Istiqamah

One thing that I do had a problem from time to time...and had to push myself hard and the only things that I am always worries..Istiqamah. To learn, to act the first, second and third is easy, but to istiqamah and maintain is the one that struggle and hard to look after. Which is why, I don't like to put much expectation, reading too much of a theory, as reality in life is somewhat different. I don't like burn out. If I cannot istiqamah or maintain, I try to make sure I got a valid reason for that as much as I can.

As I know my weakness, I try to to over do things. Well, I know my capability in some way. I know how far I can go in doing things and how far I can push myself into. On certain things that not every day routine. But, when it comes to every day routine, I like to try the best to maintain, therefore...I don't like to overdo it...Although I do find it motivate and somewhat of stress seeing or reading others do things that I wanted to do...but no...I do what I find best for my family...and I am the most important person in the family. I am the back bone, therefore it's not worth me stress and burn out..something I had to try not to..But, also not good if I am a bit lay back and not istiqamah..

Therefore I am trying so hard to maintain the schedule. Although it wasn't actually on the dot and the time that we should, but I do make sure we are in the time frame roughly. For example, according to my schedule, they should awake and start tidy up at around 8-8.30 am. But, this can goes up to 9am. Just to give them a bit more time. As long as by 9.45 am, everyone already tidy their bed, sort out themselves and have breakfast and tidy the breakfast and start their quran reading. The most allowance time is 10 am. Only yesterday we seems a bit late , pass 10, usually either at 9.45 am or even at 9.30 am. As they get used to, they already been awake by around 8-9 am anyway. Although still some time I had to shout and scream at them to wake up. Honestly sometimes I don't bother to go up stairs and to their room and wake them up. usually the boy will heard me and AS will go and knock his sisters room.

Alhamdulillah it has been three weeks since we on my schedule homeschool which I hope and intend to keep with it, Insya Allah. I start to have many enquiry about my business, but manage to hold it at the moment. I had to keep my priority on top even though at the same time, I do need some extra financial help if I can keep my business as well. But, I rather squeeze at some point to keep the homeschool and house in order.

Alhamdulillah it wasn't hard to keep the kids on track. PS as usual with her online school, which we actually decide that she will be moved to another online school after half term. Well, another story actually. First college is ok, a nice small online school. But, rather the owner who is also the headteacher and her husband is also doing many other things such as bed and breakfast business. This had of course having some impact toward the kids especially for the class which on exam year. Therefore after PS discussion with her schoolmate, as one by one are moving, we think that she should as well. The other one will be a bit more expensive, but never mind. Money is not everything. But, the new one will have school on five days a week instead of four days as now. Therefore it's worth the money in some way. I had already register her on the new one. we had been dragging to do this since last term, but PS wasn't sure much. She had learn a lots from First college, I cannot deny that. They had teach her and make her better in term of learning in this past year. But, I think they didn't grasp the capability of some student. Especially student who are homeschool intend to be learning faster than the kids that in school. The other one seems better and more organise as well.

For the other three, I am still planning their work. Also at some point, I just had some plan in my head and we just get into it while we going. Well, I usually make sure I prepare a night before at least. For Maths is not a problem at all for three of them. English at the moment is the create the interest. Seems it going on well. MS had started on his second essay. S and As on their first. But, AS got mindsprinting almost every day. S also got some comprehension in between. I am looking to combine English part with the other subject. At the moment we had done geography for couple of lesson. Once I get going, I think it's better as I know where to continue and how to plan here and there. Therefore if I made a plan before it might be a waste, as I will than will find some of the things need to be change and twist. So, planning on some subject while I going, is better for us, I think. Also now, I can combine MS and S on Geography, Science and History.

History is not our favourite part due to many untold and different told in the curriculum itself. Therefore I will had to subject to Horrible history which I had big package of that which I bought in car boot sale for £20. Yes, a whole set of it including poster and lots of other things. Kids always watch Horrible histories from time to time. Their favourite TV program. So, they knew better than me, much much better than me. They can also explain to me on who, when and what. Only that I have to find the way to document this and help them to explain things in History through writing.

I had many of science reference and tools for experiment. I had to study more and to do a bit more research to see how I can get the plan done. The worst thing is I am so fussy...ha..ha..this is one of the problem for my planning. I want to make sure I cover everything needed, but in simple way, can pull everybody interest and etc, I had to bear in mind also, that kids including eight years old AS had so much information about Science from documentary, how things work and many kids science program in TV. That is what our TV work for. Science, History and Geography. They can sit and teach me a whole lots of things and information. Including from you tube as well. The lesson than will be sort of pretty much they teaching me and I will just provide the material for them to document and teach them how to put things in paper such as graph, chart, writing report through experiment and etc.

