When_Humble_Is_Frowned_Upon

So what stands out about Ali when it comes to science over the last two years' I tried not to put any pressure on her by pretending to scrape something off my mouse pad. Sarah breathed in softly looking down and shifted uncomfortably in her seat. I laid my hand on her leg gently to off set my frustrated voice tone, Sarh, don’t be so modest, we have to fill out this summer genius application or Ali is going to be wasting away all summer long again in this little stuffy apartment. Sarah looked up at me a little hurt “stuffy'”, Ok, not stuffy, you air it out all the time, but you know what I mean, Ali had such a hard time last summer, and hes like nine now, so you need to work with me. Sarah took a deep breath in and raised her head and met my eyes “he is smart”. I rolled my eyes shaking my head to the side. Sarah, I don’t think they the summer committee would appreciate under accomplishemtns that his mom thinks her son is smart is going to impress them. He has to stick out from the rest of the kids, theres like hundreds if not thousands of kids trying to get into this summer camp. I’m sure Sarah could sense my frustration, not because I was on a time line, but because she wasn’t really making this easy. I gritted my teeth trying to come up with another direction. OK, what cool science projects has been doing in the kitchen, I remember you told me that he had made a cool volcano thingy the other week. Sarah’s eyes lit up and she smiled proudly. I tried to catch the wave of her excitement quickly jumping on the board ‘ok, so wasn’t that a fantastic accomplimene' Tell me about it. I could tell she was trying to formulate something to say but lost it after a few seconds. What is up with you Sarah, what is the big deal' Why can’t you say something about Ali, I know your so proud of him and you love him so much, why can’t you help him' She sighed resigning herself, “your going to think I am stupid”, No I’m not, yes you will, what ever gave you that idea' You laughed at me during our last party last week. I searched my brain trying to remember when and why I would ever laugh at Sarah. Refresh my memory, You know, about the baby bottle when I was feeding Omar. A huge smile spread across my face as I started cracing up. Sarah, I said hesitantly, who wouldn’t laugh at someone blending rice a roni with chicken and milk in a blender, cutting off the top of the bottle’s nipple and feeding their seven month old when he wakes up at night. I was laughing so hard tears were streatming down my face. I was totally enjoying myself recalling that incident. I looked up only to find her stone faced looking at me. See she said with an acusing finger, see what I mean! Sarh OMG give me a break, a baby bottle filled with pureed rice a roni is not the same as Ali getting intoa eliete summer camp. She sat up straight, yea, but I know you will laugh at my reason why its hard for me to talk about his accomplishments, I know people like you. I sat up, People like me! My voice sounding so high pitched it cracked like I was going through puberty (well a male). What the heck is that supposed to mean, people like me' Look, when anyone has something really fantastic happen to them, I always thank God. OK, that’s cool, so what does that have to do with me and Ali and this stupid application' Well, I don’t like that application, because I feel like I’m bragging. And what pretail is the problem with bragging' Arent’ you proud of him' Of course I am and he works so hard she whispered something in Arabic iincorrheesnt under her breath again. Sarah what the heck do you keep saying so softly to yourself' It’s in Arabic for Mashalallah. Yea, ok, so why do you keep saying it after you talk about something good about Ali' Because I want God to protect him. Well so do I, I said a little weary, I aint gonna hurt him, I’m just trying to fill out this stinking four page application. I know she smiled softly its just when someone does something good, give God the glory and ask Him to protect and keep this great gift. Oh, ok Sarah, I like being thankful too, but why would Ali need God protection because your saying something great about him' Because Jennifer its like braggin, and that is like being really egocentric and selfpuffed up. Sara your messing with me, whats the problem beng proud of ourselfes, OK, are you proud that you can breath' What the heck is that supposed to mean' I mean do you have control over your health, or does God give you good health' Of course good health is a blessing, but it isnt’ an accomplishment like making a scientific expereient in the sink. But God gives us amazing talens, like some people are naturally grat at languages and have intrisinct abilities for engineering. These are gifts, so we are thankful not boastful about these gifts and we don’t show off. I feel like filling out this application is showing off and most certinally they are not going to expect to see mashAllah written after each application. Now I was getting frustrated, Sara, look, never mind, I’ll just fill it out to the best of my ability and try to make he sound like the fantastic child he is so he doesn’t loose this opportunity. But you as a mother, would do better than me. Too bad Sarah, you have to suck it up, we were trained (well maybe not all of us) from we were little to feel confident and list off our accomlishemnts to feel good about ourselves. I mena like who wouldn’t, what were supposed to walk around with our heads down feeling like some wretched person under the scorn of God' I didn’t become Muslims for this interpretation.