I am back..

but had some sort of virus/ exhaustion from trip to UK combination that have been doing the bare essentials recently.


Here's some photos from the trip:


Dartford bridge, and substantial traffic, which in fact was relatively light compared to some parts of the motorway, that's what too long in Sweden does to you. Admittedly it was mostly moving but bumper to bumper gets me very worried. People do drive like that here sometimes but why,when ther's so much spaaaace? More grey clouds, weather rainy throughout trip, Alhamdulillah.

View over London from bridge. Went over 2 toll bridges during trip, but still felt cheap compared to Öresund bridge.

A glimpse of blue sky above the clouds courtesy of Easy-Jet, and what beautiful clouds, mashaAllah.

I think there might be some more interesting pics on DH's camera but whether they'll evr make it to the blog is another matter. Anyhow the trip was not for sightseeing but to visit friends and family, so of course for the sake of anonymity they won't be on here..

My Mum managed to help M to read some of the small books in her reading scheme, they climbed a Welsh mountain and nearly got blown off it (while I tucked up in bed for the afternoon). Biryani found a love for stairs, which meant someone was on constant baby-watch in houses without stair-gates. Saw babies and children all growing up fast, mashaAllah.

Had the biggest family room ever in one hotel, I mean to have floor space left after all of us must mean it was large.

As for today, have been trying to peel boys and their friend away from flickering screens to no avail. Weather still rainy, and even when I took them to the main library, they headed straight to the computers there. What about books, literature, the written word on paper?. I do think these machines should have restricted access in libraries but maybe I'm old-fashioned, maybe eveything will be on-line and bookcase manufacturers will be out of a job (I hope not). Still you're reading this on the screen...

Kids had a bit of a run-about in the park where there were some very hungry ducks, geese and mosquitos. (Yes I was in charge of 4 boys and a baby, the part-time single-mom)

Scout camp hurrah, no dib dib, we're in Sweden

There’s still one carrier bag full of stuff left to unpack and can’t find the shower gel we took with us, but finally shall try to recall some of last weekend’s activities. (brain pretty numb as scout camp always involves lack of sleep, plus not sleeping till after Fajr as its so early, plus Biryani having a cold and waking what seems like every 5 mins).

But on a positive note the summer hols means can wake without my mobile’s alarm cuckooing at an unearthly hour. M informed me that the big hand was ‘between the 2 and 3’ and the little hand near the nine when I lazily asked him to check the time.
But back to camp. This year I did not have the bliss of ignorance as regards ‘fästing’ (ticks) so this was at the forefront of my mind throughout. Not for the faint-hearted here's a pic. The first year I went I was ignorant of these little minibeasts, but now know they are v common in Swedish forest and if not removed promptly can have nasty complications. So trousers were tucked into socks and insect spray liberally applied. (The herbal one without the DDT still stank to bits though) In fact there were no myggs this year, maybe cos of rain and in the end only H had one suspect one behind his ear, and DH had one crawling amongst his arm hairs but got it before it bit.
Weather was very rainy on the first day so indoor activites mostly. When it cleared there were lots of pretend battles, weapons easily available with all the sticks lying about. The defending of Sarajevo may have been re-enacted (with the help of S’s friend from Bosnia) or else Darth Maul beat Darth Vader, who knows. Lots of fires were made in the indoor and outdoor fireplaces and had a barbq in the drizzle. The fire drill went very well, one of the sisters doing a very realistic impression of someone terrified because the kitchen was ablaze. S spent most of the day making grilling sticks by carving sticks with a knife. On the second day the weather picked up and I managed to avoid again the morning exercise session. We had a crafty afternoon making boxes out of coloured thick paper, which M much enjoyed and he went on to give a demonstration of this at the Muslim playgroup a few days after.
Biryani and H did a good impression of cling-ons and wondering if better to stay at home with them next year.
BTW Biryani now stands quite capably and can get up to standing from sitting. She’s done a couple of steps walking (more like falling) so we’re on the home straight for another biped.

Manly wood-carving

H's view of the camp

A good roaring fire, what you need in the middle of June in Sweden

The outside of the dining room and some beautiful forest, mashAllah

have been on scout camp

and the summer holidays are here, yipee, no more early starts.
However have still got to unpack so, inshaAllah will write more later plus pics

tagged

I’ve been tagged by EF, and:


“…The rules are simple…Each player lists 8 facts/habits about themselves. The rules of the game are posted at the beginning before those facts/habits are listed. At the end of the post, the player then tags 8 people and posts their names, then goes to their blogs and leaves them a comment, letting them know that they have been tagged and asking them to read your blog….”





1. I need 10 hours of unbroken sleep a night to feel 'normal' and I haven't had this for about 10 years


2. I am really getting into gardening as much as it can be done on a 12 ft by 4ft balcony, in fact I am actually looking forward to retiring, unless I'm a homeedding grandma (inshaAllah(there is a network out there for one I think!)


