Like Father…Like Daughter
“If you can take care of her for the first 6 months, I promise I’ll handle the rest.”
These were the semi-conscious words Ali muttered to me at 3am one morning when we were awoken yet again by a screaming 6-week-old Maya. I found Ali’s statement hysterically funny in my sleep-deprived state, because I knew there was a 0.01% chance of that idea every coming to fruition. But despite doing most of the child rearing around here, I will say Ali has taught Maya some very important life lessons in the last 5 years. For example:
There is no reason to put one’s clothes inside the hamper because that effort of lifting the lid? Well it may just kill you.
Ali's hamper with clothes on top.
Maya's hamper with clothes on top.
Hangers are merely for aesthetic purposes. Clothes really do belong in piles on the floor. And there is no need to empty your carry-on and/or Dora backpack because you can easily just zip it up and take the same dirty clothes with you on your next trip.
Ali's scary closet floor.
Maya's scary closet floor.
A glass of water should be kept in the same spot in the kitchen 24/7. It is okay to leave it there despite Mom’s glares and lectures about keeping the counter clear of clutter and putting one’s dishes in the dishwasher.
Ali's glass of water in the corner of the kitchen.
Maya's glass of water in the corner of the kitchen.
And there is no need to clean up one’s desk when it will just get messy again. Plus, Mom hates messy desks and it’s fun to annoy her.
Ali's messy desk featuring MY iPad.
Maya's messy desk featuring bad lowercase letters.
But of all the bad habits useful things Ali has taught Maya thus far, I believe he’s also shown her that sometimes life is about breaking free of Mom’s numerous rules and regulations.
Maya and Ali breaking free from Mom's numerous rules.
It’s about teeth-clenching, neck-breaking hugs.
Maya and Ali in Beverly Hills.
And that sometimes you can put your laptop aside for another bone-crushing hug, just for the hell of it.
Ali and Maya...no technology in sight??
Happy Father’s Day (one day early)!
While I'm not going to win Mother/Wife of the Year Award anytime soon, I haven't killed anyone yet or shot myself in the head. And that, my friends, is how I calculate success these days. 
FANCY THAT FANCY THIS 
haha too funny! I like to think that I haven’t picked up any habits from my dad but I’m sure that I have.
Haha, what a cute post! I’m sure that my future children will inherit all of my husband’s annoying traits.
🙂 happy daddy’s day to ali!
This is absolutely adorable…what a clever and humorous post. I showed this to my husband this morning, and we both enjoyed it, thoroughly. Happy Father’s Day to all!
Awww, another enjoyable post from you!! 🙂 Happy Father’s Day to Ali!! 🙂
How adorable! I hope Ali has a wonderful Father’s Day!
Great post, Ameena! Such a creative way to send out a Happy Father’s Day 🙂 I love all the pictures of Maya and Ali; she looks like daddy’s little girl. And having Dad there to escape Mom’s rules is definitely something I can attest to 😉
Happy Father’s Day to Ali!
This is adorable! Isn’t it funny the habits that kids pick up from us?
Happy Father’s Day to Ali!
Is that a Cisco shirt I see on the floor of Ali’s closet? What is it with techie guys thinking free company shirts are awesome? I told the hubster the tech company better be giving him more than a free t-shirt if they plan on using him as a human billboard. But nope, he still thought the free Google/Microsoft/Cisco shirt was awesome. Happy Father’s Day, Ali (I’ll try not to hold the free t-shirt hoarding against you) 🙂
Aw! Happy Father’s Day to Ali! This was a very cute post. Loved it!
AHHHH THIS IS SO SWEET!
The hamper part was definitely valid, but I have to admit that I didn’t think the desk was that messy. It’s just busy and alive. You know? 🙂 And that Ali’s closet floor looks strikingly similar to mine…
OK so you’re probably extra-organized and I’m extra-messy. 😀
My Dad is super-organized though so I guess I didn’t inherit those genes from him. Actually, no one in my family is messy. It’s just me. Clearly my parents won the genetic lottery.
xo aletheia
as usual, a great post! =D
loves.
my dad is like that= leaves his stuff EVERYWHERE.
and dude, i’m so glad everyone has had their share of BAD DAYS.
i think i have a skanky dress, but i think i might just go buy a new one. coz i gotta show off my new curves and muscles. =D
YOUR HAIR IS GORGEOUS too!!!!!
What a cute post! And Ali and Maya look so cute together in all the pictures!
Thanks Shahbano!
We missed you yesterday but we’re looking forward to seeing you Thursday!
Awww…the fruit doesn’t fall very far from the tree, right? Love it.
Happy Father’s Day, Ali!
Hilarious!!!! aww maya and ali are seriously TOO CUTE. (ok and i can tell their habits are seriously annoying too but you are great for making light of them!!)
I love this!! Adam does the same thing with the hamper. Not only will he leave them on the floor, but as soon as you put them in, he wants something that was “clean” so will empty the ENTIRE hamper to find it and LEAVE them on the floor.
