Muslim Mamas, Let's Get Ready for Ramadan!

[1jooj]

Assalamu Alaykum, Sisters in Islam!

I know it has been a while since we have had an active thread. I am hoping it means you all have been in a good place, insha-Allah, and busy with the commitments of life, faith and family. I miss the chat, though, and hope we can get the ball rolling and help each other out.

Me? I am looking at my calendar, and while I have been anticipating it so I don't have the I have had in years past when suddenly it was time to fast, I am also realizing MAN, these are going to be long fasting days. I live in the north, and we'll be observing fajr at 3-something and maghreb at 8:30something when it kicks off. Hard to anticipate what a day will look like in that, plus heat and humidity of summer. I spent last summer in UAE where the custom is apparently to simply reverse from diurnal to nocturnal and sleep from fajr to asr. Alhamdulillah, this won't fly in USA.

So, I have two kids, one is a solid faster and the other young, but fasted all but maybe 2 days last year. But I am looking now at how to really build them up spiritually over a special month. I bought Ramadan Rhapsody, which is a day-by-day reflection book. It seems appropriate for discussions with my two. Also intend to take the time (since we will be mostly home during the day) to focus on Arabic language and reading and memorizing more surahs. Not adding into an already packed schedule, as we have (tried and failed with) in years past, but replacing such items as cartoons, superfluous play dates and iPad games.

Daily Tarawih is not a goal for me this year. I will go when it makes sense, but have too much on my plate, with two kids and dh still overseas, to make that an expectation. I hope to make it to the mosque and join in when I can.

Where are my sisters on the path? How are you preparing, and what are your ideas for:

- An even earlier Suhoor

- Kid activities

- Decorations

- Bringing traditions home

- Easy recipes

- Charity and service opportunities in the name of Islam?

[umsami]

Wa'alaikum Assalam:

I am not looking forward to middle of the night (for me) suhoors and late late iftars. :(  I'd like to say I am, but to be honest, right about now, I'm thinking that we need to work to standardize the Muslim calendar so that Ramadan can always be in December.;)  (Just kidding!)

I have major trouble with dehydration during even short fasts, so I'm trying to psych myself up.  I think that I've decided if I can't keep myself from water that I'll still fast from food...and just pay for somebody poor to eat.  That way, at least I'll still feel part of fasting.

We're moving mid-Ramadan as well, so things are in a bit of a tizzy here.  

Hoping to have things settled down by the last 10 days Insha'Allah.

[frugalmama]

Wa'alaikum Assalam

This is my first Ramadan as I reverted right after Ramadan last year so I'm listening for ideas. I'm hopeful to be able to fast this year inshaAllah but I don't know if I'll be able to tolerate it with some of the medication I'm on. 

I've been trying to find some good quality Islamic kids books for dd to give her as Eid gifts - does anyone have suggestions?

[umsami]

Originally Posted by frugalmama 

Wa'alaikum Assalam

This is my first Ramadan as I reverted right after Ramadan last year so I'm listening for ideas. I'm hopeful to be able to fast this year inshaAllah but I don't know if I'll be able to tolerate it with some of the medication I'm on. 

I've been trying to find some good quality Islamic kids books for dd to give her as Eid gifts - does anyone have suggestions?

Assalamu Alaikum FrugalMama:

Congrats on your first Ramadan coming up. :)  Remember that kids start with fasting for one meal...then work up to half days...and then gradually make it up to a full fast.  Don't feel bad if that's the way you need to take it as well.  Also with medications/illness/breastfeeding/pregnancy, there are all exemptions.  Remember that God is the Most Merciful and Compassionate, and don't be afraid to take that compassion.

How old is your DD?  Karen Katz has a nice Ramadan book.  We also really like "Night of the Moon".  Our family favorite is a small paperback, that I think it out of print, called "The Ramadan Adventures of Fasfoose Mouse" or some such thing. :)  If you check out youtube, there are some nice Ramadan videos too.

[1jooj]

Salamu Alaykum!

frugalmama, I thought I posted my congratulations to you! Looks like I didn't, but masha-Allah! May Allah accept all your efforts this Ramadan, and may your fasting be easy. 

I am disappointed with the one book I did pick up for Ramadan. That's one thing I don't love about having to order online for almost anything we need. I got Ramadan Rhapsody. It's a day-by-day devotional sort of thing and I find the ideas nice, but the writing is not very good and I find that hard to get past. But kids and I are all working on our Arabic and Quranic skills with Al Qaidah Noraniah and Wightwick and Gaafar's Mastering Arabic 1.

These long days are definitely tough. My dd just got started on orthodontics and is having such a hard time eating at all that she has to forgo fasting this year. Ds is doing fine, but today will be his first fasting day doing Tae Kwon Do, so we'll see how he does. Both kids are prepubescent, but have otherwise no trouble fasting.

I'm just finding it a challenge that we have only the hours between 8:30PM and 3:30AM to hydrate. Combined with the recent heat, it's rough. Definitely slowing down this month.

umsami, I hope the move goes smoothly for you. I can't imagine trying to keep an organized head in this condition.

[youngspiritmom]

Salaam dear sisters,

Ramadan, for me, has included no fasting, since I was pregnant for the 1st week, delivered on the 7th of Ramadan, and now I am postpartum. So I will have 30 days to make up plus some days from previous Ramadans being pregnant/breastfeeding...I have a lot of fasts ahead of me. However, despite this, I really have felt the generosity of Allah and baraka of this month. There were so many things that came up toward the end of this pregnancy that seemed like "burdens" but Allah took care of all of them for me and made all things easy. I now see that these "burdens" were placed in my life so that I could learn to trust God to carry them for me. It has really made me grow closer to Him. I have also been trying to make dhikr while breastfeeding which has made my month feel more like Ramadan.

The new baby is calm and sweet alhamdulillah. I am grateful to have had lots of help this first week postpartum and I am honestly feeling GREAT! A huge relief from the illness, exhaustion, and trauma I felt after my first baby. God is good. We will have his aqiqa (you know, the feast parents of a new baby offer) in the last 10 days of Ramadan at the masjid, inshallah.

Thinking of you all and praying for peace in your hearts and drawing nearer to Allah swt in this month.

[1jooj]

YSM  A million blessings and Allah's Grace and continued Mercy!

I am incredibly proud of and humbled by ds. He has been fasting so well, including his TKD days. He has been working steadfastly every day with his Quranic reading program, and feels good about his progress.

I am on my break from fasting, and looking forward to fasting again tomorrow, insha-Allah.

We are staying with a dear friend back in the US, and together we have really been working to make Ramadan a special and memorable experience for all the kids. We're relaxed about things, but we've done activities with them, and there's the nightly ornament calendar, and little treats and occasional scavenger hunts for goodies. Now it's time to think about Eid and how we can make it really special. Of course, Eid prayers and brunch at the roller rink, and a special dinner that evening, but I really want to spend a day outside with the kids, after spending so many days inside, avoiding the worst of the heat while fasting.