3. I would love to own a cat and a horse. The former gives DH asthma and the latter is out of my ability price wise and space wise plus riding with a jilbab hmm well I spose I could find a sidesaddle, the sahabiat managed on camels somehow?


I used to horseride regularly as a child, with a mix of terror and excitement. The stable owners were a bit strange and took us on some wild gallops through the Kent countryside. Also had to wait ages to be picked up, oh the childhood memories, and so I always feel bad when late picking up my little ones. Once there was a mix up picking me up from school and my teacher had to walk me home, that memory always sticks, a 5 year old is pretty scared of being deserted.


4. I often dream of toilets especially school ones and they're always too dirty to use, or no water, or no door or privacy or tissue paper available, so I never go LOL ie I need to wake up and go to the bathroom, and school toilets have infiltrated my sub-consciousness.


5. I love and hate childbirth. It's very exciting and since I read one of Ina May's books and actually willed the pain on. Still hate pushing out bit and wish they'd just fall out. Usually I just want to give up and run home, but du'as seriously help at this point. And then the few hours afterwards is my favourite time as I only have a sleepy newborn to take care of and I have every excuse to do NOTHING.


6. I don't watch films anymore, if I have time to watch something an hour or more long then I have time to sleep (plus most stuff is ,islamically, rubbish).


7. I've started also loving baking and bread-making, and wince as I fork out so much for the bread here, but time is lacking. One second to fling it in the trolley, 1hour to make home made, but oh kneading dough, luuurvrly.


8. Often wondering/ worrying how I can make time/ have energy to do more ibadah increase the quality of my ibadah, Worrying about my accountability for my kids education, worrying about my non-muslim family and the consequences of kufr, worrying about time-wasting, I should stop now, basically worrying a lot.


my tag list:- muslim motherhood -muslim apple - bizzi educates at home -welovehomeed -trials of life - dictator princess- gori wives

Spelling, socks and some other stuff inbetween

Here's some things that have been going on over the last few weeks that I've finally got round to posting: S has done some 'surgery' on some of the smaller cloth animals, basically cutting parts of their 'skin' off and resewing it back on, one got a skin graft (piece of old cloth coloured to match the original skin). He's always been interested in sewing and decided to take it in to his own hands as I'm always fairly reluctant having needles and pins around young babes, but we survived. Anyhow I think I should let him get some more practice so future patients inshaAllah don't have big scars.
He's also shown a rare bookworm impression when his Exo-force chapter books arrived and were devoured in 2 days, not even wanting to play on the resurrected X box. It is a question of finding the right material to get them interested. Today did a spelling session on the 'ay' sound and I got some words from one of the aforementioned books and he did quite well. 'Dangerous' was a bit tricky as he spelt it as he said it 'dandrous' however he got 'devastator' right which I have to think about!! (yes typical 9 year old boy stuff, can't interest him in Noddy or stuff I used to read!)
Hafsah who is now to be known in this blog as Biryani (nickname since she was little (rhymes with Punjabi for 'wise and 'queen' and the Pakistani culinary influence stuck) has a new interest in putting things together; Lego men heads on bodies, Lego helmets on heads, felt tip pen lids on pen, spoons in cups etc etc Still she thinks marbles plus mouth also make a fine match but equals Mum's heart rate increase due to potential choking.
She's begun to stand quite confidently now, and likes to practice, pulling up on the side of the cot and then falling down and then trying all over again. When I encourage her to take some steps she just laughs and throws herself forward assuming I will catch her, hope I don't get distracted by one of the other kids one day and she just falls on her face.
Had a very bad night a few days back with her sleeping. She slept from 8 till 1130 pm and just as I was going to lie down she woke. I was so tired I just caved in and fed her, twice, but she still wouldn't sleep and after a little play with somLego men and a potter round the living room it was around 1.30 am she slept, and the audacity of it, woke at 6 am. We're talking zombie-like mum here.
Jargon type language appearing now, sounds like she's saying something but I'm not quite sure what, ' bumbleblblblb'plus other less polite sounding syllables, don't know where she go that from !!
H continuing to ask interesting questions:
'why don't children in nursery listen to Quran?'
'We pray properly.' Now where did he get this from?? All I can think is that he overheard me talking to S about a potential church visit he would have.
Speaking of places of worship, had a huff and calmed myself down to complain to the office in the mosque today as they had Swedish flags up all over the place due to the National day holiday yesterday for which they'd organised a celebration, can you believe it, this is integration gone tooo far. I had actually joked that maybe there'd be a flag flying from the minaret (yesterday was a holiday apparently mostly celebrated by construction of IKEA furniture, no raw fish as far as I know) but could hardly believe my eyes seeing the yellow cross all over the place.

