NOORHAIZAH Zainol has no qualms about sending her children out into the world because she knows there is no better teacher than life itself. Today, her six kids are testimony to the benefits of this approach.
Nurul Syaheedah is 25; Jes Muhammad, 22; Nawal,19; Jes Ibrahim, 17; Jes Ismael, 13, and Nuha, nine. Among them are a senior financial analyst, environmental activist, United Nations representative, aspiring fashion designer, songwriter, TV host, director, songwriter, playwright, and actor.
“I never set out to be supermum or have them be superkids,” says Noorhaizah, who goes by just Haizah.
“I was a preschool teacher before the kids came, so learning was always a big part of my parenting style. I was your typical mum who wanted her kids to learn fast, and to excel. When mine were little, I would line them up and show them Glenn Doman flash cards.”
Muhammad started reading at 16 months. He credits his parents for exposing the brood to knowledge, and says: “Reading sparked my interest in anthropology and history. It is a gift from my parents that I will always treasure.”
As her children grew, Haizah gradually realised they were leading her instead, and shaping her parenting journey.
“My eldest showed an affinity for acting, so we took her to acting classes and watched as she did school plays. Of course, we dragged the younger siblings along.
“Muhammad found his niche in story-telling and public speaking, so we were all there, cheering him on. Nawal is very into arts and crafts and is now studying fashion design in New York.
“Ibrahim is such an environmental activist, and songwriter. He wants to do sound engineering. Ismail loves capoeira and sports and wants to be a doctor. Nuha is the prim and proper one – she’s learning ballet and Balinese dance.” At one of his public-speaking competitions, Muhammad was picked to be the Unicef representative for a campaign titled “Empowering Children through Art”.
Today, he looks back fondly at that defining moment in his life.
“At the time, I was overwhelmed but also very excited. I knew it was amazing to have that level of exposure.
Muhammad studied Fine Arts, a course that connected him to various elements of the environment as well. It taught him that there are many ways of looking at things. Today, he has left the front-line environmental work to Ibrahim, while he focuses on the research aspect. From the time their kids were small, Haizah and husband Jes Izman Izaidin made it a point to be involved in their school’s PTA (parents-teachers association). As chairman, Izman organised an environmental project called Recycle. Husband and wife got other parents, kids and teachers involved as they organised thematic recycling projects.
“In 2000, our theme was ‘Save Our Turtle’. All proceeds from our recycling activities went to the turtle sanctuary in Terengganu. Twice every week, we had drama classes and the children co-wrote a play about turtles, which they performed,” Haizah recalls.
As a result of all these, as well as Muhammad’s involvement with the UN, Ibrahim caught the environment bug. At 11, he was chosen Malaysia’s representative to the UNEP Tunza International Children’s Environment Conference in the United States. He went on to represent the country nine times.
In 2006, Haizah and Izman guided Ibrahim as he formed the Tree Theatre Group (www.treetg.com), which encourages children and youth to use creative expressions to advocate environmental issues.
In 2007, Ibrahim went to Mongolia as part of a team working on a TV programme produced by the Asian Broadcasting Union (ABU) under RTM. He got to see up close what life in the harsh desert was like.
“He came home and told me that they didn’t waste a single thing,” recalls Haizah. “Milk was both drink and food and any excess was made into cheese. Water was a luxury. His 14-year-old mind was completely opened.”
While her son was in Mongolia, Haizah was diagnosed with cancer. Though devastated, the whole family rallied around and gave her the support she needed to fight the illness.
That same year, too, she watched as Ibrahim petitioned on behalf of five million Malaysian children for the inception of World Tree Day. His proposal is pending approval from the Prime Minister’s office.
“Whenever one child is involved in something, the other five are equally involved. It has become a way of life for us,” says Haizah.
The three older children are away working or studying, but the younger ones still tag along on “our missions”.
In 2007, Nuha, then four, went along to Nairobi for the United Nation’s Billion Trees Campaign.
“We visited the Garden School, a school for HIV positive kids. We adults were wary about accepting food from them, but the kids were too busy playing with each other to notice anything amiss,” Haizah says.
“Before I knew it, Nuha was giving her headband to one of the kids and eating corn offered by her new-found friend. When I saw that, I thought, how wonderful. I also started eating the food, and soon everyone in our group was eating and mixing around.”
Looking back over the years, Haizah says: “We have made many mistakes as parents. I remember always pressuring my kids to win competitions, until one time, when Ibrahim was in a story-telling contest. He performed so well, and I could see that he really enjoyed himself. At that moment, I knew I was wrong to pressure them and decided to let go.
“Ibrahim got third place though everyone said he should have won. The old me would have stomped up to the judges’ table and demanded a recount. But as it was, I had never been prouder of him.
“I am constantly learning from my children.”
Homeschooling her kids
UNLIKE most parents, who leave the education of their young to schools and tuition centres, one mother bravely steps outside the box.
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