Mommy's Next Step

Ten years of togetherness. Yes, this date 10 years ago was my wedding date. I was 31 at the moment and my husband was 32. Ten years after that, alhamdulillah we are still together.

Ten years, is not a short time, yet not a long time in life. When I was 10, I was able to do many things. For my 10th wedding anniversary? I guess we've been through many, many ups and downs.

The toughest part in marriage actually is how to cope with your partner. I believe that. The first week of marriage is the sweetest time of your life. Many surprises come to you as you are a new Mrs/Mr.

After that you will have to adapt to your real life again. Back to work or move to your partner's place, say goodbye to your hometown (I feel you), etc. In short, life of marriage begins right after week 2.

Weeks after weeks, months after months then years after years. Oh, God, I thank You so much for this wonderful journey called marriage. I become a new person as there are boys who call me mama. Our 1st anniv…

On that fajr time, my first and second son opened the door to go to masjid for fajr salah. Suddenly my one-year-old son cried. He wanted to go with his brothers. I refused his wish, worrying he might be bothering other people by his cries or screams. But, my husband suggested me to bring him. So I walked to masjid with my son in my arms.

I entered the masjid, standing behind some ladies doing their qabliyah fajr salah, waiting for the iqamah. I chose the second row which was the last row of the ladies' area. I still held my son in my arms and he seemed to enjoy the moment.

The salah began. I was lucky there was only a lady at the left meaning that I wasn't in the middle of the row. I was afraid that my son would cry or something because he often did that everytime I do salah at home. I don't know why he behaves like that. Is this mukena (salah cloth) frightenes him? Or is it my flat expression during salah makes him scary?

At masjid I did the takbiratul ihram with one han…

During Ramadan kids really need to have some quiet activities. Rather than going outside, I prefer them to stay inside and do less physical activity. My almost 8 and 9 yo sons are still strugglung to conquer themselves. On the first days they still complained about how thirsty they had been. That is why they need activities that consume less energy.

Yesterday, after school, my second son did a good activity with his friend. They took scissors, paper and glue. What did they do with those materials? They made pocket calendars!

It is easy to make and can improve skills of cutting, counting, hand writing and color picking and memorizing. It also helps kids to work together. At the end, the pocket calendar is somewhat kids can be proud of. By doing this activity kids can learn to count how many rows and columns needed in each month and how to draw them in such limited space. Not only that, kids also learn to differentiate which month is which, 30 or 31 days.

Here is what kids need to mak…

Disclaimer: This is non-paid book review.

"Sometimes I wished if I was your mobile phone or the television, so you would feel better watching me."
Those words really stole my heart. I know some people out there feel the same, got lost in their own life, marriage life. Some of them struggled and got through it, but, some didn't. Including Hamid, a man with two kids.
Just like any other man, husband in this case, Hamid spent his time for work. His responsibility for his family drove him to work hard and paid attention to clients. Poor Hamid, he forgot he had got a wife who needed to be showered with love. He neglected her too often, burdended her life with domestic works. He even had sudden deaf ears everytime his wife tried to talk to him.
"She had lived as a bird whose wings were cut short."
Hamid then found himself alone. His wife left him forever. Not for finding other man, but, to her God. Taking care of two children made him overwhelmed. Remarry was one …

My sons, 9 and 8 years old, now are in 3rd and 2nd grade. I still remember how they went to kindergarten which they never liked. The mornings were hectic because I needed to gently persuade them to go to school. I was worried this condition would continue until they entered elementary school. But, alhamdulillah, it didn't happen. Both my sons go to school everyday in high spirit. 
They go to Islamic Full Day School which runs from 7.10 a.m to 1.45 p.m. They do noon prayer at school, even my first son does dhuha prayer and Jumah prayer at school as well.
Related article: My Sons and Their First Day of Ramadan
Being in an Islamic school means they get quite enough opportunity to learn the deen from their early age. It includes Quran recitation and memorization. My first son almost finishes his memorization of Juz Amma (Juz 30) now. After that he will be tested to be certified. 
My second son completed his Quran reading learning and being certified to read the Quran now. He started …

It is International Women's Day. I have watched some videos about the day and this year campaign through UNWomen is #TimeIsNow . It has been decades of struggle. Women everywhere in the world have been voicing, hoping and fighting for gender parity in many aspects of life. Economy aspect I think is the greatest issue followed by health. #TimeIsNow should be a milestone for human to stop discriminating women. NOW. Not tomorrow, not the day after tomorrow, not in any future time.Talking about economy aspect, many women are working moms to support the family. Some working moms even have to work abroad and it is quite common here in the place I live. I understood not long ago the meaning of 'leaving' in terms of working abroad. When I spoke to a kid and she/he said that the mother was 'going' what she/he meant was working outside the country. Mainly to Malaysia, Taiwan, Hong Kong or countries in Middle East.Related article: Why Moms of Today Are More Fragile Compared T…

Ah, it's been weeks I didn't post anything. What can I say, I have busy days. Baby Dig is now 9 months old. He is able to crawl now and learn to stand up. I can't let him alone by himself for too long. I have to always look at him or else I will be worry about what he's doing. Well, you know the feeling if you happened to experience once.At his age, Baby Dig has already eaten almost anything. Well, actually it is because he always asks for what I hold in my hands. Anything. So, everytime I have some meal, I offer him one. And he usually grab what I give him or simply opens with mouth. Sooo funny...Baby Dig has eaten home cook meal. I prepare him food in the morning so he can have breakfast at around 9 a.m. He eats soft rice with veggies and chicken or tofu or fish or fried tempeh. He likes what I cook. Alhamdulillah. Related article: Another Boy In My LifeI once bought him baby biscuits, but, he refused to eat them. My elder sons had them after all. He also doesn't…