Have my quarterly I really wish I could home ed feeling as received IHSAN newsletter. Also when dropping M off for English class at the local school some boys not much older than S ( 8 or 9 maybe) were sneaking around the playground with what looked like pornographic material. In fact it was some underwear magazine but wasn't much different. Along with the junior 'disco dancing' they have I realise they are missing learning to speak Danish (they have classes as so many Danes live here due to tax system) and advanced English swear words. So maybe their school at the mosque is not so bad, (hmm well they learn swear words in Arabic instead, but still there is slightly more innocence left.)
But also found this site recently and felt more depressed about the whole home ed possibility. It seems after the first 3 years it is even more difficult to get permission and very hard if you don't speak Swedish, and they'd have to attend Swedish lessons, which I can kinda understand if we're here for the long-haul. Let's hope we can move, preferably somewhere English-speaking.
Have done a bit of the Flylady thing and threw out kids odd socks. I managed to get the washing pile under control (a load a day she says, although surprisingly don't always have enough to make it worthwhile, maybe 'cos DH away) so knew there'd be no spare ones in there. But then she doesn't tell you to check under beds as I found the other halves of 2 pairs, admittedly one pair on its last legs, so now minus 2 pairs of socks which are always precious in our house. So before you throw out those odd socks, do all washing and check under beds, or any other crevices your socks tend to hide. Don't your days feel relatively interesting now you've heard about mine?

Lots of flower piccies

Yesterday we drove to school as per usual. I find the initial part of our journey quite picturesque, and so I remembered to take my camera with me.

This is a house I see every day on the way home, would be ideal for us, near the amenities but also in the country with no neighbours so we could make as much noise as we wanted.

But then maybe just as well we don't live there as this has been the area where the Swedish army are having a practice weekend. Having a mild version of what it's like in Gaza/ Baghdad as tanks noisily driving up the local roads, gunfire and a helicopter flying overhead. Alhamdulillah, we're in a situation where my kids were actually quite excited to see these war machines rather than being terrified their house was going to be demolished.

And this is a beautiful field I glance upon from the road, in my younger days would have jumped in the daisies.

One of the kids thought this scene was worthy of a photo, and I think so too mashAllah, Summer is here. And these are the flowers we picked. I'd thought of the idea on the way to pick up the kids, and to my surprise on the way back, someone was already there picking daisies (Prästkrage- Skånes national flower S tells me - they do learn something at school).

M had been slightly disheartened having to leave a craft project just as he was getting started in 'fritids' (after-school club he goes to while he waits for his elder brother to finish otherwise he'd finish around midday), but the flower-picking was just his cup of tea and cheered him up.

As we were gathering flowers, 2 more cars pulled over and more people got out to pick flowers too. Of course they had scissors with them and put them into neat bunches.

and here's the end result. Summer is here, or so I thought as it was woolly hat and rain in the park just now!

Now this picture is from a day last week just to remind you what the park looks like just below our balcony, but for the more astute out there, notice the spiderman top that has ended up on the bench. It was very windy one day when I was washing clothes, I can't find my pegs (I'm on my 2nd batch of them, who is stealing them??and when I did give in and try to buy some more they didn't stock them any more at the supermarket). I think someone has kindly hung up the shirt. In fact a new-looking mountain bike was parked nearby the swings for over a week recently, without being locked without being stolen.
and I just love these flowers in along the path leading to the play area and so do the bees..

Also have written a post in Selective mutism blog, a bit more on the serious side....

Creativity and education

Here's an interesting link to a post I've had on my desktop and have been meaning to read properly for a while, stimulated by a flyer for an 'Art Boot camp' !!.
Discussions on European vs Singapore/Asian education systems and Steiner schools (sorry EF) as well thrown in in the comments.
Overall I think it can be hard to hold back on all the structure/curriculums and general targets that the society around us has for kids. I found I had tried too early to start teaching S. to read It was like that with potty training, sometimes if you follow the child's lead a lot of time is saved as well as a lot of frustration on both sides. I still have to consciously hold back with M on pushing the academia, but sometimes he's asking for some worksheets etc so I give him what I can. Maybe my lack of time due to other commitments (e.g the 2 littlies) means he is getting his time to 'play'. However me having a mum who's tutoring 'slower' children back in the UK does remind me of the higher expectations there are in the UK at a younger age than here in Sweden. Well it all comes back to the debate of the purpose of education..........

Any Swedish home schoolers?

Is there anyone out there home educating in Sweden, anyone interested in home educating, any Muslims home educating in Sweden, any English- mother tongue Muslims home educating in this long land? I see many hits from Stockholm area and just wondering if its some automated web surfer, or is it the Education Department waiting to pounce on me when I actually take them out of school inshaAllah? I couldn’t find any blogs from Swedish home-educators, what I found was: MATS, and this which doesn’t seem very active, hemma är bäst which has links to Pippis homeschool (designed for those who can’t access Swedish curriculum in schools e.g. living abroad). Just want to know is anyone doing it and how!!!

