Patriotism

August 31, 2013

By znjavid

When I was small we used to decorate our house with Pakistan flags on Independence Day and watch the flag hoisting ceremony on television with a sense of pride. As I grew up and learnt that we belonged to a sect that had been declared as non-Muslims by the constitution of the country I became disillusioned. I learnt that people from my community were persecuted, jailed and even murdered. My father was an honest and highly skilled officer of the Army but was not promoted because of his religious beliefs.

Three years ago we moved to Dubai for a better life for our son. I’ve taught him to answer ‘Pakistan’ when someone asks him where he’s from. He knows that his grandmothers live in Islamabad. He knows what the flag of Pakistan looks like and that the language spoken there is Urdu. But that’s about all. He was only 8 months old when we moved here so he doesn’t remember anything.

It makes me very sad to say this, but my husband and I both don’t feel any patriotism towards our country. If we had the opportunity to get the citizenship of another country we would take it. Anything for a better life for our son.

Other entries:

Weekly Photo Challenge: Sea

August 31, 2013

By znjavid

I have had many opportunities to take some nice shots of the sea such as of the Celtic sea from the Brittany region in France, the South China Sea from Langkawi, Malaysia, and the Andaman Sea from Phi Phi islands in Thailand. The sound of the waves crashing on the beach always has a calming effect on me.

Langkawi - Cable Car View III (2005.11.16)

However the photo I’d like to focus on is a little more personal. It was taken on our holiday to Maldives on a dolphin watching tour. As both my husband and I don’t know how to swim and the boat was really rocky we were afraid to let our son go out in the front part of the boat. However the man on the boat was kind enough to take my son out and I’m glad he did because he got to see dolphins in their natural environment.

Pingbacks:

Sneaky

August 30, 2013

By znjavid

The Daily prompts are very useful because thanks to them I manage to post something every day. OK it may not be award winning, but at least some people like it. I’ve been responding to the Daily Prompt regularly ever since I discovered it, even though sometimes I have to be a bit sneaky and write something other than what was asked for (A little Absurdity). (The really sneaky people are the ones found at the top of the pingbacks list with totally unrelated stuff!).

As a mother I have to be sneaky a lot of the times just to get things done. OK that itself was a sneaky statement. Let me be more honest. As a mother of an energetic and demanding 3 ½ yr old I often have to sneak off to blog, write, nap, heck even to go to the toilet. Somehow he always knows where I am and what I’m doing. Isn’t it supposed to be the other way round??

While I’m writing this my son has found me in the study and is now undoing his father’s shoe-laces. I’m not stopping him because well, he’s not bothering me is he? Sneaky huh?

Other entries:

A little absurdity

August 29, 2013

By znjavid

The last song I heard,

Was on the radio.

It was a bit absurd,

That too in Urdu.

Don’t remember at all,

What it was about.

So how do I recall

The third line? I doubt.

Oh Daily Prompt!

What do I do?

Do I write about

Something else for you?

Write for minutes fifteen,

To show some good speed,

Something serene,

For all of you to read.

Others who fared better:

An Asian bride

August 28, 2013

By znjavid

The last time I felt like a superstar was nearly 10 year ago on my wedding. My clothes had been designed by myself; the cloth and embroidery carefully chosen and then hand embroidered by skilled craftsmen. My hair and make-up was done at a salon by a lady who had been more than 20 years in the business. I wore antique gold jewelry embellished with peridots specially designed to match my clothes. I didn’t have a movie made but there was a photo session with my husband. I remember the photographer told me to pose with my hand on my husband’s shoulder but I refused as I was too shy. On the reception I sat on a stage with my husband while all the guests looked on. Of course the bride is the star of the evening with everyone talking about her clothes and how she looks. I really enjoyed all the attention and the admiring looks.

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Motherhood Award

August 27, 2013

By znjavid

You are receiving an award –- either one that already exists, or a new one created just for you. What would the award be, why are you being honored, and what would you say in your acceptance speech?