Overall, I do felt grateful for our istiqamah and I know many things can still and need to be done.

On Islamic studies we start to touch several topic. As usual, fiqh is an important topic for me to revise and discuss with kids. Our first lesson is concentrate on what fiqh is. How Fiqh derive from the commandment of Allah through quran and hadith. How important for us to learn fiqh to ensure what we doing is within halal and haram. What valid and what invalid. Also we discuss about how mazhab derive, how important for us and why important for us to keep on tract of the mazhab although if we go and learn in madrasah, we become alim and alimah, still we cannot do ijtihad to pick and choose. We not going to have the tawqa as the four imam especially with extensive experience and the time they live is near to the time of the Prophet than any other scholars now a day. Therefore it's important also to know how the fiqh that we learn from the quran and hadith came from. From the Prophet, the Sahabah, Tabiin, mujtahid, alim and ulamak. Although we can read and understand arabic fluently, that is not a case at all to pick and choose and interpreted the Quran and the Hadith ourself. Pick and choose on our own as many knowledge now a days had drag people into this issue which I am always put stress in my kids. It's important for us to trust the mujtahid, the alim and ulamak than ourself in this issue. As our nafs is high and our taqwa is not as high as them. A very important issue for me that I do discuss with kids before but a bit more deeply now.

We also start to talk about Hajj. Play with Hajj game as well. I was planning to get them to make a map of Hajj ritual, Insya Allah. Something that we will try to work together. I remember, kids had assembly in school when they were small. During Hajj time, one class will be doing assembly about Hajj, (yes, this is public school) they will make a kaabah and kids will do assembly about tawaf and wearing ihram and etc. It's lovely! I was thinking of doing similar thing!

I am very please with the istiqamah that we had with our routine. Once this become a habit, I am going to start to introduce rules in our daily life and routine Insya Allah. I am trying to bring our daily routine into something that please Allah swt and the way that our house should be, to become a madrasah. Not just in term of learning and teaching, but in practical life. Our iman and amal. This is my target. Insya Allah.

I know one family who homeschool all their three kids. One of them already married with five kids, now living in US. The second daughter now doing degree in Maths. The first one also done degree in Maths. Both done and doing it from Open University. The third daughter is doing A level. All their sons , three of them I think , two is hifz and Alim, teaching in madrasah. The best thing is, the mum not really teach them. They all took distance learning as the whole curriculum. So the mum concentrate on other things. The second one which currently doing degree in Maths, is excellent. Well, so do the eldest one who already married. I lost speech. But, looking at the second one also, it's like my dream daughter. She the one who cook, clean, sort out the other siblings and etc if the mum not around. Even with the mum around, she the on who do all the cooking now. She not just make lovely food, but also they serve guests around 100+ during first day on eid, every time! She make everything from dessert, homemade snack and meal! Imagine! Subhana Allah...plus...all the daughter had so much fikir on deen.....Since age eleven after primary school, they all wear full black abaya and nikab! Yes, full with gloves, Subhana Allah....They had high manners and know every expect of deen. of course their mum is also strong in jamaat. Jamaat going in and out from the house from time to time. They been in jamaat, mum went in jamaat from time to time. And they live according to what need to be done to bring deen into their house. They life in iman and amal in their routine and living....What a nice things to see...

I always stop by their house when ever I went to Newcastle.

One day I stop by, one of the son is there for dinner. before he went out to masjeed, he said to his mum, "Jazaka Allah Huhairan mum for the food, Make doa for me..."

 I was like..wow.! He live just around the corner. But when you hear how he talk to his mum..Subhana Allah....Not just a hifz and alim, because knowledge now a day can be done as an info. But, when it come with manners and excellent behaviour...it's just great and complete way of life. Subhana Allah...the mum is an excellent great pious woman. They had to settle in UK after the husband finish PhD on the mesyuarat from Nizamuddin. I think I did mention this story before. Just that I cannot help from sharing about them from time to time...Just what a great family to be shown as example....They manage to produce not just homeschool daughters, (daughters are not easy to be brought up), but with degree and deen. I had meet the one who now live in US. She will be coming back for holiday next months and I cannot wait to meet her again. She got five kids also homeschool them. The best thing to look at is having not just a degree in one of difficult subject, Maths, but also someone who had been look after their aurah since puberty with full nikab. Something that I wish I can...Insya Allah...I know that what the parents had done is just bring what we learn and routine we lay while we are in jamaat in the house. In other word, bring the iman and amal we learn into practise....And the effect and end is excellent result not just for duniya, but hereafter...May Allah give me strength. Insya Allah.