Muslim Mamas Get Ready for Ramadan (Aug 22nd)

[umsami]

Assalamu Alaikum:

So Ramadan is about a month away...

What are you all doing to get ready? Are you getting your kids excited?

I'm going to be fasting this year ISA after a looong absence due to pregnancies, breastfeeding, and illness... so I'm really looking forward to that.

I'm aspiring to be good and do some freezer meals to help with Iftar, but I think I'd have to buy a larger freezer.

Peace

[Liquesce]

Wa 'alaikom as-salam~

This is the first year I'm honestly dreading Ramadan. I'm really outright scared to fast ... I *still* haven't had my gallbladder fixed (i.e., yanked out of my body) and last year fasting sent me into a solid three day nightmare of a gallbladder attack. I don't feel justified in not trying because I don't know it will happen again, but at the same time ... yeah. Like I said, scared to try.

[umsami]

Assalamu Alaikum Liquesce:

I'm so sorry regarding your gallbladder attack last Ramadan. Have you had any more attacks since then? Did they do an U/S?

Remember, although I know you know this , that Allah(swt) does not require fasting on those whom it would harm their health. So take things slowly. Have you had problems when you've fasted (if you've fasted) short-term, like one day?

I'll make du'a for you.

Peace.

[umsami]

Thought I'd list some of my favorite Ramadan books.... please add to this list:

"The Adventures of Fasfoose Mouse" by Ediba Kezzeiz

"My First Ramadan" by Karen Katz

Azeezah's First Fast in "Muslim Child" by Rukhsana Khan

I have "Hamza's First Fast" and think it's O.K. It's not one of my favorites.... but I don't dislike it either.

I just ordered, but haven't received yet....

"Night of the Moon" by Hena Khan

[Summertime Mommy]

This will be my first year ever fasting, so I am kind of looking forward to it, but kind of not, y/k? I want to get the kids more involved this year and really celebrate with them, but not really sure how. What do you guys do to make Ramadan special for the kids?

[Liquesce]

Originally Posted by umsami

Assalamu Alaikum Liquesce:

I'm so sorry regarding your gallbladder attack last Ramadan. Have you had any more attacks since then? Did they do an U/S?

Remember, although I know you know this , that Allah(swt) does not require fasting on those whom it would harm their health. So take things slowly. Have you had problems when you've fasted (if you've fasted) short-term, like one day?

I'll make du'a for you.

Peace.

Thanks ... it's been getting steadily worse since the start of the year, but I'm in insurance flux. I really should have dealt with it last autumn, but I was still hoping to avoid surgery. Yesterday I got fed up with the delay and just put in an application for the state's federally-funded insurance coverage though, so I'm hopeful that I can either get it taken care of entirely in the next month or so or at least get an "official" medical opinion on fasting to make me feel better about thinking of bowing out entirely. Most opinions I've read have said that it's really considerably more proper to make use of the medical exemption on the advice of a doctor, but then "proper" doesn't really take into account people who may not have the best access to a doctor in the first place. You know how I can get a little stuck on the advice of legalists though.

Anyway. I don't mean to turn your thread into the land of Liquesce's complaints. Speaking of books ... does anyone have Ramadan? I have a thing about the quality of illustrations and am often disappointed in Muslim-oriented children's books in that respect ... on that front it looks promising, but I've never seen it in person.

"Night of the Moon" looks like it might be promising in that regard to ... let us know if it's worth it.

[umsami]

Originally Posted by Summertime Mommy

This will be my first year ever fasting, so I am kind of looking forward to it, but kind of not, y/k? I want to get the kids more involved this year and really celebrate with them, but not really sure how. What do you guys do to make Ramadan special for the kids?

I totally understand Summertime Mommy. Do the best you can. I can tell you that I can't stick to a diet for 2 days, but somehow, during Ramadan, Allah(swt) gives me the strength to fast. Never works any other time of year.

How old are your kids? My kids (5,3,2) have just sort of gotten into Ramadan this past year or so. For my friends who have kids old enough to fast, a big appeal is special breakfasts. Everybody gets up early...and then my friend (the Mom) makes French toast or pancakes or whatever. Stuff they normally don't get in the morning.