Skånemejerier race plus other photos

Here is the recipe S wrote down, after having asked me how to make an omelette. I didn't have to coerce him to put pen to paper, he just did it and stuck it on the fridge *faint* and here's how the first ever omelette by Monsieur S. aged 9 years (precisely) and they did get better and better, all 15 eggs worth that he made that day and were gobbled up by siblings. Note:Alhamdulillah, most of the salt is on the table.

o H's impressionist work, 'forest' I think it was. Green's his favourite colour anyway.

Another worksheet created by M. Trees inspired by his friend -from- Lund's style.

And on to the big event, M's first proper running race, sponsored by Skåne Mejerier (local Dairy). It was 800m or so, quite far, and he did very well coming somewhere in the middle. Deep in my heart I thought he could win, but then I saw some of them looked quite big (he's one of the youngest in his year, August birthday) and as if they are in a running club or something, but needless to say I was very proud and I think my heart was beating faster than his. It was v. exciting and everyone got a medal and a Tshirt and a chocolate milk drink. I think they should have let us have free entry (had to fork out a bit to enrol) to this race as now my kids want me to buy more of the stuff.

A man who leads the kids so they know where to run (it was through a bit of forest in the park)





M's medal and chocomilk drink

Scaletrix tent we stumbled upon afterwards. I think this was the bit they enjoyed the most. M said today was the best day ever. Guess which one's my offspring? Ebony amongst a sea of blonde

Yes, I've calmed down..

Alhamdulillah, it was one of those days. We were all tired and I think this stops all of us having as much self-control as normal. Kids don't hold back on what they want to do, be it mum-pleasing or not, and I don't control my anger so well. Hoping social services don't read the blog, a man in Sweden didn't get a job after the company read his girlfriend's blog, which said she didn't want to relocate if he got the job! Anyhow, the way we disturb our neighbours, I'm surprised we haven't been visited yet.Managed to (just about) keep my cool in the supermarket today with all 4 kids, not normally a feat attempted by myself. Not quite becoming old mother Hubbard just yet, but the essentials being low meant I had to go. The Swedes were kind today and did not appear to comment on the pretend kick-boxing fights that progressed round the frozen section and I almost, but not quite, heard a tut as an apple was dropped on the floor.
Have had the kids home the past 5 days due to teacher-training and public holidays. Much to their (but not my) delight, one of the X box controllers has been resurrected and after many months they had a chance to play some mindless games.
S's friend stayed over and they didn't sleep until very late (as usual,excitement etc). Then as I was checking my pimples or whatever in the bathroom mirror, I heard banging on the door, and they were both quite worried there was a bomb in the house! It was in fact an alarm on an electronic diary that's got lost under the bed, and I haven't bothered, or fathomed out how to turn it off, poor dears, but they slept easy once I informed them of the true source of the beeping.
But have started the Jolly Phonics a bit with M, he seems to like it, and S has been reading his DK book on aeroplanes, plus now his horrible History book (some of the cartoons a bit too horrible, check them first b4 reading) we got free with Aquila magazine.
Just got the first issue today as part of a 3 month special trial offer. I'm not sure about it yet, I flicked through to the letters page, and to my horror read one from an 11 year old (I think) girl, saying she wouldn't want to be home-educated due to the usual socialisation rubbish arguments. Then she went on to complain about the sexism of boys in her school and how you can't talk to a boy without people thinking you fancy them! I ask you..Then to my relief there was a positive letter from a home educated girl to the side of it, so I suppose it was balanced.
Other things we have been doing, some might call it child labour, I mean M learnt how to clean the bathroom, loo and all and he actually said 'This is a little bit fun'.
They always like spraying the cleaner, I use this 'grön sopa' not sure exactly what it is, but it comes from pine trees I think and is fairly harmless and does the job. Smells like that green jelly stuff yo use to get oil off your hands.
S became 'Mr Omelette chef' as he turned 9, and cooked numerous omelettes throughout the day, and actually made a meal consisting of the above-mentioned plus cucumber slices and knäckerbröd (crispbread). Photo inshaAllah to come.(too tired now to upload photos etc)
H has been a bit jealous lately of Hafsah and has told me to take her back to the hospital, because Mama's back is hurting and then her back won't hurt! (it is true that picking up over 9kg of big, relatively floppy baby is wearing on the lower back area).
Hafsah has started climbing up everywhere, like her bro' at a similar age, cannot get down so safely. Up to the microwave, up to the draining board, all with the aid of the stool, oh, and down to floor with a bump and a resulting lump on the back of her head now, the silly sausage (all happening as I have called, in vain, to M to take hold of her, and I rush towards her, stupidly taking time to fling rubber gloves off my hands and getting to the accident scene too late).


QUESTIONS I NEED TO FIND ANSWERS TO (cue Wikepedia)
H: What's a mirror made out of?
S - What's an egg, if it's not fruit or meat?
Where were pancakes invented?
and just now read the Magic school bus volcanoes book and now have to find out how Australia was formed (I don't think it was from a volcano!)

