I don't want my kids growing up in Pakistan...

[hareem01]

Re: I don’t want my kids growing up in Pakistan…

@Afia

Hehe…I DO want my kids to grow up in Pakistan.
I have moved back to Pakistan with my kids after living about for a decade in Europe n UK.
My reasons for moving back might not go down well with some/many of you, but we did what we thought was in our best interest. I’m in Pak for past 3 years. When we moved here in 2008, newspapers daily reported bombings here and there. I practically witnessed Islamabad tuning into a war zone…barricades n sand bags appearing on each arterial road …the last blast here was so close to our place that it really shattered our window panes. Electricity crisis, gas crisis n now fuel crisis (petrol etc.) you name it.
BUT
I still think the decision was worth it. While we didn’t have these problems in west, there were a lot many other problems we faced every now n then…racism/discrimination being one of the top most! There was a constant struggle to avoid haram. I’m aware that things are somewhat easier for muslims living in UK or North America but not as easy in, say Berlin or Amsterdam. I’m aware that Hareem is home schooling her children, which is so very brave of her but this isn’t an option the government allows in Berlin. Thanks to a really big number of muslims in UK/US, you guys have a basic infrastructure for those who want islamic education but that isn’t the case where we lived.
I never wanted to move back while my husband is still working there but you might think of the magnitude of problems we faced that we had to decide to live seperately for our children. He is still working there but runs back home as soon as he gets some time. He makes it a point to be here on all important events from the school’s annual day to both eids. It’s hard to live in Pakistan without a male but Alhamdulillah, Allah helped me so much that I have been able to do this without any major problem.
For the longest i couldn’t send my children to the near by mosque for praying in congregation. I was afraid of blasts, kidnappings and all that. But recently Allah mian helped me be brave and i made them memorise duas for safety (aafiyat) and now Alhamdulillah I’m so glad that they are praying in congregation 5 times a day. I can’t ever be thankful enough to Almighty Allah who has given us the opportunity and resources to help our children memorise the Holy Book. By the grace of Allah, I’ve resumed my studies while all four of my children are going to school.
The only trouble now is that we miss the head of our family; my hubby but I’m sure Allah miaN knows this and He won’t test our patience for long.
I won’t bash east or west, nor would I be hell bent on my theories. I know everyone has his/her own circumstances. I just pray whatever each of us has decided for ourselves, it remains in our best interest. There is no place in the world where you won’t face any problem. So it all boils down to one’s priorities and personal choices.

Just my 2 paisas

PS..Hareem rightly said, we don’t really have many libraries here, something I miss…but Alhamdulillah with the passage of time we have collected a wealth of books for our home library

It’s quite brave of you I think. We tried looking for a job in Pakistan for my husband but it’s difficult to find a job there, but even in pakistan I’d still prefer to homeschool them because I just don’t agree with the modern Education in general.

There are families in UK who are very religious and their kids are very religious too mashallah so yes I strongly believe that parents have the power to instil morals in their kids no matter if they’re living in East or west.

I suppose one day when your kids are old enough (may be uni level) you plan to return to UK?