Life in the peanut house....

It's quite a challenge being a single mom to 4 kids......all girls to boot. (Oh, I know...I'm not really a single mom considering that I do have a husband, and the kids have their father. But this year has been the worst in 6 yrs and neither of us have really seen hubby/Baba too much. So bare with me, when I say single mom) At our house, we have lots of barbies, lots of little cat fights, lots of makeup and lots of Always. LOL! It's fun being in a house of girls. We do lots of little horrible things that we really wouldn't be doing if there was a man around all the time. What things? Well....none of us really like to change in the bathroom....so after a shower....you gotta close ur eyes as a little girl runs by in her towel. (sometimes big girls, too!!) Now and then after a really good meal, the house may vibrate with the sound of a really grateful burp! A little gas has escaped now and then. Sometimes we make bra jokes.....once we were all in giggles over this phrase that I had read online......"over the shoulder, boulder holder". We were trying to say it 5 times fast. Not too easy. Impossible for the cannibal. She just couldn't say it....can't get her tongue around the word holder. We laughed for a good 15 minutes saying this. But if Baba was around....none of that. Maybe in a way, it's made us bond all the more?

I've got 4 different ages to deal with in my house.

I"ve got my 14 yr old....she's my dedicated buddy....always stands beside me in everything.....but she's sad and pulling for some independance....not really carrying her share around the house like she used to....spends time sulking and feeling morose. Lately she's been listening to music in her room....that's new. From all the girls....I enjoy spending one on one time with her....we really get along well and she has a great, even wicked sense of humour. She's really bookish and remembers itsy details of every book she ever read...including 1000 questions that kids ask......lol....some of those questions are over on UmmAbdurrahmans blog....which she amazingly answered!! She knows the names of all TV actors and a bit of every one of their backgrounds....she's excellent in memorizing Quran and hadith and after just 6 yrs in Egypt....she's tutoring some of the kids in class with their arabic grammar. Masha Allah!

Now the 11 yr old....who I keep fondly calling my cannibal.....she's the one with the most Eman from the girls. She always puts herself last, and is very conscious of others. She likes talking to ppl, and particularly enjoys seeking the company of older people. (even in Canada!) She has this contagious personality, and most adults love her at first sight, even as a baby in a stroller...subhanAllah. When she was 8 mos old, she started preferring my husband to me. It was a source of pain for awhile, I was confused as to why she didn't need me for comfort. She would literally wake up at night at 8 mos old, and when I'd go to her crib to get her, upon seeing me would start howling....only her father could calm her, just the sight of him calmed her....and he'd carry her until she'd fall asleep on his chest. He lay back down in bed, with her on top of him....and sleep like that. SubhanAllah. She would breast feed her fill and then roll over and hug him. LOL!!! So this 11 yr old has a few special things about her.....she's a left hander.....which she thinks makes her very special.....and she has a horrible temper. When she does get mad, she tends to say hurtful things and walks around like Oscar the grouch until we all beg for mercy. She's constantly comparing herself to her older sister, and feels like they both should have everything equal. That is a never ending argument between us. When she gets us upset with her, she reminds us that she is, "Habibit Baba", and that whatever she wants all she has to do is raise her pinky.....worst thing is.....she's right! Masha Allah!

My dear sweet 9 yr old. My first child to be born in Egypt. She's the quietest one in the family who is just starting to find her voice. She likes playing alone and doesn't like to have much noise around her. As a child, she always would sneak off into the room to play, instead of sitting with the family.....she can play with anything and be amused...even if it only meant counting her toes. Her play world has always been her comfort. She's prolly the most, lets say, neglected girl in the bunch. She doesn't crave much attention, and doesn't get much chance to get a word in when her sisters are around. I spend time with her and listen to her talk, and listen to the little day to day stories that she has to tell. She's independant even in school. She doesn't have a best friend there, and doesn't crave one. All the girls want to be her friend, but she's not loyal to anyone. Some kids try to tempt her with candies and things......but she's doesn't sway......she likes to be her own person.......what a strength! She's the only one of my girls with a smattering of gorgeous freckles across her nose....just like me. If any of you have ever chatted with me on Yahoo, u've seen the pretty picture of her in her pink hat....masha Allah......

