Wednesday, July 17, 2013
Sunday, July 14, 2013
Houdini
Houdini was a hungarian born stunt performer who became famous for his ability to escape from different forms of confinement. Well it would appear that Yusuf has an uncanny ability to do the same. There has been more than one incident that has highlighted his unique talent.
Incident 1:
I was loading something into the boot of my car about 2 weeks back, and had Yusuf strapped into his car seat ready to go. Now if you have kids and use a car seat you know that these straps are really hugging to the body, especially when your kids is wearing bulky winter clothes. And for those who are not familiar, it has a y-shaped safety harness which goes over the shoulders across the chest to buckle into a strap between the legs. But the next thing I see Yusuf standing looking at me through the boot hatch with complete glee on his face. At first I thought perhaps I had not clipped the buckle in fully, but when I went to strap him back in I saw the straps well and truly fastened. So i strapped him back in and went back to loading my boot, this time keeping a keen eye on Yusuf to see if he would try it again...and he did! I watched as he quietly wriggled and jiggled till he managed to get one arm out, then the other arm, then pushed up on the sides of his seat to lift his knees out one at a time...and voila! Job done. Fortunately he only does this when he's been waiting in a stationery vehicle for too long and hasn't tried this yet while we are driving!
I was loading something into the boot of my car about 2 weeks back, and had Yusuf strapped into his car seat ready to go. Now if you have kids and use a car seat you know that these straps are really hugging to the body, especially when your kids is wearing bulky winter clothes. And for those who are not familiar, it has a y-shaped safety harness which goes over the shoulders across the chest to buckle into a strap between the legs. But the next thing I see Yusuf standing looking at me through the boot hatch with complete glee on his face. At first I thought perhaps I had not clipped the buckle in fully, but when I went to strap him back in I saw the straps well and truly fastened. So i strapped him back in and went back to loading my boot, this time keeping a keen eye on Yusuf to see if he would try it again...and he did! I watched as he quietly wriggled and jiggled till he managed to get one arm out, then the other arm, then pushed up on the sides of his seat to lift his knees out one at a time...and voila! Job done. Fortunately he only does this when he's been waiting in a stationery vehicle for too long and hasn't tried this yet while we are driving!
Incident 2:
This feat came at no surprise given the car seat incident. Yusufs feeding chair has the same safety harness configuration as the car seat so it was no surprise he was able to break free from his shackles one dinner time.
This feat came at no surprise given the car seat incident. Yusufs feeding chair has the same safety harness configuration as the car seat so it was no surprise he was able to break free from his shackles one dinner time.
Incident 3:
Yusuf is obsessed with the pantry cupboard. It is a long cupboard door at an angle to the kitchen counter which has a cupboard underneath. So we tie the handle higher up to the handle lower down with a lanyard to prevent access to the spray and cook he keeps grabbing at, and the blender in the adjacent lower cupboard. So when you open one cupboard, both doors open with very limited opening between the 2 doors to fit even my arm let alone Yusufs fat head. But, once again with great will and determination Yusuf managed to wiggle his chunky self between the 2 cupboard doors and alerted us to this fact by his shrieking in delight while inside the cupboard. Of course in order to get him out I had to first shut him in the cupboard (there's plenty of standing room) to untie the lanyard. He didn't mind being inside a dark cupboard for a few seconds one bit. In fact he saw it as an opportunity to open a packet of rice!
Yusuf is obsessed with the pantry cupboard. It is a long cupboard door at an angle to the kitchen counter which has a cupboard underneath. So we tie the handle higher up to the handle lower down with a lanyard to prevent access to the spray and cook he keeps grabbing at, and the blender in the adjacent lower cupboard. So when you open one cupboard, both doors open with very limited opening between the 2 doors to fit even my arm let alone Yusufs fat head. But, once again with great will and determination Yusuf managed to wiggle his chunky self between the 2 cupboard doors and alerted us to this fact by his shrieking in delight while inside the cupboard. Of course in order to get him out I had to first shut him in the cupboard (there's plenty of standing room) to untie the lanyard. He didn't mind being inside a dark cupboard for a few seconds one bit. In fact he saw it as an opportunity to open a packet of rice!
Incident 4:
Any parent of small children will tell you that steps and staircases haunt us. The minute your little rascal becomes mobile this area of a home becomes enemy territory to you, but utopia to the little mover. We have a security gate at the top of the stairs, which also serves as a handy safety barrier for Yusuf. Then one day I caught Yusuf lying on his tummy with his legs under the gate as far as his thighs, feet dangling over the first step. He couldn't go any further because of his bulky nappy, but given his history I wouldn't have been surprised if he figured out a way to overcome this little hurdle given enough time and motivation. His motivation in this instance was the toy he dropped which landed 3 steps down. So from then on I keep my ears keenly aware when he walks on the landing. The minute I here him so much as touch the gate I go running. His latest attempt has been to climb up the gate to get to the key.