My kids aren't old enough to fast, but we have this tradition where we take out our fanoozes (Egyptian lanterns used during Ramadan) and look at the moon and the stars each night. Everybody yells "Assalamu Alaikum Mr. Moon"...and then we'll talk about the moon and what phase it's in, etc. My kids really like it.

We also bake Ramadan cookies ( usually star/moon sugar cookies)... read Ramadan books, etc. When we were in NYC, we used to go to Iftar at the mosque a lot... I'm not sure how often we'll go in FL. ISA, we'll try and go once per week at least.

We read Ramadan stories at night too.

I'll also try and plan special iftars/dinners and let the kids choose the menu some days. So, while my husband loves something involving rice and meat... for my kids, their ideal Iftar would be spaghetti or hot dogs and mac-n-cheese. We may even have a Chuck-e-Cheese or Dave and Buster's Iftar once or twice.

We've done various count-downs to Eid too... paper chains... post-it-notes, etc. I always aspire to do a Ramadan Advent calendar (for lack of better term), but never do. I think this year, I might let them each put a foil star on a chart to count down to Eid, as they love stars.

Hope this helps.

[umsami]

Salams..

I heard about this through another group I'm on. It's a free webinar on Ramadan and Fasting. From http://www.almaghrib.org/ilminar/

How many times have you:

* Fell behind in your Qur’aan reading schedule?
* Felt too tired or demotivated to go to Taraweeh?
* Became too drained to wake up for suhoor?
* Shortened your time in Qiyaam because you did pretty ok yesterday?
* Said to yourself: “I’ll take a break now so that I can be fully energized for the last 10 days”?


What if you could drive right through all the days of Ramadan without feeling the motivation dip in the middle? ....

[1jooj]

Salamu Alaykum Mamas!

I have not been very in on many of the conversations lately...like in a few years, really...but I miss it. Dh and I have made pretty massive changes to our family life during this time, moving from town to farm, working a lot of hours, etc. This will be my first Ramadan in 3 years as a stay-home mom and I am ramping up for it.

We are trying to tie up all the loose ends on the farm and have the hardest work done in advance of the fast. This is the first day not working for me, and I need to focus on getting the house in order. I have been freezing and pickling produce, so cooking ahead for the month is out of the question--but also probably not needed anyway. Dh will be gone the first third of the month for work, which means I don't need to focus on Iftar meals until he's back. I assume I will be doing much of my canning in the evenings, and alhamdulillah!!! I can do that now, as I don't have to work in the office during the day anymore.

Ds will be doing some practice fasting this year...we'll see how long he can go and reward his efforts. He is 8, and I know there are kids who fast full days at that point, but I am not pushy.

We don't typically decorate, but again, I have not had time to think about it before. So maybe a lantern or candle or just the table.

I am excited about this Ramadan and looking forward to the challenge.

Liquesce, any word on your gallbladder? I had gallbladder issues before, many years ago...my u/s showed no problems, so it really sucked. Since then, the pains have gone away. I don't know how or why, but I sincerely hope you find relief. I know the heart-racing, cold-sweating pain of that.

[Amatullah0]

Taraweh

do you go to taraweh? with little ones? i have a 2 mo, and i'm planning on going, but i don't know how feasible it will be. i'd really like to get DS "involved"in as much as possible at the masjid. i was thinking i could wear him in a sling during salat. has anyone done a similar thing? or leave LO laying on the floor(carpet)? i'd hate to have to drag the carseat around.

[Liquesce]

Originally Posted by 1jooj

Liquesce, any word on your gallbladder? I had gallbladder issues before, many years ago...my u/s showed no problems, so it really sucked. Since then, the pains have gone away. I don't know how or why, but I sincerely hope you find relief. I know the heart-racing, cold-sweating pain of that.

I (finally!) got a referral to a surgeon, so I'm still just waiting on insurance approval. Insha'allah it will be taken care of before Ramadan's end. Thanks for asking.

I'm glad yours seems to have fixed itself!