The almost 4 yr old. What can I say about her? Also born in Egypt.....she's got quite the little personality. When I had her, it had been 5 yrs in our home without a little baby.......so all of us were in awe of this little one. She was a friendly baby who liked everyone, and is very, very attached to her 9 yr old sister. Her english is excellent, and she does understand all arabic...but answers back in mostly english. Her usable arabic words are few. She has this cute way of talking that makes us all laugh and totally loves this cat that comes to our door everyday. She's the only one of my girls to ever throw a full blown temper tantrum. We had to deal with that for about 4 mos, awhile back. It was horrible....complete with throwing herself on the floor, scratching her face....oh my.....but Alhamdulillah...we passed that phase. Some of the words that she says that make us laugh are....sandwich = witch, pretty dress = la la la, eat = mum , fino = wino, bath = baff......lol...many more. Something beatiful about her is that she can't handle seeing anyone cry.....if she does, she bursts into tears beside them.....lol..sounds like me, doesn't it? Masha Allah!

So there's what I am dealing with at the moment. Insha Allah, soon enough I'll be telling you about number 5!

The girls are quite independant actually. Compared to Canadian kids, I spose. My 14 yr old cooks....when I'm sick, she runs the house and cooks food for her sisters. She knows how to work the washing machine and washes occasionally....even if only her own stuff. The 11 yr old can cook, too. But her specialty lies in a different area. She likes cooking stir fry's whereas my 14 yr old is an excellent baker. The 9 yr old is a good picker upper....LOL.....and is pretty good about sorting and organizing things. The 3 yr old? Well....we just try to keep her busy. I

Before I got sick with all this mess in my life....I used to be quite the homemaker Mommy. I enjoyed cooking little specialties, cookies, warm bread......making each room look nice and pretty. Crafting in my spare time.....and unfortunately, when things got all screwed up for me....I couldn't find that person anymore. When I did find them, they were lying down in bed, and unable to get out. I know the kids miss that comfort. Actually, since I haven't been speaking to hubby, I've been improving in that aspect. Slowly coming around to where I used to be and making life more interesting. Oh sure, I"m still missing a lot of the "fun" that was me......but at least I am going thru the motions, which I couldn't even begin to try to do before. Healing is such a long process.

We've got an arabic and a math tutor who come to our house regularly. We've had both of them for 3 yrs. I'm itching to change them and definately will next school year. We have a geography tutor this year. He's a joke. Can you believe that he fell asleep while he was teaching the cannibal? No, really! She sat there for 15 mins, embarassed and didn't know what to do....the time with him is only an hour.....but he's been doing that a lot lately. He also has this horrible habit of sucking his spit. LOL! It's like he's sitting there about to drool any minute. I can't wait to get rid of him....after mid term....after mid term.

The girls keep me busy with life.....it sucks to know that as a mother we are limited......and all our aspirations to being the perfect mother are still a far cry away. I have forgiven my mother for a great many things she did when I was a kid. She can't help being limited....I asked for a lot that she just didn't have to give. I understand that now, and love her all the more for trying whereas I used to hate her for being unable. Its quite a day to day job......but it sure is the spice of life, being a mother. I can't wait till I grow old, my own girls get married and I finally have some grandkids to spoil. It'll be so fun to play with them, knowing that at the end of the day, they are going home!!! LOLOL!!! Maybe that day isn't so far off? My oldest is 14 and considering that I married at 18.....who knows? Wouldn't that be something?

I keep pushing my girls for their education....I want them all to go to university. It doesn't matter to me what they take there.....but to get out and experience that part of life, and take something with them from it. In Egypt, it's a big thing to have ur kids all being DR's and pharmacists......but that's not so important to me.......I want them to do what they want.

So there's an overview of my girls...a little look into our life......someone commented on that recently........more to come at another time.....insha Allah....