SHE'S 13 AND HE'S 15...

 February 19th and March 5th this year, Adik and Abang became 13 and 15 respectively. The journey into challenging adolescence life thus began for both of you. Its not gonna be easy...a fact acknowledged by all parents worldwide but seems to elude the teenagers themselves. And Adik especially ( as she's living at home with me) could tell that how often I emphasize on this issue alone. Working with those teenagers with social problem at the shelter home, seeing them on the streets, watching them on the idiot box only reaffirm my fear. I never want you two to go through life the same way as most the teenagers today do. They seems to exist with  nary a care in the world  except for having the latest gadgets so that they have uninterrupted social life. And, its their interpretation of social life that worry me most....

I am constantly feeling grateful that Abang is in a madrassah. That alone has eliminated half of the challenges he might be facing outside. We as  parents, works the other half with lots and lots of do'a. I admit that I worry more on you Adik...being a girl and having to go through daily life as a student in a normal school environment. Regardless of it being an all girl school and a religious one to boot, I can easily  see that constant supervision from us is never to be dwindled.

Okay, I know that I have to be very grateful for so many things that  Allah has bestows upon you two. Abah , times and again, has reminded me to be more realistic, as  I tend to have a suspicious mind and it irritates  both Abah and Adik. I cant help it!!! Listening to those teenagers at the shelter home recount their life stories put me there!! I have seen and heard cases of all kinds. And how  it could happen to just about anybody. So, Adik and Abang, when you are reading this in future, maybe as parents yourself, you would understand my stance and would forgive me for giving you never-ending lectures at every single opportunity!

I do feel blessed that both of you are born healthy and are still in sound condition physically and emotionally. And I am grateful that both of you needed no prompting anymore in doing all the basic requirements of our religion, Alhamdulillah. As for Abang, MasyaAllah, he's doing lots more than the basics. And Adik too, is catching up. Academically too, I have not much to worry about. So, all in all, people could say that I have nothing to worry about...but, I do!

 Because I want you two to be better in the eyes of Allah....

Forward thinking is the way to go. We are not living our life just for this moment. Or our near future. We are living it for our final destination...And there's no other way of doing it except for sticking to sunnah way of life, really have to grip it as hard as we can. The lifestyle of today, on the contrary,  seems to pry us away and away from it...

So, Abang and Adik...in a nutshell, what exactly we are hoping from you are, for you two to live this life fully aware that you are answerable to every single thing you do. All your action will have effect on you and your surrounding.  Life is not supposed to be easy, it's a big test for all of us....