The Pakistani Spectator

Would you please tell us something about you and your site?

My blogging id is mummyjaan which means “dear mother” or “beloved mother”.  I blog at Mummyjaan. Mainly about the joys and trials of being a parent and the challenges I face along the way, but occasionally other topics as well.

Do you feel that you continue to grow in your writing the longer you write? Why is that important to you?

Oh, certainly. The way I write says a lot about the way I have grown myself, as a person. It is interesting to see that - like looking back into a time capsule and seeing the person that was.

I’m wondering what some of your memorable experiences are with blogging?

One of the nicest things about starting a parenting blog was running into several other moms from an Asian background, exchanging emails with them and forming friendships. I also enjoyed participating in the online baby shower that a fellow blogger Tharini organized when several of us desi moms were expecting their children the same year. I also enjoyed taking part in the discussions at desimomzclub.blogspot.com when it was more active.

What do you do in order to keep up your communication with other bloggers?

Keep up with their blogs, when possible. Otherwise, if I have something to say, I email!

What do you think sets Your site apart from others?

I regard my site as a ‘happy place’, a place full of laughter and pleasant memories - I rarely write about controversial issues or something negative. Even when a post starts out on a negative note, I try to end with something bright and cheery. For this reason, I keep so-called ‘rants’ to a minimum. I’m an optimist, and always try to look at the positive side of things. My blog reflects that.

If you could choose one characteristic you have that brought you success in life, what would it be?

Confidence in myself: to date, whatever job, task, or course I have taken, I have always faced it with the conviction that I would succeed at it.

What was the happiest and gloomiest moment of your life?

Happiest? Life is full of happy moments. It’s hard to choose. As for the gloomy ones, while those can be found a-plenty too, it is best to forget about them.

If you could pick a travel destination, anywhere in the world, with no worries about how it’s paid for - what would your top 3 choices be?

Anywhere? Well, right now I’m really hoping to go for Umrah; when that’s done, I’d like to tour the beautiful villages tucked away in the Himalayas - thirdly, I would love to visit the Maldives.  (Are you going to send me there?)

What is your favorite book and why?

This may sound rather ordinary but Dale Carnegie’s How to Win Friends and Influence People was a book I read when in my teens. It influenced the way I think and the way I look at people, how I interact with them. If you mean literature, I am a fan of Anna Karenina by Leo Tolstoy.

What’s the first thing you notice about a person (whether you know them or not)?

Their expression: whether it is grouchy or cheerful, keen or dull.

Is there anyone from your past that once told you you couldn’t write?

Nope.

How bloggers can benefit from blogs financially?

They employ ads, apparently. I’m not into that, though. I blog for fun, as and when I want to.

Is it true that who has a successful blog has an awful lot of time on their hands?

They probably do - you’d need to ask the ’successful’ bloggers that question.  I have devoted less and less time to the blog of late.

What role can bloggers of the world play to make this world more friendlier and less hostile?

Be courteous and mindful of their good manners - i.e., ‘ akhlaaq’. This is especially important when discussing controversial, sensitive topics.  Never make personal attacks. If you’re criticizing somebody, make it kind and make it constructive. Don’t just criticize just for the sake of criticizing.

Who are your top five favourite bloggers?

Hard to pick 5. (My favourites are listed in my new blogroll).

Nita

Faraz

iMuslim

Mad Momma

McPagal

Is there one observation or column or post that has gotten the most powerful reaction from people?

A recent post that I wrote about my experience in treating a young girl abandoned on the street.  Other than that, my posts about my older daughter’s quips seem to have other mommies chipping in with their. More recently, my post on common spelling errors found in blogs got a lot of responses with people chipping in with their own pet peeves.

What is your perception about Pakistan and its people?

Most Pakistanis I’ve met are friendly and outgoing people. ALL the Pakistani women I have met to date are fabulous at cooking and maintaining their homes and their selves to perfection.

Have you ever become stunned by the uniqueness of any blogger?

All bloggers have something unique about them.

What is the most striking difference between a developed country and a developing country?

The most striking difference is how precious each life is in a developed country - its services and governance reflect that. Whereas in a developing country, people could be dropping dead like flies and there wouldn’t be anyone to care about it!

What is the future of blogging?

Can’t say. One thing’s for sure: it certainly will not decrease in popularity in the short term. Maybe later, maybe in the next couple of decades or so, people will tire of it and it will fizzle out to give way to the next popular phenomenon!

You have also got a blogging life, how has it directly affected both your personal and professional life?

It has not affected either my professional or personal life; it stays separate from both. The other way doesn’t hold true, though, as I blog heavily about my personal everyday challenges.

What are your future plans?

The mommy blog is going to stay there - I will update it as and when I get time.

Any Message you want to give to the readers of The Pakistani Spectator?

Thanks for reading!