Oh man, you shouldn’t have gotten me started 😉
Aw, what an adorable post! Despite the annoyances that your two family members share, I find it cute that they resemble each other in little ways. I have taken after my dad in my excessive pile-making and jotting down notes to myself. He is less organized in this endeavor, but we have probably gone through the same amount of post-its in the last 20 years. I also have a water glass that is always in the same place on the counter….. You would hate me.
Hope you guys have a fun Father’s Day, with lots of those cute hugs of hers 🙂
This post is hilarious! I must admit, I am totally the person that likes to leave her glass on the counter all day too! It drives my fiance crazy.
hahah I loved this post 😀
I never understood why people keep glasses out on the countertop either.
I always look forward to reading your blog…It’s so real! I usually only read food blogs, but yours is an exception.
🙂 Everytime I read one of your blog entries, I hope to have a cute family like you have! You are very blessed and I hope God blesses you all everyday of your happy lives! Happy Father’s Day! 🙂
It’s funny how kids learn the “easy way” out just by observation. I nag to my hubby all the time how his actions affect the kids. I have a “no eating in the living room” rule and for a while, the kids followed the rule until they saw daddy eating there and what do you know? The kids started to do the same 😦
This is so cute! I love the pictures of Maya and Ali at the end…and the beginning comparisons are so funny. I’m like my dad in a lot of ways too (but to contrast from Maya and Ali, both me and my dad are neat freaks) We are also both stubborn, black-and-white thinkers, fiercely independent, and do not trust others easily. Like father like daughter…but weirdly I look just like my mom!
How cute that Maya takes after her dad. (Although I know the messiness might not be so cute to you). Happy Father’s Day to the Din family! Hope it’s a great one.
very sweet post.
I have to admit I have a lot in common with ali and mayas lifestyle habits – I LOVE having a 24/7 water cup, but I keep one in the kitchen, one in my room and one in the bathroom. It works out really well until I loose track and end up having ALL the household cups EVERYWHERE, that is when they all go in the dishwasher and the process starts over.
Another great, creative post Ameena! You always know how to take hair pulling situations and turn them into great writing, another sign of a talented writer.
You know, Gary’s and my daughter’s messes would actually make Ali’s and Maya’s look organised, I kid you not. Seriously, Ali’s messy desk is Gary’s organised desk (minus the expensive iPad).
I love all those pictures of Ali and Maya. Look at the huge smile on Maya’s face. You are very blessed to have such a beautiful family. I’m sure Ali would put his laptop aside for a bone-crushing hug from his little girl anyday.
Happy father’s day to Ali.
Father’s do have an interesting way of teaching their children what NOT to do haha. He sounds like a great dad though, which is what’s really important. Happy father’s day to him!
So funny! I’m a lot like my dad too!
SO adorable!! You write the sweetest, most loving posts… and you have such a gorgeous family! 🙂
Awwww how sweet!!!
Haha too cute!
And holy – Maya is quite the little clencher isn’t she?!
What a great post lady! I too find myself doing things my father does…that I know my mother probably doesn’t love dearly…
but really, Ali and Maya look so happy…happy father’s day to your hubs!
That was adorable!
My dad and my sister constantly set their dirty dishes next to the sink, right on top of the dishwasher. They even take the time to rinse them off…but they can’t put them inside?! It’s maddening!
Cute pictures, hope you are having a good weekend!
Such a cute post! I love the pictures 🙂
I should not laugh at this post because I have picked up a bunch of bad habits from my Dad which always annoyed my Mum.Like sleeping late at night and waking up late, leaving clothes on the floor. I have changed though 🙂
oh my god you are SOO NICE! i was so worried to put those pictures up! more to come later next time i go shopping! =D hahah it’s kinda fun to have all you guys in the fitting room with me!
wednesday?
hysterical, one of my fav posts!!! seriously classic father/daughter behavior, i love it!! and maya’s famous back breaking hugs are my and ayla’s favorite…we were talking about it just today…she is such a jani mani and we love it!!!
XOXOXO
Ameena, that is too sweet. I love bone-crushing hugs and the similarities between Dad and daughter. But just remember, the apple doesn’t fall far from the tree! I’d love to see Ali’s version of this post on everything that Maya does just like her fabulous Mom 🙂
Its the same story in my family…like father…like sons 😀
love all those bone/ neck crushing hugs! LOVE IT!
okay that is too sweet! i just LOVE father daughter photos. Maya is lucky to have such a supportive and loving daddy 🙂
xoxo
Ahhhh I love this post. Great pics, especially the hug ones!
I would hate for you to see my desk though if you think Ali’s is messy…
I loved this!! I learned the same type of things from my dad! 🙂 Like his favorite thing to say to my mom “why does everything have to be done on YOUR time?” or “saying, and doing are two different things”.
Awww…..belated Father’s Day to Ali 🙂