Today, we focused on homeschooling, diving into a topic that has been on my mind lately: religion. While I’ve been struggling to feel connected to my own spiritual path recently, I don’t want my own feelings to influence my kids’ learning experiences. So, I made it a point to sit down with Maria and explore the basics of Islam together.
We kept it simple and approachable with a small board book titled *The Five Pillars of Islam*. It’s one of those books that’s short and straightforward but does a great job of covering the essentials. Maria read through it, and we discussed each of the five pillars in a way she could understand. We talked about what it means to believe in something, the significance of prayer, and how these practices form the core of a Muslim’s life. Even though it’s a basic book, it covers the key points clearly, which made it easier for us to have meaningful discussions about each part.
Talking about prayer was a particularly interesting part of our discussion. We explored what praying means and why it’s an important act for many people around the world. I could see Maria processing the information, nodding thoughtfully as we talked. I believe she grasped most of the concepts, and I was glad to see her engaging with the ideas.
As always, our homeschooling sessions are never without some lively distractions! Marwa was her energetic self, bouncing around the fireplace room, which also serves as our playroom. She’s always full of energy, and I’ve come to accept that there’s a unique rhythm to our learning environment. Meanwhile, Safa decided to join in with her own form of excitement, banging on the window to express her curiosity or perhaps just to make a bit of noise. It’s all part of the chaos and joy of homeschooling multiple kids.
Despite the occasional chaos, there was a sense of calm and connection in our little lesson today. Moments like these remind me that while I may feel disconnected from certain aspects of spirituality myself, guiding my kids as they discover and explore their own understanding is still incredibly valuable. It’s about planting the seeds of curiosity, understanding, and open-mindedness, and today felt like a step in that direction.
All in all, it was a good start to the week—a bit of learning, a bit of laughter, and a lot of love.
The Dappled Odysseys 