Wednesday, November 5, 2008

Update: Family in Crisis


S everal months ago, I wrote about the family that I tutor. The mother of the family had left the home - she and her husband were apparently having some marital problems. The five daughters were obviously upset as their world was turned upside down and the tasks of running the household and managing the family's needs fell on the shoulders of the second oldest daughter M (the oldest daughter is deaf).


When summer came, I temporarily suspended my duties of tutoring while I traveled to the states. It had been four long months since I had seen them. Schools here in Saudi Arabia had an unusually long summer break due to Ramadan. Arrangements were made between my husband and the family's father for me to resume my tutoring duties shortly after school started back up after Ramadan was over.

I had worried about the girls and their parents all summer and wondered if the couple had been able to resolve their problems, if the mother had returned to the home. When I arrived at the house, the four oldesr girls ran to me, showering me with hugs and kisses and smiles. The youngest, Little J, who is four years old, was shy at first, but within ten minutes she was sitting on my lap kissing me.

When the excitement settled down and after I heard their stories about what they had been doing for the last four months, M and I moved into the study. The first question out of my mouth was, "Is your mother back?" "Yes!" M replied. "Things are good now, much better!" I didn't get to see the mother for a few days - she takes classes several times a week - and she too seemed very happy to see me and seemed happy in general.

I don't know what the problems were that the couple was having, but whatever they were, hopefully the worst is behind them and the family will now be happy and thrive in today's complicated world. I am thrilled that this family in crisis is now a family recovered.

16 comments:

  1. Family is warmth and strength. Stress in family leads to a cold, dark winter of the soul.

    ReplyDelete
  2. Ma shaa Allah, thats beautiful to here Susie :)

    ReplyDelete
  3. I pray that everything is gonna be ok.

    ReplyDelete
  4. I'm so glad to hear that it turned out well. I was so afraid the update was going to be bad news.

    ReplyDelete
  5. How wonderful!It's always so hard on the children when parents aren't happy.Glad things are working out for them!

    ReplyDelete
  6. What a sweet uplifting story of things working out! Often the opposite is the case. Great news for so many reasons! : )
    VB

    ReplyDelete
  7. Hello, I read the original post a few weeks ago and was wondering what had happened. It is good to read that the mother is back home. Alhamdulilah they are together again.

    ReplyDelete
  8. Insha'Allah they have sorted out their problems and will be happier than ever!

    ReplyDelete
  9. hello!!
    this is great blog and very interesting to follow!
    call for bloggers like u to contribute their opinion about responsible and sustainable traveling on NaturCert+

    more info on http://naturcert.com/english/News.php?category_id=4&news_id=26

    ReplyDelete
  10. is it the cynic gal in me that knows how things works that makes me stop and ask.. how many choices did this woman really have if she wanted to see her children? none other than return to her husband.

    ReplyDelete
  11. I am so happy to hear that Susie. I am also happy you are tutoring them again. The children obviously love you.

    ReplyDelete
  12. I'm so happy you were able to help them. In Belize, my sons were able to mentor a small boy and teach him English. It was so rewarding for all of us.

    ReplyDelete
  13. What was sent from God to help one family at this time harder!

    ReplyDelete
  14. Hate to be the other cynic, but Nzinga is probably right.

    ReplyDelete
  15. I too have been wondering about your friends, and espedcially the daughter who was ordered to put her own life to a halt to take over her mother's place.
    I'm very glad things seem to be alright again.

    ReplyDelete
  16. This is great news, and important to publicize. It shows once and for all that Saudis not only have problems but solutions, and that unhappy females don't always end up even more unhappy.

    ReplyDelete