Earlier today we stopped at the Tapah R&R south-bound for a short break in journey. As usual, our family made a bee-line for the Baskin Robins outlet for some refresher.
We were enjoying our scoops of ice-cream when 2 young boys walked in, each holding a RM1 note in their hands. They both headed straight for the fridge containing bottles of mineral water and some juices; yet as their hands held the fridge door opened, their eyes were on the over-head display of BR's offerings and the prices of each item.
Earlier, Hanafy had called my attention to them when they both walked in; in low tones he narrated their movements and body language to me, for I had my back to them. Hanafy mentioned he noticed the 2 boys loitering at the front entrance of BR before circling round to walk in by the side door close to where we were seated. By the time they reached the fridge door, I half-turned my body to observe. And what I saw tugged at my heart-string.
The two then made up their minds and approached the counter, pointing to the cheapest item on the menu board. The wafer cones...and I heard the counter girl telling them nicely that the wafer cones alone cost that price and was not sold on their own. I remember the boys expression then. I know the look. I am familiar with the boys pretence of wanting to buy mineral water when their eyes clearly said they wanted ice-cream. I looked at my 2 teenagers at the next table, each enjoying double-scoops of their favourite flavours.
Instinctively, I asked Raziq to walk over and casually offer to buy them ice-cream. They were happy and surprised; they became eager beavers and both chose the same flavours. It was a joy to see them lick their ice-cream on the cone as soon as the 'kakak' handed them theirs. Something as unassuming to us as an ice-cream on a cone meant so much to the two boys. They couldn't stop thanking 'abang' for his generosity as they walked out of Baskin Robins Tapah R&R.
And I couldn't help point out to my teenagers at the blessings Allah continually give us. May Allah continue to shower us with His blessings...
Monday, December 15, 2014
Thursday, November 6, 2014
When it is your own...
A challenge for me as a motivator, as some people like to call what I do. Because I am a mummy.
When the reality sank that his results did not qualify him to apply for a place at any types of residential schools, it must have devastated him. And I have never seen him so disillusioned and disheartened. A bit earlier I had expressed my disappointment over his poor showing - not so much the end-result, rather the lack of effort I have been observing on his part.
I made it clear that my disappointment was not over his not being able to get into a residential school. I stressed that I was sad he had not taken in what we advised him on earlier which could have made some difference in his results. Personally I am not very much keen on him going off to a residential school; he doesn't seemed prepared for that kind of independence yet.
On hindsight, I could have handled that moment when we reviewed his detailed results for the first time better. Perhaps I should have looked him in the face as I expressed my feelings about it. Maybe then I could see his expression and then reacted differently. But I didn't. I just couldn't because I was suddenly engulfed in sadness...for me and for him. He had been so confident he did very well. And he did in some ways...only not good enough to qualify for a residential school application.
Fortunately Allah gave me the opportunity to correct myself. He spent some alone time in his room. And I realised I did not bother to ask of his feelings, only ranted on about mine. So when he came down again, I knew I had to make amends.
Allah is the Greatest, for surely. I went on mummy+motivator mode. I had to...his face and the way he slumped when I asked him to sit by me told me everything. What we conversed I can't print them down now, not because they were private but because as I am typing this, that moment played back in my mind and I am forced to keep my tears at bay.
Alhamdulillah for to me, this is a curve ball thrown to us as a gentle reminder. Alhamdulillah for His reminder is that He has other, and perhaps much better, plans for my young man. Just as He had done so for my young lady.
When the reality sank that his results did not qualify him to apply for a place at any types of residential schools, it must have devastated him. And I have never seen him so disillusioned and disheartened. A bit earlier I had expressed my disappointment over his poor showing - not so much the end-result, rather the lack of effort I have been observing on his part.
I made it clear that my disappointment was not over his not being able to get into a residential school. I stressed that I was sad he had not taken in what we advised him on earlier which could have made some difference in his results. Personally I am not very much keen on him going off to a residential school; he doesn't seemed prepared for that kind of independence yet.
On hindsight, I could have handled that moment when we reviewed his detailed results for the first time better. Perhaps I should have looked him in the face as I expressed my feelings about it. Maybe then I could see his expression and then reacted differently. But I didn't. I just couldn't because I was suddenly engulfed in sadness...for me and for him. He had been so confident he did very well. And he did in some ways...only not good enough to qualify for a residential school application.
Fortunately Allah gave me the opportunity to correct myself. He spent some alone time in his room. And I realised I did not bother to ask of his feelings, only ranted on about mine. So when he came down again, I knew I had to make amends.