Reach for the Valerian

I feel like quitting, despite Wednesdays being the day the kids are in their various ‘educational’ institutions the longest. The last 3 hours, dropping M off to Quran class, and shopping and finally involving the car journey home have been my test of sabr today. Guess what? I failed.
It’s been like the book ‘how to fail your exams’ or Libby Purves’ ‘How not to be a perfect mother’, mine should be entitled: ‘How not bring up your kids when you are irritable and tired and they’re in the mood for mischief’’. Not so snappy but gives the general idea..
All the usual slip-ups a parent can make were done. Issuing unfufillable threats, yelling at the top of my voice, 2 emergency stops, saying ‘You’re doing my head in’ If DH were around I expect the oft-repeated ‘Take them away, take them to Pakistan’ would have been wailed.
I tried ignoring in the end but the damage had already been done.
Quitting, however is not an option, the resignation letter in my head will have to be permanently saved under ‘drafts’.
Have had a cup of Lipton, prayed and writing this has somewhat calmed me down. Kids are now bouncing on trampoline, rather boisterously but they are boys. Lil’ sister watches on whilst eating various playthings she’s happened upon.

Where is Madeline?

If you've seen this little girl call the number on the poster in the sidebar inshaAllah..

I lost my 2 year old for 15 minutes once and that was terrifying. I don't know how many people read this blog but 5/10 minutes of my time uploading these pictures seems as much as I can do to help,

plus du'as (and for all the other children who've gone missing too).

Don't they put pictures like these on milk cartons int the US, or do people become blase after a while?

Something very sweet and surprising..

S wrote the following note to his brother the other day and he let me put it on this blog:

' to M.
M this is a present to you becuse you have been playing with me allmost all day and it was nicse to play whith ich other more than we normale do?
this is a game i like to play with it is aboat spacships.'

The gift was a cardboard 'computer game' he'd made, awww.
Needless to say they've been back to normal at each others throats etc etc.

Sweden, the best place to be a mother?

I read this article about the topic and found it slightly contradictory to its title. Personally I think the title should have been 'Sweden, the best place to avoid being a mother' .
To start with, the high level of contraception would obviously limit actually having the kids in the first place.
'Equal opportunities' for working women means the children are most likely in day-care for the best part of the day.
Parental leave has to be shared to a certain extent between both parents which means the father can be the one off work to take care of the kids. So if you want to be a mother but not actually look after your kids, I suppose Sweden is pretty good.
I don't deny of course we should be very grateful for the high standard of living here compared to such countries as Cote D'Ivoire, shukralhamdulillah. Also it is very good that I get, be it a very low amount, parental benefit on top of child benefit for staying home with my kids (if under 8.) The cash pays my tax bill basically, so keeping at least 2 bureaucrats in a job, one in the social security dept and one in the tax office.

Poles, small and large (I mean stick-like things not Polish nationals)

Here is Hafsah successfully placing a ring on a ring-thingy (can't think of its name right now). OK, it's a plastic Fisher-Price ring going onto an IKEA wooden toy ring holder, and the rings are going on in random size order, but I am impressed! I saw a little boy at playgroup, slightly older than her, completing this sort of task no problems, and then I realised I should actually try to resurrect all the pieces in the set so she could have a go. My long-term ongoing project is to just get things in sets so the kids can actually have something to play with when the 'I'm bored phrase' comes out. The only toys that stay unmixed up on a regular basis is the Lego, everything else just tends to demonstrate the laws of chaos. This can result in some interesting imaginary play, but things such as jigsaw puzzles just don't hit the mark with half the pieces stuck behind the radiator or wherever they've ended up. I finally got round to buying the trampette. The beds are not likely to last much longer, the amount of bouncing they endure, despite my urgent pleas for them to stop. Lack of space and cost put me off, but it was a special offer, and what's a bit more clutter?! I do however catch myself about to shout out 'Stop bouncing' when I hear that familiar noise, and remember that it's only the trampoline and try to relaaaaaaaaax. We had a bar-b-q last week when the weather was quite warm (it's gone really wet now but the rain's needed). Here is one of the many flag-poles just by the grilling area, typical of what one might find around and about in Sweden. This ones quite a whopper and if there's a strong wind it's a bit scary being near it. However there's rarely a flag on it. I think just on Nationalistic occasions. Can't imagine that a huge Union Jack up on a huge pole, in so many numbers, would be quite so welcome in the UK.

H has allowed us to show his nursery teacher a clip of him speaking Swedish on DH's phone. I was surprised and pleased he agreed. Still no signs of him wanting to speak in the flesh though.

