Rahima Armstrong - Am I pretty? asked Maryam

Maryams mother Sairah is busy washing the dishes with soap made up of camomile and marigold. She started cleaning after completing an organic lunch with her daughter. The dishes are made of plain steel to ensure that they neither break nor crack. The camomile and marigold soap are useful for her hands as it is great for eczema-prone skin. It is also environmentally friendly and animal cruelty free. The dish soap travels through the pipework and ends up in the sea but doesnt have any negative impact on sea mammals.

Adam, Sairah and Maryam always eat together as it gives the three of them a chance to be closer to one another and talk about their feelings, ideas and things they intend to do. They always follow the rainbow food chart to guide their eating habits for a better and healthy way of life. Maryam, after eating the delicious vegetable soup made using parsnip, swede, potatoes, cauliflower, broccoli and carrots, rushes off to the living room with a filled belly. The vegetarian stock cubes crushed and simmered in water makes the soup tastier. Maryam couldnt get enough of the soup and ended up having two full bowls.

Maryams father Adam is busy working but he contributes in the kitchen as well. He loves to prepare soup and fruit salad while allowing Sairah to relax and take a nap sometimes. This allows him to spend time with Maryam and talk about engines and planes. Maryams father is certainly not the type of man who thinks cooking and cleaning is better suited for girls and learning about motorbikes and engines is reserved for boys. He has raised Maryam to be liberal and lets her choose what she learns and does.

Sairah is a mother who works from home. Her work revolves around typing books as she is a novelist. She is also carrying a child in her tummy.

Sairah calls for Maryam, Maryam, Maryam, oh Maryam, can you come here, please?

Maryam is engrossed in playing with her doll. She is combing her hair and doing her best to make a bow with a pink ribbon. Maryam has learnt how to make bows as she catches a glimpse of her mother doing the same, given her an example of how to tie a ribbon. Obviously, there are many ways to do this.

Maryam replies, Pardon, Mummy, I didnt hear you; I am busy. Maryam sighs, huffs and if she were to be standing, she would stamp her feet as well. She wanted the floor to shake and crumble like thunder and lightning in the sky which makes our heart fumble.

Sairah asked politely, You come in the kitchen to help me with the dishes, please.

Maryam did not reply and got busy singing a song. She made up the lines as she went along. In the world of grown-ups, this form of singing is known to be improvisation.

Maryam is engulfed in her singing.

Dolly, Dolly, my little Dolly; your eyes are so green and beautiful. With long brown hair and red lips

Maryam stops singing and starts thinking and wondering.

She thinks to herself, Why do I not have green eyes and why is my hair black? Why are my lips not red?

She continues this train of thought.

As Maryams mother finishes the dishes, she then wipes her hands with a hemp hand cloth, creams her hands with camomile lotion and sprays lavender scent on her clothes.

She collects her knitting and sewing kit from the hallway cupboard, which is full of art and design materials, and walks into the living room, watching Maryam play contentedly.

Sairah could see that her daughter was absorbed in thoughts and soon became busy knitting using 100% organic wool which came from local farmers. They enjoyed supporting their lives by becoming their customers. Sairah knits as it helps her think and relax. She sends her work to charities where they collect clothes and send them to different countries in order to keep the children warm from the cold weather.

Maryam is being playful. She sat in a corner on her chair that is exactly her size. She is playing with her favourite doll, holding the doll in her right hand as she slowly addresses the doll in a princess outfit.

Maryam asked her mother whilst staring at the doll, Am I pretty, Mummy?

There is another word for pretty; they link together. They are friends too. It is the word beautiful, so let us talk about pretty and beautiful. What is it to be pretty and what is it to be beautiful?

It all depends on how you see it, how I see it and how others see it.

Why do you think Maryam asked that question?

Maryams mother had to think why her daughter was enquiring about how she looked.

The mother replied, Do you know what pretty means? as she stopped knitting and slowly put away the needles to avoid any pricks and injury.

Maryam, being as bright as a button, replied, Yes, it means do I look nice?

Sairah smiled as she was proud of her daughters understanding of the word.

Why do you feel it is important for you to look pretty? Why do you want to look nice? asked her mother.

Her mother continued, Lets find out about the word pretty and what does it mean.

Would you like to come and sit on my lap or so for and we can talk about it, or shall I come to you?

Maryam had to think and at first said, Mmmmmmmmmmm. She then came, replied with a big smile and cheer, I will come to you, Mummy, because you worked so hard with cooking, cleaning and standing for a long time with my baby brother inside your tummy. Sairah teaches her daughter how to be considerate, thoughtful, caring and show compassion and empathy towards others. It is important that Maryam is aware of the needs of others and their good deeds. It is important to grow up valuing and appreciating the hard work and efforts others put in and not just herself.

Maryam rushed and leapt onto her mother like a giant frog coming of its lily pad. Sairah held onto her with a firm grip as she would topple over. Her mother thanked her for understanding how tired she had become after a hard days work and kissed Maryam softly on the forehead.