Allah is the Greatest, for surely. I went on mummy+motivator mode. I had to...his face and the way he slumped when I asked him to sit by me told me everything. What we conversed I can't print them down now, not because they were private but because as I am typing this, that moment played back in my mind and I am forced to keep my tears at bay.
Alhamdulillah for to me, this is a curve ball thrown to us as a gentle reminder. Alhamdulillah for His reminder is that He has other, and perhaps much better, plans for my young man. Just as He had done so for my young lady.
Monday, May 12, 2014
Office politics ~ start them young...
She's all motivated today...and seemed somewhat relieved. Today she'll walk into her school grounds in her new set of uniform...no more the light blue baju and dark blue sarong. It's back to the white and turquoise ensemble for her, and a couple of other friends. Last week, she made up her mind, typed her resignation letter and handed that to the PK HEM. As her mum, I have had listened to her reasons, her frustrations, her demoralised tones.
Last week, I read her letter and gave it some minor pointers. The least I could do. She had indicated her intention to step down many months ago but we asked her to give this responsibility another go. I supposed the situation became worst or it did not get better. Furthermore, as a self-study student with no tuition except for Math, she is finding it a challenge to balance homework, revision and her responsibilities as a school prefect, and one with a portfolio to boot. Over the months leading to this decision, she had lost some weight and had had pimples break out even when it was not 'that' time of the month!
One reason for her decision had to do with relationships between senior and junior prefects. She grieved about how senior prefects particularly girls always pick on junior prefects, use harsh words to tell them off when minor mistakes were made, rant on and on about the mistakes in every meeting even though the 'culprits' had repented. She was one of those who had gone through the humiliation. She shared an experience of a fellow junior prefect who was chided simply because he scored 'only' 7As in his PMR last year. Meetings were either called for or cancelled at the very last moment, and used by these seniors as a public humiliation forum!
The PK HEM asked her to reconsider, even refusing to accept her resignation citing the letter of appointment (Watikah Perlantikan) as an excuse for her not able to resign. She responded that she will return the letter if that being the case. Even the senior who was one of the 'bully' was sent to talk her out of the decision. But her mind has been made. Her resignation take effect 11 May 2014. Heck, she had already scheduled a day for us to get her her non-prefect uniforms and shoes so she could turn up in school as a 'normal' student come Monday, 12 May 2014.
And so it was that today, she walked out of the house a normal student but full of pride and happy. Yet, while I couldn't be happier for her, I also know the other reason that she now seems to be taking non-academic involvements 'lightly'. And that pains me whenever I think about the matter. But that is another story to tell...
Meanwhile, let's end this piece in good faith. Not being a prefect does not mean good things will not come her way, for those are the plans of Allah swt.
I
Last week, I read her letter and gave it some minor pointers. The least I could do. She had indicated her intention to step down many months ago but we asked her to give this responsibility another go. I supposed the situation became worst or it did not get better. Furthermore, as a self-study student with no tuition except for Math, she is finding it a challenge to balance homework, revision and her responsibilities as a school prefect, and one with a portfolio to boot. Over the months leading to this decision, she had lost some weight and had had pimples break out even when it was not 'that' time of the month!
One reason for her decision had to do with relationships between senior and junior prefects. She grieved about how senior prefects particularly girls always pick on junior prefects, use harsh words to tell them off when minor mistakes were made, rant on and on about the mistakes in every meeting even though the 'culprits' had repented. She was one of those who had gone through the humiliation. She shared an experience of a fellow junior prefect who was chided simply because he scored 'only' 7As in his PMR last year. Meetings were either called for or cancelled at the very last moment, and used by these seniors as a public humiliation forum!
The PK HEM asked her to reconsider, even refusing to accept her resignation citing the letter of appointment (Watikah Perlantikan) as an excuse for her not able to resign. She responded that she will return the letter if that being the case. Even the senior who was one of the 'bully' was sent to talk her out of the decision. But her mind has been made. Her resignation take effect 11 May 2014. Heck, she had already scheduled a day for us to get her her non-prefect uniforms and shoes so she could turn up in school as a 'normal' student come Monday, 12 May 2014.
And so it was that today, she walked out of the house a normal student but full of pride and happy. Yet, while I couldn't be happier for her, I also know the other reason that she now seems to be taking non-academic involvements 'lightly'. And that pains me whenever I think about the matter. But that is another story to tell...
Meanwhile, let's end this piece in good faith. Not being a prefect does not mean good things will not come her way, for those are the plans of Allah swt.
I
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