broken children?

yesterday, an old friend who i've not seen for ages rang and told me that he needed someone who listens. brilliant! a code for, "hey perempuan, i need to nick you for a bit so that i can entertain you with my problems". yup! when bogged down with baffling situation, only then i get to see these friends. i was like, "sure we can meet for a bit". with that i dragged my feet to the famous mamak spot i'm sure you know which.

his problem? typical...

i felt like shoving my pair of flip flop (not the red Gap, definitely) down his throat.

i mean he and his wife are blessed with the cutest boy one could ask for. like many other parents, selfishly they embroiled themselves in "adult fights" forgetting that there's a little person hurting. don't assume that if you do the fighting in your room or outside, your children wouldn't know, often they do.

i've done voluntary work with children from broken homes and i've seen the damage parents do unto their children. and i've got friends who as adults are still bleeding from watching how dysfunctional their parents' relationship were. one friend, at the age of 31 is still reliving over and over the trauma he experienced up until he was 15, after which his parents split, the wound is still sore. he doesn't believe in marriage now.

even the band, papa roach, are deeply hurt and outraged by their dysfunctional families, what is amazing is how profoundly they feel about their youth experiences in the midst of their current success.

in their song "broken home" they expressed grief at an absent father. everything from crime to emotional instability rises dramatically when the father is "never ever there". the value of a father in a child's life cannot even begin to be expressed. it is no coincidence that most juvenile delinquents were fatherless growing up. single mothers can raise up great children with a lot of hard work and love, but there is no replacement for a strong, caring male in the household.

if musical groups are now singing such heartfelt songs, how many thousands of them children must be feeling exactly the same way? without, of course, an audience that cares to listen.

you bring life into this world, with it comes responsibility. (psst! pinat, a good excuse not to have babies?!)

so parents, listen up, this kid who hasn't eaten enough salt has got something to say. do everything, everything in your power to give your children the best you have — time, love, patience, listening ear, or whatever else they need. they need it. they want it. if there are problems in your hubby-wifey relationship, don't laa amplify, try to solve it amicably, kesian us children. *wegra tengah perasan children, perasan cute*

mama! bapak! where are you? you two go dating, you leave me at home alone with the cats! uhuk! uhuk! uhuk!

*gambar ibubapa prihatin sebagai perhiasan*

petition

Dear friends,

We are continuing to collect signatures for the petition on the Islamic Family Laws as it is far from over!

http://new.petitiononline.com/iflmsia/petition.html

You have heard by now that the Cabinet has put on hold the gazetting of the Islamic Family Law Act (FT). While this is good news for women in theFederal Territories , women in 12 other states continue to be subjected to these amendments, which were made to their respective Islamic family laws over the last few years. Also, women throughout the country continue to face hardship and injustice due to many other discriminatory sections in the rest of the Islamic Family Laws.

The passion, commitment, support and action of many Malaysians created the significant and historic Cabinet decision. So, let us keep that momentum going because this is only just the beginning and the demands are as urgent and valid as ever. We need to ensure that the government hears our collective demands for a Muslim Family Law that is truly just.

So, do sign on and forward this to your friends as well. We sincerely appreciate your support.

1. The link for the petition on-line is http://new.petitiononline.com/iflmsia/petition.html

2. If you would like an email address to communicate with, theaddress for this petition is iflpetition@gmail.com.

Warm regards,

Toni Kasim