Grandparents and their loving guidance: Samosas and Maple Syrup | Toronto Star

My parents always tell me becoming a grandparent is their reward for parenting. I try not to take offence at this, because I know exactly what they mean. When 9-year-old Ibrahim sighs for the 15th time over unfinished homework, or when 12-year-old Mustafa picks listlessly at the stir-fry vegetables and tofu I made for dinner, I get it.

Raise a feminist by making your kids' lives just a bit harder: Samosas and Maple Syrup | Toronto Star

My mom has always called herself a feminist, even if she doesn't look like one. She started wearing a hijab in the 1980s, back when casual racism was commonplace. She had a magnet on the fridge with a poem titled The Housewife's Lament that I can recite to this day, and one of those jokey signs hanging on the wall: "I am the boss in this house ...

Fear can be a friend when chasing your dream: Samosas and Maple Syrup | Toronto Star

I've been on an unpaid leave of absence since September and the reality is different than what I expected. I thought I would become a better version of myself - Uzma 2.0, with time to devote to writing, travel, family. So far, the only thing I have managed to do is write, every day.

Help - my son wants a cellphone: Jalaluddin | Toronto Star

My son wants a cellphone. He's 12. How did I get here so fast? I was 20 years old when I got my first cellphone. Until then, I was getting by just fine with prepaid public telephone cards. All my friends had cellphones (this was around 1999) and I was, as usual, the last holdout.

Uzma Jalaluddin loves her Instant Pot but is no longer buying 'things' | Toronto Star

Every once in a while I get caught in a wave of optimistic shopping. I start to think my life really will be better, if only I had an ice cream maker/slow cooker/Le Creuset dish set. It isn't until credit card digits are surrendered that I remember I don't like to cook, or learn how to use new gadgets.

How board games became fun: Samosas and Maple Syrup | Toronto Star

It's the last leg of our two-week trip to the U.S, and we're in Atlanta to visit family: my aunt, uncle, seven cousins and one cousin-in-law. After 10 days on the road, we are in dire need of home cooking and free babysitting. Out of all the cities we have visited, Atlanta feels the most like Toronto.

Taking my kids to the Grand Canyon was worth it: Jalaluddin | Toronto Star

All I want from my family vacation is to see the Grand Canyon. I'm just worried my kids will ruin it for me. They won't mean to ruin the experience, of course. They're just kids - easily bored, constantly hungry and in need of restrooms at awkward moments, like at the bottom of the world famous canyon I've been waiting my whole life to see.

Expecting the unexpected while travelling in Trump country: Samosas and Maple Syrup | Toronto Star

When travelling with children, my advice is: don't. I love my kids, ages 11 and 9, and they're mostly civilized and sweet. But being cooped up with them in small hotel rooms and rental cars is a recipe for cranky sibling bickering and parent-led peace talks.

How do I explain the so-called 'Muslim ban' to my kids?: Samosas and Maple Syrup | Toronto Star

When I first heard about President Donald Trump's shiny new executive order to temporarily ban people from seven mostly Muslim countries from entering the U.S., my first thought was: how am I going to explain this to my kids? I remember the morning after the U.S election.

The era of parent-as-cheerleader: Samosas and Maple Syrup | Toronto Star

A good friend was recently interviewed by several media outlets because of her professional expertise. All exciting stuff, but she confided that her parents' reaction was less than ideal. "They sat me down and gave me a stern lecture about the importance of a steady career.

Long live the dawaat, a family feast: Samosas and Maple Syrup | Toronto Star

Growing up in Scarborough in the '80s and '90s, my family attended and hosted a lot of dawaats (pronounced dha-WHAT), which is Urdu for party. South Asian culture is very social, and the giving and receiving of dinner invitations is how friendships are cemented.

A celebration of firsts at Christmas | Toronto Star

Firsts are so important - first steps, first job, first time on a plane. This time of year is no exception. We are marking the holidays with a series of stories about first Christmases - first tree, first turkey, first home, first Christmas as a transgender man.