At home he was playing with the 'pop up farm' toy, now very appealing since Hafsah likes it a lot, and when he did the pig, he said to himself 'not allowed to eat'

Hafsah is being quite cute saying 'Mama' 'or 'Mimi' with the final syllable going up to an extremely high tone. Her routine has been quite disrupted recently, not quite sure why, although she's had a cold and another bottom tooth has arrived. The 5 pm nap has tried to return and subsequent late bedtimes, meaning no child-free time in the evenings, equals Mimi (me, mum) goes crazy. Also the short (almost summer) nights means I give in to 4 am feeds as it's time to pray anyway. Anyhow tonight, she was in bed by 8pm so able to finally get on the computer after chucking S off. He's been into reading the exo-force Lego magazine stories on-line. I didn't want to stop him as he so rarely wants to read any text. Oh and he's started learning the Chinese characters, inspired by his Lego, and of course M also wanted to do this. They spent quite a good deal of quiet time copying out pages of characters. Wondering if there are any special pens/ paintbrushes used for writing these characters. I remember students studying Japanese at Uni having something special to write with.

More daycare madness?!

Well, we've had feminist nurseries, now the far right are trying to introduce far right ethnically pure Swedish nurseries. I'll say no more, except I wonder if they'd accept a Swedish Muslim convert couples kids there? (not that I'd think they'd want their kids to attend). Of course UK, and US immigrants are just about accepted in Sweden, even given positive discrimination sometimes. However this doesn't apply to me as most think I'm Bosnian or something. Had another acknowledgement of my 'good English' the other day THAT'S BECAUSE I AM ENGLISH, but try to think of it as a good starter for dawah, after the obligatory embarrassed pause as the penny drops. This apparent superiority of the English language here in Sweden has given me another reason (excuse) to not be so good at speaking Swedish.
Had May day off today so took all the bairns to the Muslim playgroup (I don't think you have to be Muslim to go here, but no men allowed. (for religious, free-mixing reasons). However any nationality, skin colour etc may apply!! )
H did some pattern sequences with big beads, and he seemed to grasp this more quickly than I expected. He wouldn't allow me away from him for more than 30 secs, so poor Hafsah had to be left in the little ones play area with another mum, but she seemed pretty happy.
Played out in the park and had our 'fika' (snack) in the pleasant weather. If we were 'properly' home-educating, in some people's eyes, it could have been 'socialisation' crossed off the list of things to do, interacting with ages 0- 35 plus keeping a couple of old ladies in the park amused.

Science in Slippers?, more like toothy Times Tables

Here's the view I get from my kitchen window, early in the morning just before I wake the kids. A moment of peace and tranquility, then the morning rush begins, and yet another argument for home education rears its sensible head. However early we seem to get up it's always last minute searching for matching socks (not always successful), arguments on the necessity of teeth-brushing (slightly stronger case now that M has witnessed one of S's molars being removed, the painful bit being the TWO injections, rather than the chisel cutting gum flesh and quite a bit of blood. Yes the calculation has been done as to how many injections required for all teeth to be removed (2 times table work you'd unlikely get in school), arguing over who's going to sit on the front seat etc etc. The days when they are home sometimes reveal the way it could be, reading whilst eating rice crispies, painting in pyjamas...
But on a school day, I really hate the early mornings. Transitions are always hardest, especially when getting children to change from something they're enjoying (fiddling with Lego in their PJ's) to something they'd rather not do (sit in class). Oh, but the peace when they've gone, I can't deny it, is bliss.

Here is not the most exciting picture but it shows the remains of the dirt-playing fest Hafsah was having on the balcony. She managed to get most of the clay powder (left over from the failed wormery) and bits of potting compost onto her clothes and hands, but thankfully she couldn't reach the clothes on the line. This warm weather is brilliant for getting on top of my laundry mountain. I mean making it smaller not actually climbing it! Thinking this time last year I was doing circuits round the block trying to get my labour going in the cold damp weather!
Oh yes the bucket was free of charge from the recycling bins, almost brand new thrown away by a builder I think. I also got some free plant pots the other day, which I was glad of as the tomato plants are getting big mashaAllah, and the extortionate prices they were charging for pots in the shops made my trip to the refuse room quite worthwhile. Look after pennies etc etc. I am not willing to fork out too much for plant stuff as most plants under my care wither and die, unless they are some tough cactus type thing...I'm giving you the highlights at the moment, are you still awake?!

M's construction of a masjid (mosque) out of the Jenga bricks dad brought back from Vietnam.
Oh look someones coming to pray, and some big , crawling monster is coming to destroy.

(S's just pointed out I need an object with 'destroy', oh he's teaching me transitive verbs now I see, well it somehow sounded right so I'm leaving it....)

Today H was home, and dad kindly made him a flag to wave when goal is scored in indoor football. H then proceeded to decorate it with his name, with letters in a random order, but I was pleasantly surprised he managed to write a capital 'A' independently,when he was supposed to be copying a lower case one out.
He's been dry at night now for over a week, which is good as I only have to buy one size of nappy, (have been having to have 2 sizes around for last 6 years). Saying that Hafsah fits quite nicely in her 3 year old brothers pull up pant nappies, too many Petit Filous if you ask me..
He wet the bed the other night, but the kind boy did not wake me up, but found himself some clean PJ's and slept in one of the other beds going spare, awww!