(P.S. - Do you have a blog? I remember a blog by a Muslim woman living on a farm, and Muslims and farm life are not a combination I see much of in the U.S. ... I was just wondering if it was you.)

[1jooj]

Yeah that's me. Retired the blog, just not enough time... In fact, I also quit my day job for the same reason...another part of why I'm so looking forward to this Ramadan. I actually get to focus on it this year! :

[peaceful_mama]

Haven't done much except sit in on some classes on Ramadan @ www.sunnahfollowers.org

Preparing to fast for the first time since 2005. I am still breastfeeding but I have heard that you should try.....so I am going to this year. Babe is 9 months and likes solids, I feel like I *should* be OK with a good early meal and a good iftar.

that's just so funny for me to think that in 04 I had just given birth a couple days before Ramadan, then since 2006 I've either been pregnant, nursing someone, or both.

I have been thinking of trying to make Ramadan cookies and haven't done it before, this year inshaAllah I will---I was thinking sugar cookies, moons or something too!

Have any of you bought "Christmas lights" like the multicolored ones and used them to decorate? I've got some I bought last year on a after-holiday sale to put up this year on the first day of Ramadan.

I SO wish DH was NOT working this stupid evening job! back in 05 he was not and iftar was my favorite time of day. It is just not going to be the same without him. And I likely will feed the kids early and put them to bed.

I have a question for any of you with older kids---do any of you have kids who fast and go to public school? And do they have problems w/people who think it's bad for them to not be eating? I for some reason just was thinking about that a day or so ago, wondering if that would be a problem in a public school....

[Nabbe]

Oooh I am so excited about Ramadan this year, as my 11-yrs old became of age, and has to fast the whole month inshaAllah. It will be fun, to be three atleast, to fast!

[Amatullah0]

Originally Posted by peaceful_mama

Haven't done much except sit in on some classes on Ramadan @ www.sunnahfollowers.org

Preparing to fast for the first time since 2005. I am still breastfeeding but I have heard that you should try.....so I am going to this year. Babe is 9 months and likes solids, I feel like I *should* be OK with a good early meal and a good iftar.

that's just so funny for me to think that in 04 I had just given birth a couple days before Ramadan, then since 2006 I've either been pregnant, nursing someone, or both.

I have been thinking of trying to make Ramadan cookies and haven't done it before, this year inshaAllah I will---I was thinking sugar cookies, moons or something too!

Have any of you bought "Christmas lights" like the multicolored ones and used them to decorate? I've got some I bought last year on a after-holiday sale to put up this year on the first day of Ramadan.

I SO wish DH was NOT working this stupid evening job! back in 05 he was not and iftar was my favorite time of day. It is just not going to be the same without him. And I likely will feed the kids early and put them to bed.

I have a question for any of you with older kids---do any of you have kids who fast and go to public school? And do they have problems w/people who think it's bad for them to not be eating? I for some reason just was thinking about that a day or so ago, wondering if that would be a problem in a public school....

when i was in school, we would just go sit in the library and study during lunch. you always get a few people who think "omg, you're FASTING!? you're gonna die!!!!" oh well, they just don't get it... once you explain it, they are more understanding, but still worried for your life tachers are mostly understanding though. i guess it depends on where you live though.

the cookies and lights sound like fun. IA when my LO is older, maybe next year, we'll do something like that!

[Khadijah12345]

Asalaamu Alaikum sisters,

Ok so here is my ramadan question, fasting while pregnant yes or no I am and will be 9 weeks when it starts, woah 4 ish day it does sneak up on you, anywho i've been wondering and a little concerned because I am having MS, often and everyone's got a different opinion i'm just trying to figure out what to do. any advice?

[Liquesce]

Originally Posted by Khadijah12345

Asalaamu Alaikum sisters,

Ok so here is my ramadan question, fasting while pregnant yes or no I am and will be 9 weeks when it starts, woah 4 ish day it does sneak up on you, anywho i've been wondering and a little concerned because I am having MS, often and everyone's got a different opinion i'm just trying to figure out what to do. any advice?