Origami, bane of my parenting existence: Samosas and Maple Syrup | Toronto Star

I've never found playing with my kids easy. This is because my idea of a good time is reading a book and drinking tea, or watching Gilmore Girls and drinking tea, or talking on the phone and drinking tea. (I think I might have a tiny tea addiction).

Ending a Florida family trip with a peaceful ocean visit: Samosas and Maple Syrup | Toronto Star

Taking a vacation with my kids usually ends in tears (for me). But now that they are beyond tantrum-throwing histrionics, it's time for a traditional Canadian vacation. By this I mean Orlando, Fla. In search of magical family moments and some Muggle fun, we hit the theme parks.

What happens when playing hooky is the parent's idea | Toronto Star

I hope I don't lose my teacher discount card for admitting this, but playing hooky is so much fun! I never skipped school when I was younger, but as an adult I've joined the Dark Side. I blame my one-year leave of absence.

Taking a year off: Samosas and Maple Syrup | Toronto Star

Who am I, without my job? This past August and September, I watched the parade of back-to-school commercials without any of the usual butterflies and nightmares. This is because for the first time in 13 years, I did not report for active teacher duty.

Writing retreat: Samosas and Maple Syrup | Toronto Star

My friend Sajidah Kutty convinces me to go on a writing retreat with her. Since we are both busy moms and teachers, this will not be a picturesque trip to the foothills of a volcano (like the writing workshops in Tepoztlan, Mexico - I'm not making this up, check out underthevolcano.org).

Dance at a South Asian wedding: Samosas and Maple Syrup | Toronto Star

It's the lead-up to my cousin Safaa's wedding - a big South Asian wedding with a lot of events, food and colourful clothing. Since this is the first family wedding (in Canada) since my own, 14 years ago, expectations are running high. One of the most anticipated events in a South Asian wedding is the Mehndi.

My kids have turned to Pokémon old-school | Toronto Star

Everything old is new again. I thought I had escaped the Pokémon fad unscathed - the Japanese manga was popular among the grade school set when I was in high school. But it turns out toys are just like fashion trends - and the '90s are back, baby.

Teacher reverts to pupil at U of T writing workshop: Samosas and Maple Syrup | Toronto Star

I've been mulling over taking a writing course for years. I always hesitate because it is a truth universally acknowledged that teachers make the worst students. This is not because teachers are all sorts of control-freaky (well, maybe a few of us are) but because, just as magicians are unimpressed with over-the-counter card tricks, we know the secrets of the trade.

Gearing up to master manual transmission - Toronto Star Touch

If 'driving stick is the only way,' then why do we have self-driving cars? Uzma Jalaluddin Star Touch "Driving stick is the only way to drive," my husband boasts. "With automatic transmission, you're just pushing pedals." In the age of the self-driving car, manual transmission is on the decline.

Uzma Jalaluddin: The appeal of "cottaging" finally makes sense | Toronto Star

Growing up in Scarborough in the 1980s, I always wondered what "the cottage" was, and why so many of my little friends disappeared there every weekend. I pictured a large house where friends, classmates, and teachers all gathered together to roast marshmallows, swim in the lake, and plot other ways to exclude me.

"Mom, we've decided to write a response to your article" | Toronto Star

My children are not very interested in my writing. "You're in the paper again?" they ask when I show them an article. I don't mind - this way, I don't feel guilty about making grocery lists in my head while they talk about Minecraft.

The confusing world of family birthdays: Jalaluddin | Toronto Star

My husband and I share a birthday month. His comes first. He's not really a rah-rah celebration type of guy. A few years ago, I organized a party to celebrate his 40th, with a specially selected menu for him and 15 friends, and a fun group activity.

Could my kids' interest in writing be the start of a lifelong passion? | Toronto Star

When the neighbourhood kids come over, my house is jumping. There are little boys running up and down my stairs, playing hide and seek, building forts, playing chess, Monopoly and "Nothing" (an elaborate game Mustafa invented, copyright forthcoming), though I draw the line at indoor tag.