Lately my daughter has been asking to go shopping for hijabs. Its on her mind. Every time we’ve left to go on a trip for college searches or science Olympiad, she asks, “Is that the city with the cool hijab store?” She’s remembering the shop in Bridgeview. Al Omari Islamic Fashions. Pea remembers 5 years ago, we went to this shop, we were warmly welcomed, they had an abundance of abaya and hijab and the women were so helpful and... Read more
When I started writing this blog, it was with the hopes that it would be a touchstone for people like me, searching for a source of support in this wonderful, exciting, challenging and often lonely journey of being in an interfaith relationship with a Muslim spouse. A source of comfort and a place for information to help along the journey. I’m thrilled to be this weekend’s Featured Author on AltMuslim’s Social Media. Please boost the signal so other women... Read more
I’ve been thinking that I should be writing. I should be talking to you, telling you what’s been happening…but the words wouldn’t come. My life hasn’t been that interesting lately. I guess. I’ve been working on getting Mr. Fox ready to go to college. That is the biggest thing in my life. Going on college tours has been a new experience for me. When I was in high school, the school counselors weren’t that great. I think I met with... Read more
It seems to me that the 2016 election will be one of those defining moments in history, much like Pearl Harbor, or 9/11 or Rabaa. There will be the time before…and the aftermath. The United States will be forever changed. The world as we know it will be forever changed. Our children and grandchildren will ask us why things are the way they are and we will point back to that specific incident in time as the turning point. For... Read more
“You said you prayed about it. I know your husband and children are Muslim, but what religion are you?” She asked. “Its complicated,” I said, “I’m on a journey and I don’t quite know where it will lead.” My mother grew up in a Catholic family. She and her 5 brothers and sisters went to Catholic schools; my grandmother was an old school Catholic woman who knew her religion. My father came to religion a little later in life, and... Read more
Mom? Can you make Baba’s Red Sauce? The month of December is a stressful time of the year for most people. If you are shopping for Christmas, you are worried about having gifts for all of your loved ones, how much money you are spending and if your packages will arrive on time. If you are paying attention to world events, you are worried about the Coptic Christians being bombed in Egypt, the Syrians being slaughtered in Aleppo, the anniversary... Read more
If you open your eyes and are observant, you can often see more than what’s in front of your face. Last month, I took Big Sis to Fort Wayne for the day. She had her stuff to do, so I took work with me. I was pretty nervous to drive there to spend the day because Big Sis wears hijab full time and we were going to Indiana. I dropped her off at her destination early in the morning, got... Read more
My heart is heavy. It is a boulder of concrete sinking into the ocean, never to rise to the surface. I AM TERRIFIED. You know when your children are small, and they have learned to walk and they want their independence, but then you take them into a crowded store and they walk around the corner and you can’t see them? You remember that feeling of panic? THAT’S ME, ALL DAY – EVERY DAY. From the time... Read more
Last week, one of my people had a severe panic attack right before my eyes. It had never happened before, but knowing the symptoms, I knew what to do to help. I told them to breathe. In through the nose, then out through the mouth. Calm, deep breaths. Then, tell me what’s going on. Once I heard the short bursts of explanation. The fragmented thoughts spilling out, I knew this wasn’t something we could fix... Read more
Mom, I have the weirdest parents of all my friends. Me: Why? You guys are not like anyone else’s parents. Me: Is that bad? Well, no. Me: Help me understand. Some parents are super strict. You can’t breathe, you can’t relax, and you never have any fun. Then, there are some parents that just don’t care. Me:… You guys are like those custom privacy settings on Facebook. Some things are locked down,... Read more
My Islamic Life
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