Wa 'alaikom as-salam wa barakatoh~

On a message board I'm on someone recently posted an excerpt from the (Hanafi) Bahishti Zewar related to the medical exceptions from fasting:

3. If the doctor did not say anything, and the person has some past experience or noticed certain signs whereby his heart says that fasting will be detrimental to his health, he should not fast. But if he has no past experience, nor does he know anything about this sickness, then his mere thinking is not considered. If a person breaks his fast without consulting a pious doctor or without having any past experience, he will have to give kaffarah. And if he does not fast at all, he will be sinning.

Since pregnancy falls under medical considerations, were you to follow this advice it would probably run such that if you have past experience of fasting while pregnant and found it harmful you would be excepted from the get-go if you fear trying, and otherwise you would be advised to try and simply find if it is possible for you or not. (I myself stopped fasting mid-way through Ramadan the year that it coincided with my being pregnant, and likely should have earlier, also due to morning sickness problems ... you definitely have my sympathies on that front. If you do try, it may also be worth remembering that martyrs are not made of refusing exceptions granted by Allah subhana wa ta'ala.)

[Liquesce]

Originally Posted by 1jooj

Yeah that's me. Retired the blog, just not enough time... In fact, I also quit my day job for the same reason...another part of why I'm so looking forward to this Ramadan. I actually get to focus on it this year! :

Drat! Er, not about you getting to focus. It's just that the two biggest subcategories in my RSS reader are Muslim blogs and farm blogs ... it would have been cool to have one that fit both.

[umsami]

Originally Posted by Khadijah12345

Asalaamu Alaikum sisters,

Ok so here is my ramadan question, fasting while pregnant yes or no I am and will be 9 weeks when it starts, woah 4 ish day it does sneak up on you, anywho i've been wondering and a little concerned because I am having MS, often and everyone's got a different opinion i'm just trying to figure out what to do. any advice?

Fasting is not required while pregnant or breastfeeding. As you're so early in your pregnancy, I don't think it would be an issue should you try, but it's definitely not required. You do need to make up the days or pay to feed a hungry person.

If you were in a hot climate (say Florida where I live), I'd be especially wary of dehydration... as it can have serious implications on a pregnancy.

Personally, I've usually been immediately post-partum during Ramadan rather than pregnant, so have not fasted. I was pregnant one Ramadan (and lost the baby)... and I can't honestly remember if I fasted or not at the time. I don't think I did due to diabetes.

Here's an article on fasting and fetal development...
http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/1...ubmed_RVDocSum

http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/18488237?ordinalpos=1&itool=EntrezSystem2.PEntrez. Pubmed.Pubmed_ResultsPanel.Pubmed_DiscoveryPanel.P ubmed_Discovery_RA&linkpos=1&log$=relatedarticles& logdbfrom=pubmed

Those two showed no ill affects.

This article showed reduced fetal breathing during fasting... I'm assuming it has to do with reduced amniotic fluid, but I'm just guessing. Still, it's troublesome to me.... and might lead me to not fast.

http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/12676388?ordinalpos=1&itool=EntrezSystem2.PEntrez. Pubmed.Pubmed_ResultsPanel.Pubmed_DiscoveryPanel.P ubmed_Discovery_RA&linkpos=2&log$=relatedarticles& logdbfrom=pubmed

Here's an article from BabyCenter Arabia (in English) on fasting...
http://arabiaenglish.babycenter.com/...ealth/ramadan/

Bottom line. It's not required. It's up to you. Between you and Allah(swt). Remember, Allah gives exemptions from fasting for a reason! So, if it doesn't seem to be going well... or you're having issues from fasting... don't fast. A healthy pregnancy is more important than fasting!

[vegk8]

I am no expert in fasting or Ramadan, but I guess if one were to fast during pregnancy and Ramadan, what would be important is the nutritional quality of the food you do eat. If you are meeting the nutritional needs of pregnancy, that is what is important. If you eat a lot of fried food, sweets, white rice and white bread, you might be more likely to miss important nutrients by missing the lunchtime meal. Iftar foods are often rich in fats and animal proteins rather than vegetables and fruit. Just my two cents. Of course, nutrition is important regardless--during pregnancy or not.