Haneem’s Khatam Quran

Khatam Quran, meaning the completion of the recitation of the Holy Quran, is a significant milestone for many Muslims. This act signifies not just the finishing of the Quran but also a spiritual journey filled with reflection and devotion. Many aim to complete the Quran during the month of Ramadan, engaging in daily recitation to deepen their connection with Allah and to gain a better understanding of Islamic teachings. The completion is often met with joy and gratitude, as it represents a personal achievement in one’s spiritual growth.

The celebration of the Khatam Quran typically includes communal gatherings, where family and friends come together to honour this sacred accomplishment. These gatherings often involve collective prayers, the recitation of verses, and heartfelt supplications, known as du’as, during which individuals seek blessings and guidance. Additionally, it is common to perform acts of charity, embodying the values of generosity and community spirit that are emphasised in Islam. Through such celebrations, Khatam Quran not only strengthens individual faith but also fosters a sense of unity and shared purpose within the community.

Haneem had her ceremony recently. It was planned by Mr Husband and his side of the family. Haneem said she was nervous but braved on. She has been practising her recitations with her cousin, who also Khatam Quran for the past few weeks during the school holidays.

On the day itself, both of them recited the Quran in front of the imam. Then, everyone had a meal. My MIL ordered some catering. Mr Husband and his siblings prepared the goodie bag. Haneem and her cousin received monetary gifts from guests. It is not compulsory but the kids obviously loved them. Haneem received RM230 in total and requested all of it to be placed inside her Tabung Haji account. Bless her heart.

2024 kids’s sports day

The theme for this year was Flora and Fauna. My daughter said she was participating in sukaneka. The school had a really small field and even if there were plans to expand, there is just not enough land. I really enjoyed the parade. The teachers put a lot of effort into the props and costumes.

My daughter loved the free chocolate milk drink from FarmFresh. MILO used to have a monopoly over these events where their trucks came into school to provide free milo drinks. With the Palestine war still going on, local institutions have started to shift their attention to local produce. FarmFresh is one of them. We also got ice cream that cost RM3/cone. Ice cream always tastes nice in the hot weather.

Now is the Olympics season. That is something to look forward to. I like that now with social media, we also get to see what the Olympians do in their everyday routine. They have been sharing about the Olympic Village, their food, their feelings and stuff. I really like that. Plus, seeing old Olympians compete is just inspiring. We have the senior ladies in table tennis and of course the Turkish ‘hitman’ who has been made a meme recently. These Olympians are so cool.

Mothering up

We always talk about child and adolescent development but Erikson kind of made it clear that human beings grow and develop themselves their whole lives. Recently, my youngest daughter asked me if I have any more babies in my tummy because she wanted to become a big sister. I told her I don’t have any more babies and that she could always become a bigger sister to her baby cousins. It was at that moment, that it became clear to me that yes, I have made a conscious decision to complete my family.

Having said that, it would mean shifting my focus toward raising a son who is already in his early adolescence year and my daughter who is in preschool. Thus, it would be wise to let go of all the baby stuff and revamp the house environment to support the development of my kids into personalities that will bring them further in life.

As of now, this will be a mental note.

  • I am currently too exhausted to do spring cleaning during Ramadhan but I guess I am ready to say goodbye to all the strollers, baby carriers, soft toys, baby books, baby Tupperware and all. so, there will be mass decluttering later after Raya and I have lots of candidates at my workplace, those who are still building a family who might want these things for their children.
  • I would need to be more active in not only their studies but also their emotional well-being, especially my son who will at one point undergo puberty. The recent experience of forwarding my complaint to the school’s headmaster kind of mustered my courage to do more for not only my kids and my nieces but also for their friends.
  • Planning ahead a direction for their future. Money. Type of school. Something that spells out ambition.
  • character consolidation. kids should turn out better than the parents. better than me.

Thinking about this is making me tired already. *yawn*