Arab fathers are truly one of a kind. They are complex characters: they act all tough but are also fragile. They act like they know what they're doing, but sometimes, they're just as lost as their kids.

Understanding the complexities of an >Arab father is truly a lengthy process. One thing's for sure though: It's always an adventure. If you are an Arab kid, with a legit Arab father, you are most likely to have heard some of these sayings:

1. The "roo7 s2al immak" card

Arab fathers are experts at avoiding awkward situations. 

When we approach them with a question, and they wouldn't care, they would just put the responsibility on the mother, because mothers are always sure (sorry dad).

2. The "waynek/waynak" question, even though you told him where you'd be over 15 times

3. The "bas khales sheghel" phrase to avoid confrontation

4. When asking to buy something: "tayeb, bas addesh 7a2o?"

They always want to know the price of literally every single thing… Is that REALLY necessary?

5. The "hala2 bfarjeek/bfarjeeki" threat accompanied by this hand gesture

6. Take your sister/brother with you

And that is why we hate our younger siblings ... 

7. "You'll understand when you have your own kids" ... is basically how he justifies his over-protectiveness

This is the perfect combination of guilt-tripping yet excessively confusing your kids. Why is waking up late going to ruin our future kid's lives? How?

8. You need to be a bit more responsible

This is by far a father’s most generic advice; it mostly happens when they are just in the mood to talk but ran out of ideas.

9. When I was your age, we didn't have phones

You don't have an Arab father if you haven’t been through the endless talks about your father’s childhood and why it was simpler and cooler than yours.

10. The money is in my pocket pants

Ah, the reason I believe in magic, the question we ask ourselves ever since we were kids: HOW is there ALWAYS money in our father's pocket pants??!! How??

11. Who is this boy?

Probably the scariest question you would get >as a daughter. If you haven’t been through this, just know, it doesn’t lead anywhere good.