Writing books for children isn’t about portraying angel-like protagonists who never make mistakes. Not only would those characters be boring, but they'd make any of us feel inadequate. Showing kids protagonists who are imperfect gives us as writers an opportunity to teach children how to recalibrate after doing something not-so-nice.

When I wrote my book Snatched, I was inspired by the beautiful hadith in which our Prophet Mohammad (peace be upon him) said “Follow the bad deed with a good one to erase it.”

What a beautiful, simple concept!

It is the nature of humanity to fall into sin and make mistakes. Our children are no exception. Instead of setting children up for failure by raising the bar so high, we should emphasize the ability to make amends when they do err.

As parents watching our children grow quickly, we need to keep the channels of communication open with them. Be approachable and listen to their problems and mistakes with understanding and patience.

Strive to be a confidante rather than a harsh critic, lest your children seek comfort and advice from other places that may not have their best interests at heart.

Be patient with your children. We know it's easier said than done. But life is a journey of learning, and it takes time. Remind your children to keep coming back to Allah, keep asking for forgiveness and keep trying again and again and again, for as long as it takes.

A good deed erases a bad one.

Allah is the Most Forgiving. May Allah protect and guide all our children.

Check out my book Snatched here.