My very first teacher...

Salam. Today, I want to talk about my first teacher. How this person had left significant impacts in my life as a growing child. My first teacher was and always, my mother. She didn't only teach me alphabets and numbers at the beginning, but what is more important is the act of virtue; which shaped the way I am today. I was scolded and punished countless time when I was kid as I was truly a naughty kid! After school, I would leave home immediately for friends; playing. Fortunately, my grades were always excellent and I rarely being scolded for academic matters=). But, whenever my mom noticed me behaved mischievously, it's when the rattan would hit me. Sounds mean, right? But no. She did it with purpose; teaching me the right manners (akhlaq). At night, she would apply some oil on my back=). But, all of these punishments only lasted until I was twelve. After I went for a boarding school, she became my best friend until now.She understood that I was a growing teenager and indeed a psychological approach then was her way to teach me. But, believe me. I can now SEE why she did that to me during my childhood. It's not that she is too strict or fierce. No! I would only be punished if I've done wrong. Not because she wanted to release her stress to me. Never! Her love transcends everything. Furthermore, I am the only child born=). As the only kid to my parents, I always know that they will always want the best for me. I know that mother punished me for a reason; only to correct my akhlaq. I know it wouldn't work if the only thing that she did was nagging. No one likes to be nagged! I believe, I would not have been changed into a better person if she keep nagging to me.

I have a friend whose herself and her siblings have never been punished by their parents. They were allowed to act on their own because the parents would never stop them. And whenever she told me about her almost every sibling's character problem, I thank God for my mom.

Again, don't get me wrong. My mom is not a strict nor a fierce mother. She is just a teacher with patience and mission. Also, a caring and loving friend. One of her wishes is to shape me with good manners, to respect other people. No one is flawless including me, do bear that. But, my mother's teaching about virtue has affected my life now. For muslims, here's a hadith from our prophet Muhammad pbuh about mother;


Abu Huraira reported that a person came to Allah, 's Messenger (may peace be upon him) and said: Who among the people is most deserving of a fine treatment from my hand? He said: Your mother. He again said: Then who (is the next one)? He said: Again it is your mother (who deserves the best treatment from you). He said: Then who (is the next one)? He (the Holy Prophet) said: Again, it is your mother. He (again) said: Then who? Thereupon he said: Then it is your father. In the hadith transmitted on the authority of Qutalba, there is no mention of the word" the people".  
found in 'The Book of Virtue, Good Manners and Joining of the Ties of Relationship (Kitab Al-Birr was-Salat-I-wal-Adab)' of Sahih Muslim.source: http://www.searchtruth.com/book_display.php?book=32&translator=2

And I know that every mom has her own way to teach the children. They know best for their kids. I just want to share my childhood experience with my first teacher; my mother. Here's a video that celebrates mothers. Enjoy it. Feel it.=)
~zara~