Wendy Díaz

One of the many goals I set for myself as a Muslim convert parent was to offer my children an opportunity I never had growing up: the chance to learn Arabic.

As parents, we all want our children to feel safe, respected, and included wherever they go. Yet bullying continues to affect many young people, and in Muslim spaces it can sometimes be tied to anti-Blackness. Bullying is defined by the U.S.

The month of November has become synonymous with gratitude and giving. Despite the holiday’s complicated history, Thanksgiving Day, typically observed on the fourth Thursday of the month, has become a time for families to gather and express thanks for their blessings.

As a mother of three teenagers, I continue to learn about child development in real time, and surprisingly, just as much about myself. I observe their behavior patterns and often find myself reflecting on my own teenage years.

One afternoon during our after-school pickup runs, one of my children asked, “Are ghosts real?” It was Spooky Season – the days leading up to Halloween – and neighborhoods were decked out with ghosts and goblins, pumpkins and witches, and creepy, crawling spiders, webs, and skeletons.

One of the first lessons children learn about the Prophet Muhammad, peace and blessings be upon him, is that he was nicknamed “Al-Amin,” the truthful and trustworthy one, even from a young age.