australia, Zero air pollution in densely populated cities around the world, the beaches are cleaner than ever accommodating sea-life that has stopped stepping on land (google about Leather-back turtles). Every day I read something about nature harmonizing itself, and I wonder if this is really a curse or a blessing in disguise. I smile watching the videos of penguins, and reindeer, horses, big cats, taking a leisure stroll around closed-down cities and just going about their live. The Earth's seismic activity has slowed down since.
We're doing everything the same, but going out of our houses, and the World is already a better place. and before the lock-down is completely over, give it a little thought; we're experiencing how to lead a better future, we shouldn't go on forgetting it all.. As much as we need to heal off COVID-19, we need the #Earth to breath too, as there's no another one however far you look into the space.

Peace out 💗

Lock-down Stories Part 4

The Forty Rules of Love [Elif Shafak]

KONYA, AUGUST 17, 1245

Late in the afternoon, I took out the Qur'an hanging on the wall, determined to study it on my own. In the past, Rumi and I had always followed the order in which the verses were handed down to us, but now that there was nobody guiding me and our live had been turned topsy-turvy, I saw no harm in reading without an order. So I haphazardly opened a page and put my finger on the first verse that came up. It turned out to be al-Nisa, the one verse in the whole book that has troubled me the most. With its unpromising teachings on women, I found the Nisa hard to understand and harder to accept. As I stood there reading the verse one more time, it occurred to me to ask for help. Rumi might be skipping our lessons, but there was no reason I couldn't ask him questions. So I grabbed my Qur'an and went to his room.

To my surprise, instead of Rumi I found Shams there, sitting by the window with a rosary in his hand, the dying light of the setting sun caressing his face. He looked so handsome I had to avert my eyes.

"I'm sorry," I said quickly. "I was looking for Mawlana. I'll come later"

"Why the rush? Stay," Shams said. "You seem to have come here to ask something. Perhaps I could be of help."

I saw no reason no to share it with him. "Well, there's this verse in the Qur'an that I find a bit hard to understand," I said tentatively.

Shams murmured, as if talking to himself, "The Qur'an is like a shy bride. She'll open her veil only if she sees that the onlooker is soft and compassionate at heart." Then he squared his shoulders and asked, "Which verse is it?"

"Al-Nisa," I said. "There are some parts in it where men are said to be superior to women. It even says men can beat their wives..."

"Is that so?" Shams asked with such exaggerated interest that I couldn't be sure whether he was serious or teasing me. After a momentary silence, be broke into a soft smile and out of memory recited the verse.

"Men are the maintainers of women because Allah has made some of them to excel the others and because they spend out of their property; the good women are therefore obedient, guarding the unseen as Allah has guarded; and (as to) those on whose part you fear desertion, admonish them, and leave them alone in the sleeping-places and beat them; then if they obey you, do not seek a way against them; surely Allah is High, Great."

When he finished, Shams closed his eyes ad recited the same verse, this time in a different translation.

"Men are the support of women as God gives some more means than others, and because they spend of their wealth (to provide for them). So women who are virtuous are obedient to God and guard the hidden as God has guarded it. As for women you feel are averse, talk to them suasively; then leave them alone in bed (without molesting them) and go to bed with them (when they are willing). If they open out to you, do not seek an excuse for blaming them. Surely God is Sublime and Great.

"Do you see any difference between the two?" Shams asked.

"Yes I do," I said. "Their whole texture is different. The former sounds as if it gives consent to married men to beat their wives, whereas the latter advises them to simply walk away. I think that is a big difference. Why is that?"

"Why is that? Why is that?" Shams echoed several times, as if enjoying the question. "Tell me something, Kimya. Have you ever gone swimming in a river?"

I nodded as a childhood memory returned to me. The cold, thirst-quenching streams of Taurus Mountains crossed my mind. Of the younger girl who had spent many happy afternoons in those streams with her sister and her friends, there was now little left behind. I turned my face away as I didn't want Shams to see the tears in my eyes.

"When you look at a river from a distance, Kimya, you might think there's only one watercourse. But if you dive into the water, you'll realize that there's more than one river. The river conceals various currents, all of then flowing in harmony and yet completely separate from one another."

Upon saying that , Shams of Tabriz approached me and held my chin between his two fingers, forcing me to look directly into his deep, dark, soulful eye. My heart skipped a beat. I couldn't even breathe.

"The Qur'an is a gushing river," he said. "Those who look at it from a distance see only one river. But for those swimming in it, there are four currents. Like different types of fish, some of us swim closer to the surface while others swim in deep waters down below."

Lock-down Stories Part 3

As a mom, I've always been told that its easier to handle a child as he gets older. Mohammad's gonna be 7 in a month but until recently, the only thing that could amuse him were Lego. While Ibrahim would rather trash Lego, than play with them. Its a tug-o-war that I as a parent always lose, and I have to end up with their whining than let them play with the blocks. During the past few winter breaks, we tried our hand on writing, sketching, photographing, etc. to figure out some other hobby, it went on a while but not long enough.

