Flavour Of The Day With Noora

I come from a somewhat big family and so, I am used to being surrounded by babies and children.

As I watched my nieces and nephews grow up, it never crossed my mind to think of how soon they crawled, clapped, said their first word or accomplished any other achievement. I was just very happy to see them do something new.

When I had my son however, I was suddenly introduced to the world of milestones! There are countless sources, charts, and books that explain what a child should achieve at every age.

There are also less scientific measures that might constantly remind you of what your son should be mastering. I am of course, referring to the occasional annoying remarks from people who love to comment: “why hasn’t he crawled yet? You should leave him on his tummy more often before it’s too late! Don’t take this lightly or he will never crawl!”

As amusing as it might be to see how people love to interfere, it can be a little worrying to think that your baby is behind schedule. This is especially true for first time mamas who lack the experience.

Although all the scientific sources stress that each baby is unique and will meet milestones on his own pace, an excited mama cannot help but want her son to be an early achiever. Once a milestone is finally met, it becomes the most adorable achievement ever!

I remember taking a ridiculous number of pictures of my son sitting on his own. I couldn’t resist showing everyone what my son could do and how cute and grown up he looked!

Thinking back, I am sure it might have been a bit boring for my friends to see so many pictures of the same pose, just from different angles. But, when my son learns to master another milestone, I have a feeling that I will do the same thing again!

It is also funny to see how addictive it is to share notes with other mamas. Over the past nine months, I have engaged in conversations about nap times, sleep training methods and feeding schedules with every other mama I know. It's not that we do it on purpose, it just happens to be our favourite topic!

I wanted to write about milestones today because my baby just learned to move his hands when I sing “twinkle-twinkle little star”. It is safe to say that I will be sending a mass video tonight!

Flavour of The Day With Noora

As I was parked in front of a mini market, I noticed a man running out of his car towards a taxi. Within a matter of seconds, this huge and very angry man was attacking the taxi driver while he was still in his car!

I could not believe what I was seeing! In fact, I started to look around to see if other people were noticing what was going on, and if so, was anyone going help?

After about ten seconds of constantly punching the taxi driver , the raging man opened the taxi door, kicked the driver and tried to drag him onto the street. At this point, the taxi driver was holding on to the steering wheel with all his might, knowing that if he did get out, the worst would happen.

Again, I looked around in shock, waiting for one of the cars to stop and intervene or for someone to "please help this man!" But, no one did.

Suddenly, I found myself opening my car door and stepping out. In less than a second, however, it hit me, my baby was in the car with me, and this man could easily come after me as well and my baby would get hurt. So, I turned around and stayed put in my car.

At no point did it strike me to call the police, my mind just went blank. After about 3 minutes, which is a long time when you are being beaten up, the taxi driver managed to close his door and drive away full speed. That was that.

I was speechless! What had happened to me? A few months ago, I would have run to help. Now, I just stayed in my car, locked the doors and painfully watched the taxi driver get beaten. Even though I knew I was only protecting my son, I couldn't help but feel really bad about my inaction!

For the rest of the day, I could think of only one question: has becoming a mama made me a coward, or shall I say less courageous? Should I have personally helped or did I do the right thing by staying in my car?

Does being a good mama sometimes contradict with being a good person? Because, a good person would have helped!

What would you have done?

Flavour Of The Day With Noora

Welcome to my Diary!

My name is Noora, a recent mother of a baby boy, and a new addition to Family Flavours.

The story of my diary began when the editor and I decided that we wanted to interact with our readers, beyond the magazine. We were looking for something real and stimulating. We needed an idea that would bring you into my home the same you bring me into yours each month.

So, I decided to invite you into my life to share my thoughts and my daily experiences. I might have questions in need of answers, or simply just feel like chatting.

Please join my blog and follow my posts. Tell me what you think, how your day was and how I can help.

I look forward to meeting you soon.

On behalf of Family Flavours, welcome to "Flavour Of The Day With Noora"

Something To Think About !

Let’s suppose that you were able, every night, to dream any dream that you wanted to dream. And that you could, for example, have the power within one night to dream 75 years of time. Or any length of time you wanted to have. And naturally, as you begin on this adventure of dreams, you’d fulfill all your wishes. You’d have every kind of pleasure you could perceive. And after several nights of 75 years of total pleasure each, you’d say “Well that was pretty great, but now let’s have a surprise, let’s have a dream that isn’t under control. Something is gonna happen to me and I don’t know what it’s gonna be.” And even with that, you’d come out of that and say ”Wow, that was a close shave, wasn’t it?” and then you would get more and more adventurous and you’d make further and further out gambles of what you would dream. And finally, you’d dream where you are now. You’d dream the dream of living the life you are actually living today.

Anonymous.

You’re Not As bad As You Think You Are

I was reading Family Flavours and I came across the article Generation Give, which basically says how teenagers give back to the community, and it made me feel guilty that I don’t do more. Then I realised that I was wrong to feel that way.

If you can read this, you’re among one of the 8% richest people in the world. You live in relative ease and all your basic needs are pretty much covered. You’ve got a house, food, education. Also, you have internet, central heating, a shower, a cooker. You probably have a mobile phone, an iPod maybe. You’ve got friends, transport, a television. A comfortable life. You should be happy.