I’m finally being recognized for my unpaid 24 hour on call job as a carer, teacher, nanny, driver, nurse and much more. My husband and my son have created the Motherhood Award just to thank me. I guess Mother’s day (one day in the whole year, c’mon?) just wasn’t enough.

The award itself is made of pink cardboard and red ribbon, drawn and colored by my son and cut out and written by my husband. The prize that goes with the award is that my husband will take care of my son for the day, while I go for some pampering at the spa, ice-skating (which I’ve always wanted to do but never managed to), a few hours of shopping for something nice for myself, followed by a dinner at a fancy restaurant where I can dress to kill.

For my acceptance speech I’m just going to say “Thank you for realizing I needed to be appreciated.”

Ok now I’m off to make my husband read my post 🙂

Other entries for this Daily Prompt:

A Surprising Act

August 27, 2013

By znjavid

When was the last time your child surprised you? An act of bravery or kindness perhaps?

Please comment on this post with your memoirs.

And here’s my story

Laughter is the best medicine

August 26, 2013

By znjavid

Do you consider yourself funny? What role does humor play in your life? Who’s the funniest person you know?

Laughter is the best medicine. I really believe that. When you’re down in the dumps and everything just puts you off, a good laugh can do wonders. I don’t consider myself a funny person, I can be quite serious most of the time but occasionally I do get the odd comment “Oh you’re too funny!”

Some people manage to see the lighter side of things even in serious situations. When a doctor told my grandmother that with every cigarette she smokes she lessens her life by 5 minutes, she remarked “I’d rather have the cigarette than the 5 minutes!”

I read somewhere that seeing someone smile stimulates your brain with pleasure the same as eating 2,000 chocolate bars or receiving $25,000 cash. Well if I get the cash I’ll be smiling all the way to the bank!

My husband is away during the week as his job takes him to another country but when he comes back it’s really funny to see my son with him. It’s like a mix of a wrestling match, karate and a tickling session.

These days it’s my son who keeps me laughing:

We were talking about how Bollywood (Indian) movies have songs and dances. When my son heard this he said excitedly “I also know an Indian song, ‘One little, two little, three little Indians, four little, five little, six little Indians….'”

Another time I asked him to explain his naughtiness, “What are you doing??” I said. “I’m doing what I’m doing!” is the cheeky reply I got.

At school he was learning about the five senses. “The eyes are for seeing, the nose is for smelling, the ears are for listening, the hands are for touching…” “And what is the tongue for?” I asked. “For sticking out!” he answered.

Not wanting to go to school one day, he told our maid, “You can go to school, I’ll clean the house!”

Life is just so colorful with him around.

And now for some pingbacks…

A Poem for my son

August 25, 2013

By znjavid

Just wrote this for my son. Will read it tomorrow to him when he wakes up.

A Matter of Mater

One day t’was too hot,

To go out to play.

So my Mama brought

A little rabbit to stay.

The rabbit was white

With small bits of black;

Wasn’t it a sight

Running on the track?

The track of the trains,

Of Wilson and Koko,

Thomas and James,

Get ready set GO!

The track was an eight

For the trains to run

But rabbit went straight

What a lot of fun!

And then Mama asked,

“What will you name him?”

“Mater!” I stated

“Is the best name for him.”

My Mama asked why,

I said “There’s no doubt,

The reason is simply

His teeth are sticking out!”

Check these out too:

I Am – A Poem (KraftedKhaos)

Secret of Success – Effort (Flowers and Breezes)

Key to Success

August 25, 2013

By znjavid

My father taught me that the key to success is honesty, accepting your responsibilities and sheer hard work. I try to instill the same qualities in my son by giving him small chores like helping with the groceries, watering the plants or cleaning up his mess himself. When his dad is not around I tell him to be the man of the house and if I have to call the repairmen for something, to supervise them. He feels very important when I tell him that and he follows the repairmen around telling them what needs fixing!

Honesty, I feel is a quality children already possess. (In fact they have to be taught discretion like not to point to a person and ask “Is that a bald man?”, “Is that a fat man?”)