Parenthood

The novel’s fain focus is how Rafiq and Layla raise their children in order to show how children are different from birth and that parents must adapt to raise them properly. This is most obvious in the way that Layla and Rafiq treat Amar and Hadia. Hadia did well with a strict life, while Amar needed tender nourishment to thrive.

First, it is important to understand how Layla and Rafiq parent differently from each other. Layla is tender, but firm with all of her children. She loves motherhood and dedicates her entire life to taking care of her children. Rafiq confirms this in his thoughts to Amar when he says, “Motherhood has been becoming on Layla. She was so young when Hadia was born. She devoted her time and attention to her daughters as if it were her choice – keeping something of herself for herself...