For most of us parents, our kids are the center of gravity of our small worlds. We would do anything to make them happy. We work hard day and night to provide for them and to raise  them right. The high cost of living, the hectic routine of school and homework and other small day to day chores become so cumbersome that you can easily forget that how fast the time is going by. And by drowning ourselves in this day to day routine of responsibilities, we often ignore the hidden blessings of parenthood.

So this is an aide memoire for all parents, that one of these so many blessings of parenthood, is that Allah subhanahu wa ta`ala (exalted is He) in his infinite wisdom has provided us a second chance at righteousness and virtue by making us parents because as we are teaching these young minds right from wrong we are learning so many things in the process too. Our kids who are most of the times busy in playing, laughing and fighting can be subtle reminders for us to be good and keep striving to become a better person. Obviously, you are at the age where people take it for granted that you know everything and mostly no one reminds you to strive to improve yourself specially, spiritually. So when your young daughter reminds  you that you did not pray yet or your little son tells you that some hair is showing from your hijab you should be grateful to Allah subhanahu wa ta`ala (exalted is He) for not forgetting you like everyone else thinking that you are too old to change. I can tell from my own experience that never ever I have learned so much as I have, since I have become a mother, I try to do research for even the smallest things like making wudhu as I feel this huge burden of imparting erroneous knowledge to my kids who are my responsibility and never ever have I tried so desperately to become a better person than now. Children need role models, someone they look up to for guidance and to imitate and learn how to react to when they are in a dilemma. So every time you are gossiping about somebody behind their back, or greeting someone in the hallway, or lending a helping hand ,just know that you are being watched. It’s like taking part in a reality show, where you are under the spotlight all the time and you cannot lose control. I feel ashamed when I encourage my kids that we have to pray five times a day and then tell them it’s ok to miss Fajar(pre-dawn) prayer if you are sleepy.  I feel embarrassed and uncomfortable advising them to be honest always and then makeup stuff or excuses for all kinds of reasons later. All of us want our kids to become better persons than ourselves, to catch those stars we never could , plant that tree that we were too busy or self-absorbed to plant when we were their age or make that apology that we were too arrogant to make. If you are a shy person, you want them to be more confident and assertive than you. If you are too sensitive , you want them to be more care-free and strong. So ,almost all of us are naturally fighting against that dark and lazy side of our being which keeps telling us to procrastinate because we have so much time to amend our mistakes and faults and we become more active, more creative and more self-aware. After all, how can we teach them to fly when our own wings are broken. Hence, we reflect more on our personalities and behavior when we ask ourselves, do we ?want the kid sleeping next to us grow up and become the person we are today? And why, because as parents we realize time is running out and we would have lost the chance to impact their personalities by being good role models after they reach a certain age. All of us parents should be grateful and remember not to despair and lose hope ever, even if we are struggling to become good Muslims and good parents as Allah subhanahu wa ta’ala from his infinite love as He is al-Wadud, The Most Loving and  Al-Wahhab, The Constant Bestower of Gifts has not lost hope in us and has given us a beautiful gift in the form of a second chance…a second chance to amend our ways. What more can anyone ask for than a second chance ? And as long as we keep asking Him for guidance  for He is al-Haadi, The Guide we will never lose our way and ourselves Insha’Allah .