The Journey of a Lifetime and the
Plight with leaving kids behind!
Sabihah Docrat
Mixed feelings. Happiness with the
invitation to be the Almighty’s guest
– sadness in leaving my kids behind
especially my 8 month old Sulaymaan.
A dilemma faced by every mother
who is journeying to the holy land.
I am already starting to miss the
little things that I will be away from
for the next 4 weeks. Tiny slippers
on the bathroom floor, Mishkah’s
expression when she has done
something wrong, MZ’s thinking face.
Sulaymaan’s squeal of delight when
he crawls as fast as he can to a toy
that has attracted his attention.
I know that Allah will make it easy
for me and for them but the heart
still feels. Our children hold a special
place in our heart and they are the
key controlling emotional element.
There is nothing that we won’t do for
them.
The caregivers that we are leaving
them with are trustable and loves
them as much as we do, however, we
will not be a phone call away, so I
have done the following to prepare
them.
A constructed list in the first party
works. I feel that this isn’t
instructing or offensive and I have
included everything that is crucial.
For each of them I have created a
list informing wake time right
through to bedtime. Below is
Sulaymaan’s example:
My name is Sulaymaan. Thank you
for taking care of me whilst my
parents are fulfilling a fard and
pillar of Islam.
My day starts at 6am and I’m
happiest in the morning. I do enjoy a
nice long drink when I awake and my
breakfast is at 8am when Aunty
Diana arrives. Most days my
breakfast is cereal and occasionally
I will have an egg. After my
breakfast I have Zinplex and Aunty
Diana needs to be reminded as she
sometimes forgets. Water through
the day after all my meals keeps me
happy .
I am a growing baby and after my
nap I enjoy a little snack. Snack
time consists of plain yogurt with
mashed fruit between 10 and 11.
The outdoors is key to my mental
development and I simply love the
way grass feels between my
fingers. On days that are cold my
mum dresses me warmly and we
watch the trees and the birds fly
by.