On the flipside, there are people in places like Somalia, India and Afghanistan who don’t know what a computer is. They don’t worry about how which make-up will make them look best, or what programs they have to record, because they can’t. They’re too busy trying to stay alive. These people are born into poverty and starvation, and that’s how they stay, before they die. Young. They spend their time working, or searching for food or water. They dream of an education. For a better life for their family. Yet, as so many people will tell you, and as I know from firsthand experience in Kolkata, they are happy. They shouldn’t be happy, but they are. They sing, they dance, they love. And that’s enough for them.

Looking at the two situations, you couldn’t possibly imagine that we, as well off people, could ever find anything to complain about.

But we do.

We complain about EVERYTHING. We complain about work, school, friends, appearance, relationships, even about things like the television, or the internet. We go so far as to complain about other people complaining. The killer is when we complain about charities, or giving to the poor. “Oh, I’ve already donated this month, I wish they’d get out of my hair.”We take everything we have for granted. Our friends, family, technology, education, heat, clothes, everything. We take it all for granted, and we “couldn’t survive” if it was taken away.

Inconsiderate, isn’t it?

That’s not a good sign, right?

Wrong. We are a product of our surroundings. We, either as humans, or as what we’ve become, have developed this trait. We will complain. We will rely on other people. We will take stuff for granted.

We say that we’ll change, and we really do try, but we can’t. It’s a natural part of living. Life is a complex thing, and the only way to not take anything for granted is to remove everything that could be taken for granted.

But that isn’t practical. Our ancestors have worked hard to get us where we are now. We reap the benefits of their work, which seems selfish, but wouldn’t it be a slap across the face to them if we ignored it? And also, I think you have to realise, or believe that, in some way, no matter how small, you’re changing the world for the future too, just like they did.

If I have seen further it is only by standing on the shoulders of giants

Isaac Newton said those words, and he was right. It’s okay for us to use what we have now to change the future. It’s okay to forget about other people, and focus on ourselves, because we’re human, we make mistakes, and, if by being selfish and focusing on ourselves, we end up changing the world, is that not worth it?

I’m not saying ignore those less fortunate than you. By all means, do all you can to help them, if that’s how you want to change the world. I support that so much, and I do it too. But I’m saying it’s okay to forget every so often. It’s okay to be wrapped up in your own world for a bit. Never feel guilty that you’re taking stuff for granted, because you never know what might come of it.

Do you think someone like Adi Roche (or any other prominent charitable figure) never had personal problems that swayed her course? Everyone does it sometimes, and it’s okay.

All I’m saying is that when you feel guilty, it’s a good thing, it shows you care. Also, instead of letting it get you down, use it as a driving force, an inspiration to change something. And by change something, I don’t mean you have to go out and donate all your life savings to the Red Cross. Just change something minor. Help an old lady, talk to a friend in need, anything. Do some good. If you can do some good, then you’re helping someone less fortunate than you.

And that makes you a pretty great person after all.

Appearance vs Personality

The Teens Speak Out section of Family Flavours in the July edition was all about freedom of expression and it got me thinking how teenagers show their personalities through their appearance. That made me wonder is it necessary to appear a certain way just to make the impression you want to make? For years, people have had the debate. What’s more important, appearance or personality? Well, there’s a quote:

“Appearance gets you in the door, but personality keeps you in the house.”

By that logic, it would seem that personality is by far the more important of the two. But in hindsight, is it really? If it is, then why do we, as humans, constantly strive to look better? Why do we put ourselves through pain and turmoil to make ourselves more attractive? The answer is that, in reality, appearance has always been more important than personality.

Seriously, look at history. From the days of the Ancient Egyptians (inventors of make-up), to the changing styles of clothing in the Victorian Era, right through to the founding of modern-day make-up and perufme companies in the early 1900s, people have always tried to artificially enhance themselves.

In the harsh world we live in, people who are attractive will always find an easier way to excel in their individual situations than those who are genuinely talented or who have great personalities. Those who have both soon rise to the top. A prime example would be the world of film and television, but this scenario exists right down the scale, to social standings in schools or clubs.

Is it wrong that the world works this way? That those who have true inner beauty are not recognised, or have to work twice as hard to be noticed? Is it wrong that those with looks get an easy ride to the top? That nearly everyone, no matter what they say, first judges a book by its cover? I think the answer is quite clearly yes, it is very wrong.

Sure, people get better as they grow up. Or so you’d think. That’s the case in relationships, and friendships, but think in terms of careers.Someone could be the most amazing singer in the world, but they could also have a facial disfigurement. As we all know, they would be instantly shot down, due to their lacking of “the look” it takes to become a superstar.

There is no “look”. There’s just this savage mentality that exists amongst people, instilled in them from a young age.

Nobody was created perfect. Everybody has their flaws, but in the same way, everybody has something to contribute to the world. It isn’t fair that this mentality exists. It isn’t fair that from secondary school onwards, we are taught by the world that looks equals popularity. It isn’t fair that so many people’s self confidence is shattered so early, just because God created them in a certain way.

That’s just my opinion, I can’t actually change anything. Society says I’m wrong. Unfortunately, this is the one we’ve created, and the one we’re now forced to live in.

Indulge in the heart-to-heart stories people shared with us about their lives and experiences, concerning divorce and giving back, in the July issue of #Family Flavours magazine in stores now!

Whether you're looking for creative ways to refresh your summer or just craving some "me time" with a good read, all you have to do is take some time off and spend it flipping through the pages of our latest edition. Unwind with unconventional, homemade recipes for light brunches, heartwarming egg bakes and tasty desserts. And read all about what men want, retro sunglasses' comeback, local Sufi-inspired art and much more.

So, get your day planner and pencil in some quality time with yours truly.