Energy Drain

This week it's N's turn to attend COSI summer camp. Last week I had to pick S up at 12:30, dash off to COSI, drop her off, drive back to the masjid to pick H and N up, head for home, have lunch, steal a few winks, and rush off to pick S up at 4pm. I have never driven that much before. In a way I got to feel what it's like to be a mom of school-going kids. It ain't fun. I hate driving.

This week, I still have to do the incessant driving, but with N. She, as usual, posed an unprecedented challenge.

"It's boring!" she exclaimed, when I asked her if she had fun at the summer camp.

I fretted over it.

"I like the masjid school more than the COSI," she announced.

I figured it must be the bond she has formed with the people at the masjid, her new friends and teachers.

Today, when we trundled over to where she was waiting with the rest of her groups, I saw my second daughter sitting amidst a group of children, and one girl had her arm over N's shoulder. I gestured for her to come over. As she did, the girl rose and exclaimed,

"Assalamualaikum!"

Another girl, apparently a teenager, waved enthusiastically as we drove off.

"Did you have fun?" I asked her.

I saw her smile. She was somewhat reluctant to give a nod but the answer seemed to be a positive one. Obviously she garnered a new Muslim friend. She was certainly happy about that. S had garnered a non Muslim friend, and she was happy about that.

Next week it will be H's turn, but alhamdulillah, only for a day.

I'm tired, but it's not the driving part that drains me. It's the Quran memorization part, where I have to sit with each kid and repeat to them the cut up verses again and again until they get it. At least S can work on it on her own, and N can pick it up easily, but H needs incessant repeating, though Alhamdulillah he seems to be improving a lot.

I will continue to make it a daily goal of memorizing at least 2 ayah from now on insyaallah. Better slow than never, eh.