Raising Children In the Diaspora

[- Femme -]

Raising Children In the Diaspora: Some Suggestions

 

Anonymous

 

Several years ago, I attended a wedding while visiting Somalia. I was "hanging out" in the bride's bedroom with various other female friends and family members who were helping with last minute arrangements. As I was listening to the buzz of the different conversations going on simultaneously in the room, I was struck by the diversity of languages being spoken. In one corner, two teenagers were talking excitedly in Dutch. A women nearby was scolding her young son in Arabic. Other languages heard in the room include Swedish, Swahili and English. I could only but reflect on the vast expansiveness of the Somali diaspora.

 

As a Somali living abroad, I often wonder what the future holds for us. Will Somali communities form the tight knit bonds that hold cultures together as is often the case for East Indians and Chinese? Or will we completely assimilate into our host countries, adopting the dominant beliefs and value systems? It is a question we need to be asking ourselves, especially as many Somalis begin to have families and settle down in the West. The stark reality is that the children of the next generation will be more English, Dutch, American, Canadian, or Australian (among many others) than Somali. It is highly unlikely that these children will be able to speak Somali well, let alone understand the deep poetry and music of our rich culture.

 

For Somali parents attempting to raise children with a semblance of cultural awareness, the task is a challenging one. However, there are some important steps one can take to ensure a sense of connection with Somali culture. Here are a few suggestions:

 

1) Enforce a Somali-only language policy in the house. Encourage children to speak Somali in the house. I know the suggestion is easier said than done, especially after the child enters school. However, even if only basic comprehension is achieved, that is an accomplishment. If possible, try to live in an area where there are other Somali children to foster a feeling of community.

 

2) Send children to madrassa. The importance in giving children a basic Islamic education cannot be over-empahsized. Especially in these times when our children are being raised in societies with very different and often times opposing value systems.

 

3) Organize a trip to Somalia at least once in a child's youth. If possible, travel back to Somalia to acquaint the children with their heritage. Visiting Somalia can provide kids with long lasting memories and a better understanding of the culture and society. Other benefits of taking children to visit Somalia is meeting extended family members and improving or learning altogther the Somali language.

 

These are just few of many suggestions to help famillies instill a sense of Somali heritage in their children. But we must also remember that we are the examples to which our children look to, so if we continue to be clannish, competitive, and vengeful....we will get nowhere as a people. We are truly at a crossroads, and it is time for those of us in qurbaha to take responsiblity for our future generations.

[Pacifist]

Your topic kinda reminds me of when i was growing up. My mom and dad (Allahu naxariso) would give anybody who spoke anything but somali at home a very nice punishment. And we didn't grow up in somalia so my parents made it a must for us to learn our culture. What helped even more was that I want to an islamic school where we learn everything in normal school also arabic, Quran, hadith and fiqh classes.

No use though i forgot almost all of my Arabic

 

The only thing i missed out on was i didn't get to see somalia.

Am very thankful that my parents did that because if they didn't i would be a lost child.

 

Very good points FF

[OG_Girl]

Good topic Femme_Fatale .

 

Well,I think some of you have a very dreamy interpretation of the so called muslims sociaty today.. I seen kids from west, having the best islamic knowledge, their parents taking extremely more care in their education...etc. Because they know how difficult it is in the west, especially for a child or young person.I dont see the same care being taken in the muslim countries , because perhaps prents assume they will pick it up from sociaty or school.....but you dont pick it up, it has to be taught to you and not just through books but through example from the parents themselves, you know how we all so impressed and take as a role model from our parents.

 

Salam

[Valenteenah.]

^^...good point.

 

 

Femme,

 

Nice piece.

[STOIC]

Truism!

[Qac Qaac]

if it is possible try to teach the somali at home if not.. take them back to somalia..

 

as long as somali is the centralized language for somalia we don't mind ppl speaking different languages..

 

ff, good pts sis

[Tuujiye]

Language is not the problem..parents can't stop their kids from speaking other languages. But they could do is teach the kids the importants of being Somali. why they should hold on to their culture and religion, why is their culture important. If the kids don't understand the difference between them and others, how could one teach them something they don't understand why they should learn it?....to learn something you must first understand why yu need to learn this thing. If you understand why, then it will stay with you for ever. But if you learn it because you just don't know why, then you will loose it so fast because you have never learned it anyways..lol..(hope that made sence)..

 

Parents spend more time teaching their kids the language when they should be spending more time teaching them of their back ground and roots. Who they are!..the kids should know that they are not Canadians,Americans or british, ect..They should know that they have a language of their own, religion that teachs them way of life..ect..Kids now a days don't understand all this and they consider them selfs just like the kids they sit in class with. Or chill with.

 

wareer badanaa!!!

[underdog]

You can't expect kids in the "1st" world to learn proper cultural traits if you won't spend time with them.

 

Between 7 hrs in school, 3 hrs on a play ground, 4 hrs in front of the TV and 9 hrs sleeping where are they supposed to learn the essentials, Diin, Culture and manners.

 

Since the young mind is a sponge for everything around it, I blame the parents for not being there to teach their kids what they need to know.

[checkmate]

posted by underdog

Since the young mind is a sponge for everything around it, I blame the parents for not being there to teach their kids what they need to know.

 

Very well said brah, i couldn't agree more..

 

 

asxantu