The original hijab fashion, hijab style, beauty and entertainment blog for Muslim women

Our high rise went through a blackout yesterday and we were only supposed to have our power off for a few hours. We didn’t end up getting our power back until after midnight. I took the opportunity to just go to sleep early. Away from the distraction of television, internet, and the elevator. Yeah the elevator is a distraction because I would use it to get out and by some candy. Instead I was stuck on the 21st floor with my kids and it was not too bad.

The only thing I found strange was that with the blackout we were left without water and the toilet would not flush. I know that’s a little TMI (too much information) but I was really surprised. Luckily we filled up tons of water bottles the night before just in case. But not so luckily that meant drinking too much water… Ok I’ll leave it at that I do happen to have bathroom humor sometimes, and I attribute that to growing up with 4 brothers.

The outage reminded me of back in the day when I was a kid and my family would go visit Lebanon. They would routinely have power outages and I was fascinated by them. I learned how to light my first match because they used candles all the time. (Which reminds me, I need to stock up on some candles and matches in case we have another one of these things).

If I didn’t have the kids I probably would have tackle those 21 flights of stairs, especially because of the workout I could have had.

Whenever I’m getting ready to use the video camera and put together hijab tutorials or weekly videos, my almost-three-year-old daughter watches with curiosity.

She’s observed me for quite some time and it shouldn’t come as a surprise when she one day she stood in front of the camera trying to do a hijab tutorial.

“First you put da side like dis.. and den you wap it awound like dis.. I’m making a hijab style mama.. it can help fix da poofy hair.”

I laughed and thought I’d capture her next time on my phone.

Luckily enough I did and I taped it.

She was a riot! How cute and funny. (Of course every parent probably thinks their kid is hilarious and entertaining).

I decided to share the video with my family via email. Then I had a thought, what if I once in a while used her funny videos and posted them on YouTube and Hijabtrendz instead of my regular ones?

As I was getting ready to edit the video and put it online I looked at her innocent joy and how she was in her own little world. Something changed. My husband was standing by and we looked at each other and back at the video and it was in that moment that we both knew… we couldn’t go through with it.

When I first thought about the idea, I knew there would be weirdos on the net who would probably say “look at this child forced to wear the burka” or some other such idiocy. But that’s not what I was worried about.

What really hit me and struck me deep in my heart was her purity and innocence and I felt like I didn’t want to share it with the whole world.

I love my daughters so much that when they cry I often tell them, “You’re breaking my heart”. And in that moment when I almost put my eldest daughter’s cute little escapade online, I knew that if I did, I would end up breaking hers.

What do you think? Should we air our families online or just leave those special moment for our own personal memories?

Want to read more posts like this? Click on Behind the Screen for the full collection.

When I first started writing back in college I learned some valuable lessons as a columnist for the school paper.

You can’t please everyone.

It’s kind of a thin line you walk as an opinions writer. On one hand you get the chance to write your thoughts and feelings on things (and are expected to do so), but on the other hand there will always be someone who is offended.

When I was a college columnist, I would often forget that there were all these readers out there, until I started to get negative feedback. Then I was up all night and haunted by the fact that I upset someone. It was not my intention at all!

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We were recently featured in the U.K’s Emel magazine.

A Week in the Life of Mariam Sobh.

Enjoy!

We were recently interviewed by Ruth Eglash of The Jerusalem Post about Hijab and whether it’s a fashion statement or a religious requirement.

Read the full article “Egypt Unveiled”.