My family (mom, dad, brother, sister, sister's boyfriend, me, my husband, and our son) is going to an amusement park tomorrow. Admission to this amusement park includes admission to the adjacent waterpark.
I just broke the news today that me, hubby, and our son would not be joining them for the waterpark portion. I explained that hubby is uncomfortable swimming with girls. This is half true. Hubby is uncomfortable with a bunch of bikini clad babes swarming around him, but he's also uncomfortable with me swimming in my board shorts and rashguard. I know it's not 'hijab' but compared to what most will have on, I truly think for the situation it could be safely called modest.
But n.e. wayz...I told them we wouldn't be going and my dad started again. "When you started dating, did you know that you wouldn't be able to do all of these things?" (water parks, wearing shorts...that's it I guess, lol)
"Of course not."
"Well, I tried to warn you. They're very strict over there. Does that mean your son can never go to a waterpark."
"I really don't know, dad, but even if it did, it wouldn't kill him."
Um...I think I'd rather have the man of my dreams than a pair of shorts any old day.
Of course, as he ponders this information he randomly confronts me for the remainder of the evening.
"Why was it okay for you to wear shorts while you were dating, but it's not okay now?"
"I can wear them, hubby would rather me not and it's really not a big deal to me."
"But why didn't it bother him before?"
"It did, but he was afraid to tell me. "
"Well, what if he decides he doesn't want you to be a Christian?"
"Dad...they're shorts."
"Yes, but he has this influence over you."
You know what this means....once I DO tell them, they won't believe that it's my own decision. It will all be to please my husband or due to his influence (er, brainwashing). That makes me feel just greeeat.
"Okay, I'll drop this whole waterpark business if you promise me you'll stay a Christian."
He really said that. 'promise me you'll stay a Christian'
"yeah, Dad."
"Jesus died for your sins, you have to remember that. And you have to teach your son that. It's your responsibility that he becomes a Christian."
"I am not responsible for his choices."
"But you're responsible for teaching him. I never see you reading him Bible stories. You have to make him Christian or your husband will make him Muslim."
I have to tell them soon or I'll go mad. Our family vacay tomorrow would be one giant fight, though, if I had told them tonight.
Hmm. I wonder when it'll happen.
In other news, my grandma had hernia surgery today. All went well alhumdulillah! She is already at home. :)
8 comments:
I'm glad your grandmother's surgery went well. Hope you all had a fun time at the amusement park. :)
Alhamdullilah, i'm glad to hear that all went well with your grandmother.
I told you in another comment that i think you should tell your folks because its obvious deep down they know that you are Muslim. And when they know they will know that your son is going to be muslim also, so inshallah they won't keep singing christian songs and stuff. Maybe write a letter or even video tape yourself, something that could have a date on it to prove that 'see, i wrote this a while ago to give to you when i'm ready'. a way to try to prove that it was your choice and not such a new thing. If you do the video maybe wear something that really stands out so that they make a comment, and then when they see the vid they'll remember that day...they'll know your not lying. you have to post right away when you do tell them, i'm SOO curious as to how its all going to go down.
The mistake i made when i told people (well, family) was i was really nervous so i in a way let them bully me into not speaking my mind. My grandmother had an ex-muslim christian lady try to ask me questions and they announced 'she doesn't know why she became muslim. she did it for her mom.' WTF? anyway just be firm and explain everything.
Yayyy!Good for you Nikki that you would rather have the man of your dreams than a pair of shorts.I totally agree with you on that.
Woah you should tell them soon!
But if you don't want a family feud, maybe you should wait until after? I mean your parents will figure out sooner or later!
Ooh a way to work around the whole 'bible stories' thing is just to read him Islamic stories with the english versions of yacoub/jacob e.t.c
Insha'Allah things won't go so bad when you tell them!!!
How you do it will still be a problem in the future. About stories from the bible, most stories are similar to the muslim stories with the exception that the muslim stories show the prophets in a lot better view. (They dont sin in islam, they dont betray, they are not unfaithful and so forth)
Yaay, alhamdullilah for your grandma. :)
You're in a tough situation since you live with your parents, I think it'd be different if you didn't.
I think I remember you saying your dad sings the 'Jesus Love Me' song to your son several times a day? That alone would drive me bonkers. ;)
I think AlabasterMuslim is right. Your parents probably suspect that you have secretly converted already/are going to. Its really too bad that they can't see your own reasons for getting interested in Islam and only see your husband as influencing you.
I hope the best for you. You are in a really tough situation and I don't blame you for wanting to keep the peace with your family.
Cute Blog. Masha Allah. Sister my mom lives in KY and I am a convert too. When I went to visit last time my mom put me in tears because she could not understand why I needed to wear hijjab when I was a single mother. She wanted me to get remarried and show my beauty (or lack there of) There was much push from her and my sister and I had to leave her house for a walk and I just cried because they couldn't admire me they had to push me to my limit. I hear you boy do I hear you!
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