Any parent of small children will tell you that steps and staircases haunt us. The minute your little rascal becomes mobile this area of a home becomes enemy territory to you, but utopia to the little mover. We have a security gate at the top of the stairs, which also serves as a handy safety barrier for Yusuf. Then one day I caught Yusuf lying on his tummy with his legs under the gate as far as his thighs, feet dangling over the first step. He couldn't go any further because of his bulky nappy, but given his history I wouldn't have been surprised if he figured out a way to overcome this little hurdle given enough time and motivation. His motivation in this instance was the toy he dropped which landed 3 steps down. So from then on I keep my ears keenly aware when he walks on the landing. The minute I here him so much as touch the gate I go running. His latest attempt has been to climb up the gate to get to the key.
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| the space under the gate is much smaller than it looks |
Incident 5:
Since the arrival of Uthmaan, Bilaal and Sumayah have moved onto a bunk bed. Although there is a ladder Sumayah is constantly climbing onto the top bunk at the back of the bed. Yusuf of course saw this and decided to mimic the behaviour. Fortunately Bilaal and Sumayah were playing in the room, but unfortunately looked up from their game too late to catch him in the act. I heard Bilaal shout 'no Yusuf!' And then 'mommy!' I came running to find Yusuf sitting on the top bunk looking very pleased with himself!
Since the arrival of Uthmaan, Bilaal and Sumayah have moved onto a bunk bed. Although there is a ladder Sumayah is constantly climbing onto the top bunk at the back of the bed. Yusuf of course saw this and decided to mimic the behaviour. Fortunately Bilaal and Sumayah were playing in the room, but unfortunately looked up from their game too late to catch him in the act. I heard Bilaal shout 'no Yusuf!' And then 'mommy!' I came running to find Yusuf sitting on the top bunk looking very pleased with himself!
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| spiderman |
Incident 6:
In true Houdini style he has left the show stopper for last...well at least I wish it will be the last...
Yusuf loves playing at my bedroom window. He hides behind the curtain or he watches the birds on the balcony. Its a long window so he can reach the handle, but there are burglar bars. But let that not stop Yusuf! Thanks to his shrieks of excitement Yaasier was alerted to his whereabouts. Yusuf WAS ON THE BALCONY! Yaasier rushed to get the key for the security gate and door while Bilaal called to him from the window trying to get him back to the window and away from the bacony fence. I was in the adjacent room when I heard the commotion and looked up to see Yusuf on the balcony just about the climb the fence as though it was a step ladder. My heart must have skipped a beat! But Yaasier got to him just in time! In the first place he figured out how to open the window, but then most remarkable of all is that he managed to contort his way through the burglar bars!
In true Houdini style he has left the show stopper for last...well at least I wish it will be the last...
Yusuf loves playing at my bedroom window. He hides behind the curtain or he watches the birds on the balcony. Its a long window so he can reach the handle, but there are burglar bars. But let that not stop Yusuf! Thanks to his shrieks of excitement Yaasier was alerted to his whereabouts. Yusuf WAS ON THE BALCONY! Yaasier rushed to get the key for the security gate and door while Bilaal called to him from the window trying to get him back to the window and away from the bacony fence. I was in the adjacent room when I heard the commotion and looked up to see Yusuf on the balcony just about the climb the fence as though it was a step ladder. My heart must have skipped a beat! But Yaasier got to him just in time! In the first place he figured out how to open the window, but then most remarkable of all is that he managed to contort his way through the burglar bars!
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| my view of the balcony where Yusuf tried to climb up! |
When they say you need eyes at the back of your head when you have kids, they fail to mention that you also need to be able to see through walls, have more than 2 arms and maybe even be able to be 2 places at one time...with Yusuf the Houdini Abrahams I certainly do. And lest not forget he turned 1 just 4 months ago...he is only getting started!
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| I couldn't have put it better myself |
Tuesday, July 9, 2013
Head, heart, spirit
Another year, another Ramadaan, another addition to the family. Amidst all the angst, the excitement, the joy, and the stress of having another child, comes the dawning of another month of Ramadaan. And with all the intensely spiritual atmosphere it brings to the home, it also makes you truly appreciate family. So what beautiful perspective it brings when you realise that we are welcoming another little soul into the home. And that the pureness of his soul as a new human being is but a blessing in this holy month. For acwhile now I have been reflecting on certain things I wish to improve about myself, many very spiritual in nature. It's not easy but then nothing truly worth doing ever is. For many this month is, to muslims, what new years resolutions are to non-muslims...a chance to reset...a chance to detox the body, the mind and the soul...the chance to be the best muslim you can be for the sake of your creator. And I think it is that awareness of creation and the gratitude to the creator that makes us long to share this beautiful month with our loved ones, especially those physically far and no longer with us. So we make our resolutions to be better and we practice as best we can...but we all know that resolutions are not easily kept. Sadly when the month passes and celebrations have passed the difficult task of maintaing that spiritual growth begins and it is here that the true transformation begins. I have some personal goals which are not new but I will not give up in pursuing them. I almost didn't write this post because for me issues of faith and spirituality are so personal because it is about your relationship with your creator. But speaking to a good friend today who has some similar goals I realised that the struggles I face are shared by others and perhaps by being honest about my spiritual flaws I will be more committed to improving them because it is out there, but also that it need not be a journey taken entirely alone. So may tonight be the first night of a beautiful transformation for me in head, heart and spirit Insha Allah and I wish all the same to all my gorgeous family and friends observing this sacred month together Insha Allah. Love to you all.
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