First steps looming

The baby is 10 months old now. The little man has no teeth, but he wants to walk! He's been standing up without holding onto anything. And then he teeters, one step, two steps and ......... kadoof , lands on his bum.

Throughout this whole drama, the expression on his face is priceless. It completely lights up, eyes like stars on a very dark night. He gets all excited (looks as if he's going to burst). And after he's fallen down- that precious smile that lights up the whole face. Beautiful.

Daddy insists that if it weren't for his ears, his smile would have made a bow tie around his head!

Now I must admit that although I'm excited to have him walking, I'm also a bit sad. Once he walks he's no longer a little baby. :-( Why do they grow up so quickly?

Top literacy student

While shopping at the mall, I bump into my eldest daughter’s deputy principal. She asks me “Did your daughter give you the good news?”   What news?Huh? What are you talking about? What did my child NOT tell me? These are the thoughts that run through my mind in that split second before I shake my head. She then informs me that my daughter is the top literacy student in her grade (grade 6) and I must be so proud of her.

Yep, proud of her I am, but why did the child not tell me?

I get home and after unpacking the groceries, making myself a cup of coffee, pestering here and there, I finally get the courage to ask her. Did anything interesting happen at school this week? Negative. Anything at all? Nope. Then I finally come out with it. Your teacher says you’re the top literacy student. Response: Oh that.

Oh that? I’m bursting out of my seams with pride and the child says “oh that”.  Okay, so maybe I’m missing the whole plot. Isn’t ANY achievement, no matter how small, something to be proud of?

Then I just cannot resist asking why she didn’t tell us. Response: Because I like Maths more.

Trying to understand your kids must be ranked right up there with understanding rocket science!

Busy bees

This week has been an eventful and busy one. All in the family seem to have too little hours in their day (except for baby). Dad’s stretched thin with a heavy workload. Mom- well exams are looming and all those tests need to be set up. Kiddies- in between school and madressah and projects……… very little time to play.

We’re already talking about the holidays coming up in a month’s time and believe me- we can’t wait to break away a bit!

The Fataar family is a simple Muslim family from Cape Town. We appreciate the blessings we have been given (our children, friends and extended family) and take great care in nurturing the bonds of love. This blog has been set up as a sort of online diary for our kids. 


As a family, we love the outdoors and being at one with nature. Thank goodness we live in this absolutely beautiful piece of the world we call home. Cape Town- we love you!