My Son Spent Half of His Adulthood in Prison

The truth is the fact that when a woman gives birth to a new baby, the excitement that follows the birth when it is said to be a boy has no boundaries. That doesn’t mean most parents do not welcome their female babies with joy and affection. I am just been real here. There are households where parents are looking to have a baby girl which is yet to happen ditto to having boys. We pray that Allah answers everyone’s prayers.

I was having a conversation with a man who has been in marriage for forty-five years and it got to a point that l asked about his children and how he was able to manage and sustain his marriage for those beautiful years. He told me how successful his two daughters are, and sadly, he mentioned his son in the statement: “My son spent half of his adulthood in prison. He didn’t listen to me. He won’t listen to me.”

The truth is, l was sad hearing such a statement from him. But l do not want to be too inquisitive. So, l said, boys are tough to raise. I only got one. But l have my children enrolled in a private Islamic School and that helped us a lot. l saw that his eyes were red after telling me where his son was. But l immediately shifted to how he was able to sustain his marriage for 45 years. A story for another time.

It may be hard for some of us. But, l have experienced the huge advantages of raising children, especially in this type of environment we live in, in an Islamic School. Perhaps, you do not know the blessing of not having your children in prison. I encourage us to invest in the lives of our children. The benefits are more than the money spent. May Allah make our children the coolness of our eyes.

 

Umm Sumayyah Mai

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