My husband is tough on the nazar (evil eye) bit and I believe in it too but I believe in Quran and prevention of it via Quls (specific verses) et al too. I’m a practicing Muslim. So where I believe in Nazar I also believe that it isn’t above the God’s word when He says this will undo it.
The couple of reasons why I personally do not share any picture of my child where she is recognisable or her face is showing are
- Whether we choose to look away or acknowledge it, there is a huge market for paedophilic content out there that also sometimes leads into human trafficking, kidnapping etc. “Projects” such have been uncovered in our own country as well as globally no matter how quickly they’re shoved under the carpet. They are there and I’d rather be conscious of it while my child is a minor.
- I feel my child is a minor but that doesn’t take away from her being an individual. We all have hated that naked picture in the bathroom that our parents clicked while we or a sibling was crying or laughing splashing away in the tub etc. Heck, we all hate our awkward puberty stage pictures that our parents insist on being “adorable”. When they’re clearly not.
Now imagine those pictures being shared with the world (instead of being put away in an album only to show off the 10 guests you have every month at home) before you’re grown up enough to even realise what’s happening let alone prevent it. The agency that comes with parenthood need not be misused. So I take a million pictures of my child, hell I even bought extra cloud space and a better phone when she was born but I refuse to undermine her right to be able to decide which picture of hers SHE thinks is public worthy and which ain’t before she is legally allowed on social media. Yes. No underage, fake date of birth accounts for her.
I’ve had plenty of people backhandedly throw this in my face that oh I decide what’s best for them because I decided to bring them in this world so before that brigade pounces let me answer that to begin with.
You did not decide crap. You were blessed with taking care and facilitating the journey of a spirit and that’s all we do as a parent. We facilitate. We do not own them. Not when they are born, not when they are old enough to have their own kids. Not in between. Respect is essential and I respect her opinion completely if tomorrow she absolutely hates a picture that I love so much I cry every time I look at it. There will be many!
Having said that, I actually do not have anything against people who share their kids’ pictures online. Not for a second do I stop and think why or what because EVERY parent is doing the best for their child. Within their own perception.
What I however DON’T appreciate is comments on why I don’t.
I honestly don’t have an opinion about others doing whatever they want with their kids’s pictures. No one means any harm to their children. Ever. It is just different viewpoints one holds based on their own beliefs and mindset.
Just don’t come along trying to convince me, I know what I’m doing.