“Understanding is the first step to acceptance, and only with acceptance can there be recovery.” -J.K Rowling

So today was interesting.

The scene goes like this. In the morning, my brother woke up and greeted my mother with a hearty “Hello”, which led to an argument about “Hello” vs “Assalamualaikum”. After that settled I decided to watch “Four Lions” (a dark comedy about British Jihadists) with my parents. They didn’t seem to get it, but whatever.

Fast forward to lunch, where my mother is having a go at me for my brother’s behaviour. My brothers watched part of “Four Lions” with us, so she was also very much against the lack of censorship I place for my brothers.

My dad started talking about an argument I had with my brother a few nights ago, regarding evolution. He said that I shouldn’t be teaching him things that don’t correlate with his current beliefs. He told me that he has never filtered my mind, and that I am allowed to come up with any decisions I want. He said that what I thought now would change in the coming years. I thought to myself, “If only he knew about how much I have actually changed. He’d probably kill me.”

Well, as I go to put my plate in the sink he tells me about how my mother called him a few days ago saying that I no longer believe in Islam, and that he didn’t react because he thinks that I am just going through a phase.

I have never felt so relieved. I rushed out of the kitchen with a warning not to share my beliefs with my brothers but rather wait for them to create their own beliefs. One episode of “Parks and Recreation” later, and I’m writing this new installment.

I didn’t think that things could go as smoothly as they did downstairs, but now both of my parents know that I am not a Muslim and are (somewhat) OK with it.

Thanks,

Veracis