Anyhow, I had several books of Origami and Kids crafts, stocked up from "Big Bad Wolf" last year and I thought this free time was the best to introduce this new craft to Mohammad. After a few hiccups, Mohammad took off really well with Origami, and to my utter delight he already remembers lots of designs. As a mother this has been the most amazing feeling experiencing what a child can learn just by a little support. We even continued to do a little sewing and embroidery (that was meant to be continued but since E-learning has started, we're running pretty short of time.) As he's big on making vlogs, I taught its time I should also introduce him to the world of blogging, hence http://mohammaddiaries.blogspot.com came into existence. 

Everyday I've been reading posts by women feeling upto their brim, taking care of their children and their household. I would like to tell them to take a breath, give your children a break from yourself also, and let them explore a new direction. And when you're taking care of them, remember you're not just nourishing their bodies, but also their souls. Rather than trying to entertain them, engage them in some household responsibility, that they may not be able to do well, but they're still learning.

Advice # 5: The best advice my Mom gave to me,"Let the mess be, spend time with children!"

Advice # 6: Children are watching, even when we think they're not. They're understanding our reactions, even when we think they don't. They Love us back, even if we've thrown a few flings at them. Remember to give them respect & time as much as you demand it!..

Lock-down Stories Part 2

It is still a partial lock-down around this part of the world.

To start with closure of Nurseries; Ibrahim loves going to his preschool, but holidays still always felt more fun to him. Hence, he was very excited the very first week, while I was (being hopeful) trying to remind him that he'll be going back soon. First week was all fun & games and picking up Big Brother from school, and making new friends there (Ibrahim is my very social cub).

Next week, the schools were closed down earlier than expect, and that also for 4 weeks. Mohammad is old enough to indulge himself into something of interest, while Ibrahim still looks up to one of us, and it has already been 10 days of being off.. He started to wake up crying, followed by lots and lots of whining. No toy, no comfort food could get us out of that state of distress, and I kept feeling more miserable. One random day he started to remember his school friends and cried so loud that even I was surprised. Then I figured that if anybody can help him, it can be Mohammad. There was a bit of tweaks and tricks, and Mohammad finally took up the job. Call for a better days ahead of me.

Its almost 3 weeks for Ibrahim and 2 weeks for Mohammad being off. While I'm struggling with all I can to keep their routine in line.. We all feel the need of fresh air..

We're still not in a complete lock-down, but I've been pretty concerned with the deal about CoronaVirus since it all began as Ibrahim has already given me some pretty serious scares regarding his health, and now I try to keep an Eagle eye on even the tiniest of physical symptom possible. Right now, CoronaVirus is a MAJOR DEAL!!.

Advice # 3: Times are different for our children than it was for us. We used to have one TV in a common room; Each child now has a smart device in their hands. Its a tough time for everyone, so be patient and understanding of the other people living beside you.

Advice # 4: I repeat, its a tough time for everyone, that includes ourselves also. Just when I was breathing a little out of routine, I'm stuck back there again, cooking, cleaning, feeding, doing the dishes, aaaaaaaaaand REPEAT.
My Advice, cry it out, if you feel like it. There's no shame. There should be no shame. Mommies maybe tough, but they also need a shoulder to lean onto.

Lock-down Stories Part 1

I've been reading and watching videos of people expressing their anxiety while going through the (almost global) lockdown in their cities.. Each one of them is totally done with staying at home after a few days, while all I've just felt worried about was not to be able to find the exact food my kids like to eat (not about shortage, just missing a few items. Thats nothing more than just a kind of Mommy-Anxiety). We went to grocery twice trying to fill up in case of a total lock-down, and I couldn't make my mind to buy anything more than what we stock in our routine monthly grocery.

Let me clear that part also as to why stocking is a necessity with the highly contagious nature of CoronaVirus. We needed to fill up for atleast a few weeks, not because of shortage of food, but, to avoid going out again and again, to avoid getting in contact with crowded areas, and to avoid touching things on the shelves that might've been touched by 100s people before us.

My Advice # 1: Please if you're able to stock, get stuff for a couple of weeks (not hoarding your godowns)

My Advice # 2: Try not to hold your hand if you see a person in need, this is the time to act up and help! 

A fire kindled in my heart for as long as I could remember. From the times I belong, the idea was intangible. Nothing favored or fumed the flames but between everything it kept burning. I remember being made fun of, openly and in mumbled words.

I wanted to ride a horse. I wanted to rein the winds.

I'm 37 now (37 and a half to be precise) - and which favor of my Lord would I dare deny. Now 6 lessons down, I've been training to ride on a beautiful Arabian Mare.
After every lesson I feel the tiredness entering my bones, but a sense of peace I feel in my soul is beyond words. Beyond Words!!

P.s. Its been a struggle learning. But the One who's brought me this far, would take me to the end. Insha'Allah!!