Some bits and pieces......

The guilty perpetrator of my vandalised jilbab owned up a while after the event. It was not the child I expected and he had owned up feeling bad that I might punish the usual suspect! I re emphasised the fact that I'm always more disappointed / angry if someone lies to me and that honesty is the most important thing. Having said that we had read 'The Gruffalo' recently and the mouse lying was instantly pointed out. I had a feeling he could be let off, as it was in order to stop him being eaten, but I did check this out and this is one of the exceptions in Islam to being allowed to lie, ( not just eaten of course, I mean if life or property is in serious danger).
Hafsah's really into pulling to standing now, such is the enthusiasm that I can barely do anything without the little arms grasping around my legs/chest/ shoulders (depending which position I'm already in). Subsequently if I wish to move anywhere, I have to carefully peel her away from me so she doesn't fall down. She also did a little coasting today, but I won't be surprised if she's a post-one year old walker. That's nice in a way as the beginning of walking seems to herald a step (excuse pun) away from babyhood.
She also put a toy phone to her ear as if she understands its use. What these young peeps must think we're doing blabbering away at a piece of plastic and staring at a screen half the day (I hope I don't spend that much time online!).

H continuing with his *What's that made of?' questioning. He asked me about the jug (plastic) in order for him to work out what his light sabre (in the other room) was made of, quite clever of him I thought.
S says he's been feeling 'very lucky' and then hastily added 'I don't mean by chance'!, as his dad gave him his old pocket PC. Good, he's taken in some stuff about tawheed, shirk etc. Well I have been happy they've managed without electronic games for quite a while now. The X box controllers are broken, the V smile batteries ran out (and adaptor burnt out) and the PC online games don't seem to be so appealing to the kids nowadays. So now I'm back to rationing of computer games although I've been quite lax so far due to novelty. Also he has tried to use it to do some spelling work.
Had some difficulties with finishing off learning tashahud today. He knows most of it but not quite right so wanted him to do this. A bit stressful and I softened it up with chocolate (for all of us) as I don't want him to resent learning things for his deen. There is a lot for kids to learn which is obviously easier at a younger age as they're like sponges. However some of the concepts and motivations are hard for children to grasp and I think they have to have some material here-and-now rewards.
S also did the BBC skillsswise(ta for link EF!) times tables and we printed out the certificates (he was v chuffed with these, shall have to use certificates more).

Be in this life as a traveller

M has come out with some funny things; 'It's not good being a girl, because when you grow up you have to do all the work. No one, mans don't help you.'
Enough said. I should be off to draw up a chores rota now.....

I think it's soon time to properly start teaching M to read, as he's trying to teach himself. The other day I overheard some self-talk (in his teacher voice) while he was playing with some scrabble letters,and S couldn't resist joining in;

M 'Shall we spell some words? C E F'
S 'keff'

S showed a bit of literal translation of Swedish to English the other day. We'd been reading Roald Dahls's *Matilda' which he actually finds interesting as she can do very hard sums. He said 'Matilda could 19 times 14', the 'could' being how you would say 'knew' in Swedish!

Have been trying to remind myself that we are in this world 'as a traveller' and that the material possessions are a test for us. Having anything of value around the house is pointless if you have kids. 2 windows have been broken in the last 6 weeks (only the inner pane of the double glazing so didn't have to rush to get them fixed, the latter is till covered with cardboard', once due to hurling of object in anger, another due to a test-out of a home-made catapult, which obviously passed in terms of power. My IKEA chest of drawers scraped with a shark tooth necklace, one of my bead necklaces broken during a dispute over who should have it, as I say 'don't pull it,it'll snap......'(it had survived being used as horses reins, which I allow as it means H can sit on my back pretending I'm a horse while I lie down getting some relief from my backache). Empty baby oil bottle found has made me worried, and there is still an oily mess around the box on top of the washing machine which I haven't yet dared to approach (nor had time). This morning I found one of my jilbabs had a rather neat rip in the bottom which probably meant someone had taken scissors to it, and I hadn't just tripped on some stairs or something and ripped it myself. No one would admit the crime though. I can usually get them to plead guilty if I promise I won't get cross. (They know I'm not allowed to lie).

H is pulling to stand quite confidently now mashaAllah and shouting 'mamama' quite often. Today she was letting the whole neighbourhood know about her lovely mum, but I hoped no one felt that maybe an abandoned child had been left stranded on the balcony, as she is rather loud!

P.S.

