If you had asked me a decade ago what I’d be doing today, I would’ve probably said, “conducting workshops, treating patients, maybe publishing groundbreaking research on, like, the perfect knee bend…” I had a clear, fulfilling path as a clinical physiotherapist. With a DPT and MS in Neuromusculoskeletal Rehabilitation from Liaquat National School of Physiotherapy, I was deeply immersed in professional life—teaching, treating, and even initiating the first-ever taping workshop at Aga Khan University Hospital, Karachi. Yes, I was quite the rehab trailblazer.
For five years, AKU was my second home. I thrived on precision, patient care, and contributing to a learning environment through CMEs and professional workshops. My identity was anchored in healing and education. I even wore sensible shoes.
Then life threw me the best plot twist. And by plot twist, I mean it picked me up, spun me around, and gently deposited me in a sandpit.
When we moved to Saudi Arabia, I chose to step back from my clinical career and fully embrace a new role: motherhood. With no white coat or workshop schedule to fall back on, I found myself standing at the edge of something unfamiliar—but full of potential. Or maybe it was just a pile of laundry. Hard to tell sometimes.
It didn’t take long for me to become curious about homeschooling. With my husband’s full support (and probably a sigh of relief that I wasn't trying to diagnose the cat's limp), I dove into learning again—this time about how children learn. I took online courses, joined ERDC’s onsite workshops, and slowly began shaping a new kind of classroom… right in my home. Goodbye clinic, hello kitchen table academy!
In 2018, I officially began homeschooling my daughter, Inshirah. What began as an experiment (and let’s be honest, a mild panic attack about curriculum) turned into a deeply personal mission. My core purpose was clear: to instill a lifelong love for learning in my children, deeply rooted in Tarbiyah—nurturing their holistic development, character, and spiritual growth. This meant everything revolved around their connection with Allah, learning through engaging Prophet's stories, and meaningful Quran journaling. We focused on fostering critical thinking, encouraging them to be self-learners, and always at their own pace.
We began with a very unschooling approach for the first eight years—focusing on curiosity, connection, and exploration over rigid structure. This meant: if Inshirah wanted to learn about dinosaurs, we learned about dinosaurs. If she wanted to build a blanket fort, we built the best darn blanket fort in Saudi Arabia. Around age eight, we gradually and contextually added more structure, always keeping their interests and our foundational goals at the forefront.
And let me tell you—it was chaotic, beautiful, and more educational for me than I expected. I learned things I never thought I would, like how much glitter can truly adhere to a single surface, or the precise decibel level of a child explaining the migratory patterns of a specific butterfly.
Homeschooling gave me space to breathe—and to see learning in new ways. My background in physiotherapy actually helped! I could develop routines (even if they involved spontaneous dance breaks), observe progress, and adapt when things didn’t go as planned (which was often! Like, daily. Hourly, sometimes). But it also taught me to slow down, laugh more, and let go of perfection. Because let's be real, "perfection" and "homeschooling with curious children" are not exactly roommates.
Of course, it wasn’t always picture-perfect. There were moments when I questioned myself. When Google was my best friend (and often judge, jury, and executioner of my lesson plans). When experiments failed (spectacularly, sometimes involving sticky explosions). But there were also moments of pure joy—when a concept clicked, a project came alive, or my child asked a question that led us down a rabbit hole of discovery… usually ending with me frantically Googling the answer while pretending I knew it all along.
Now, Inshirah is preparing for early IGCSEs and exploring her own passions—a testament to that initial spark of critical thinking and self-paced discovery, all intertwined with her spiritual growth. And then there's my son, now 9, whose world revolves around Legos, elaborate cardboard building projects, and figuring out circuits. He's even studying business because he’s declared his intention to be, you guessed it, a businessman! It’s incredible to watch how each of them follows their unique interests, from paintbrushes to profit margins. But that’s a story for another time. 😉 (Probably involving less glitter, thankfully.)
One thing I’ve learned? Homeschooling may happen at home—but it’s not a solo journey. Unless you're trying to hide from the glitter.
I was lucky to find a beautiful circle of homeschooling friends. We supported each other, exchanged resources (mostly emergency coffee and sanity checks), and shared frustrations without judgment. And among them was one extraordinary friend—Summiya Sharjeel.
Summiya didn’t just walk beside me in this journey—she watched me grow. She saw potential where I saw uncertainty. She encouraged me to share my knowledge, teach beyond my home, and think bigger. Honestly, she was the main push behind what came next. She basically handed me a megaphone and said, "Go on, you've got this!" (While probably also handing me a wet wipe for the glitter.)
Together, Summiya and I co-founded Learner INN—a community-driven space to support homeschooling families through engaging online classes, skill-building, and mentorship. It’s like a cozy, digital inn where curiosity checks in and learning never checks out.
What began as “just helping a few friends” turned into a meaningful project. Learner INN now connects learners with facilitators who believe in joyful, personalized education, reflecting our core values of Tarbiyah, critical thinking, and self-paced learning, all while fostering a deep connection to Allah and understanding through Prophet's stories and Quranic principles. We're all about making learning an adventure, not just a textbook exercise.
Whether it’s a hands-on science session (hopefully less explosive than my kitchen attempts), a skill-based workshop, or guidance for new homeschoolers—Learner INN is built on everything I’ve lived, learned, and believed in. And probably a few late-night texts with Summiya.
Yes, you can. And you probably will, even if you don't realize it yet.
You don’t need to have a background in education. You don’t need to know all the answers (that’s what Google, and now Learner INN, is for!). You just need to start—with curiosity, humility, and faith in your child. And maybe a good stain remover.
I started as a physiotherapist with a passion for learning. I became a homeschooling mom with a mission (and a newfound appreciation for silence). And now, as a co-founder of Learner INN, I’m building a space where families can learn and grow—just like I did, fostering that same love for learning, critical thinking, and self-paced discovery, always with a strong foundation in Tarbiyah and a connection to our faith.
So here’s to fresh starts, best friends, messy experiments, and meaningful impact. And to all the brave parents out there, remember: sometimes the greatest leaps happen when you swap your sensible shoes for a pair of creative, slightly glitter-covered sneakers.
With warmth and purpose,
A physiotherapist turned homeschooler (and occasional glitter enthusiast)
Co-Founder, Learner INN