I'd been thinking about the way us Mums (and sometimes Dads) are not given the appreciation they deserve. Of course all Praise is Allah, who made it possible for us to be in our situation. I want to send out a pat on the back,a hug, a virtual first class honours Bachelor's home edder certificate ,or whatever you feel happy with to all those mujahidas, striving to bring up their kids in the best way they can. There is so much negative stuff out there blaming parents for all the ills of the world, and little recognition of all the hard work done out there in the background, many not expecting anything back, but hoping any good they have done is sent forward and helps on the Day. Then I came across this link which echoed how I was thinking (pasted from your site EF!) http://byothermeans.co.uk/?p=254)

More bread attemps

The culmination of me lifting an increasingly heavy Hafsah, and putting in and strapping in kids in car means I have a sore back. I cannot contemplate going to the shops with all 4 kids, so S has been very responsible as now man of the house and gone to the corner shop a few times to buy essentials. They however only had hamburger bread left (due to bank holidays, which thankfully he didn't buy) so we baked some bread and this time it worked! Well I followed the instructions to the letter on the back of the flour packet, made sure the water was quite hot (as using dried yeast, anyone can enlighten me on pros and cons of dried vs fresh??) and S reminded me I have dough hooks for my mixing machine. It was slightly masochistic of me baking bread as I'm still trying to catch up fasts, but kids needed some sustenance.

Here's a 'menu' M made yesterday, with my help with the spelling (he can get the consonants as a rule but seems to find separating the vowels harder).
It shows what food we had left in the fridge, and to be honest, it wasn't something I'd like Gilllian whatshername to come and see ('You are what you eat' fame). In the end though this concept of choice was rather misguided by M as I could not cook everyone ´their own choice of meal. As I reminded them, 'this is not a restaurant!' ('This is not a hotel' was what I got as a child I recall)

Hafsah's pulling up on things to stand now and generally making the others a tad annoyed as she wants to join in the fun.

Another trip to the forest

We went out again to a forest with some sisters, this time 'bokskogen' beech forest. It was that or the indoor play centre which some other sisters had organised. I didn't reveal this latter option to my kids as it's the Easter hols. I only feel I can bear to go to these places if it's raining, and a school day so there are few other kids there. It was a beautiful day, got some exercise and also saved quite a few pennies.
One minor gripe, why do some people here feel it's their duty to make my kids like dogs? They maybe man's best friend in their eyes, but they can do damage, maybe not quite as much as mankind, but after one of my kids being chased by an Alsatian dog a while back and been told 'He's only playing' they are (understatement coming up) wary.Today for some reason, we were given a demonstration of the dog's ability to sit and stay maybe to show us how tame he was. Yes, until a child tries to poke it's eye out and pull its tail and I think you'll find its animal instinct is still there. You don't hear about children being mauled by cats or pet rabbits very often in the news do you? Dogs are fine if that's what you want, but keep them on leads outside , pick up their doings, and don't expect my kids to love them.
No, it was a lovely day, and managed the 7km walk this time, one kid only moaned right at the end, and there were lots of undulations, some very steep.
So here are some pics, including some 'Spring' nature ones (flowers, hazel catkins, burrs, a dead beetle, beech nuts, pine trees, silver birch and beech without their leaves (as yet), see what you can spot....

diary gone AWOL

So here're some more pics, some not so up to date but still relevant. I was preparing myself for a massive typing session, but my diary/notebook thingy where I write down any notables is, I think, in my car boot (don't ask) , well I hope so.

M at his 'stable course' in a quaint horse farm. Photos of him actually riding didn't come out very well as it was very bad light inside the barn where they practiced, so didn't post.

H's 'draw-a-man' effort, one of his rare unabstract drawings. So he will inshaAllah pass his 4 year assessment then?!?..



Have been to science museum(again) with friends which the kids found more like an indoor adventure playground with the submarine, the wooden boats to scamper about on, and they managed to pay attention to me for about 20 seconds as I quickly tried to explain (in Swedish?!) why I have to wear glasses and how the eye works with useful visual aid they have in the museum.. I think the windy day whipped up their excitement and whether much was 'learnt' is questionable. We went out to the nearby open space where the great excitement of the day was two of the friend's ball being blown into the castle moat, of which one drifted too far to the other side to be rescued. Also saw some sheep nestling on the steep grassy hills by the castle, quite surprising to see.

Have started taking Hafsah to a playgroup (run by sisters), and took all kids yesterday as it was Easter hols. They painted some plaster paris vehicles which will be inshaAllah turned into fridge magnets next week (by which time the paint should have dried, it was rather copiously applied).

Have walked quite a lot this week and I have become quite exhausted, I AM UNFIT!!. Oh yeh I am so tired as H has been getting his false croup in the early hours, waking me and once Hafsah, plus the early sunrise wakes me up and I can't seem to get back to sleep. Doesn't help having DH busying away in Vietnam, but it keeps things afloat, financially (she says trying to look on the bright side).

Looks like my diary is obsolete, managed to get a bit written, alhamdulillah.