Fasting Boys..

Alhamdulillah,
It's Ramadhan again..

Since I've got children..
It's been a different story
when it comes to Ramadhan..
It's been more colorful..

If you don't know yet..I've got 4 kids
Every time I'm pregnant and nursering
I don't fast..
yet, still I prepare for sahur and breaking time

When they were toddlers..
either they want to join sahur and breaking time
or they're cranky because of the lack of attention..

Since they're big enough to join fasting..
It's about what they want to eat..
It's about waking them up at sahur..
It's about controlling their emotion and patience..

But, InsyaAllah..
Everything that's a must for the kids..
At the first times, Introducing it, I'll try to show the fun part of it..
Like praying..
They love; the getting the wudhu part, the wearing the sarong part, and the doing it together part..
lol..
Alhamdulillah..

The same thing,
with fasting in Ramadhan..

All 4 boys, since they were around 3 years old,
really enjoy the fact that they can wake up in the middle of the night for sahur..

And breaking the fast at Maghrib is a fest for them..
From picking and giving ideas what to break with,
To helping the preparation in the kitchen before maghrib,
Until eating together at the table when it's maghrib time..

The encouragement they get from school
is also an important factor..
They're very proud,
if they could fast the whole day and pray 5 times..

Oh! Don't forget this one..
The promises that their grandparents give them
How much money they'll get if they fast for the whole day and if it's for the whole month..

Although, until now
only kakak and ade, Rizqi and Raihan, who are fasting..
The twins just love the idea of fasting..
They always ask someone near them, either me, their dad, their brother, or the helpers - their mbas
to say the prayer for breaking the fast whenever they wanted to eat or drink..lol
And the prayer for starting the fast again whenever they finished eating or drinking..lol
The most important thing is the thought ya babies!!

Rizqi is now in the 5th grade..
And, Alhamdulillah, he's been fasting for the whole day since 1st grade..
Before that, in Kindergarten, he tried to do it half day..
That's My 'Kakak'!
The same with Raihan..
Raihan is now in the 2nd grade
So, Alhamdulillah, last year was the first time he fasted for the whole day..
And he got the whole month..minus one day because he was sick..
Good Job De'!

The sad thing for me is..
I've been working from 2 in the afternoon to 7 at night for almost 2 years now..
So, I've missed the fasting moments in my family last year..
And I'm going to miss it for the second time this year..
*sigh..*

Missed every chaotic part of it..lol..
The pouring the es campur ingredients into each glasses..
The making of shaved ice..
The preparing of plates, bowls, glasses, spoon and forks for everybody..
The preparing of the food and drinks..
to The arranging who sits where, due to the small dining table that we have..

To make it worse..
I don't have to do anything at the office during the breaking time..
which we are still in the classroom, teaching, at that time..
So, it's all prepared by the OB

to the..
praying maghrib together with the whole family part..
*sigh..*

So, what I do now is..
I push all the preparation that's possible before I go to work..
Which is not as much fun..
And is not as effective..
And..
Unwillingly..
Enviously..
Halfheartedly..
Feeling Guiltily..
Leave it to the mbas to finish up during maghrib..
*sigh..*

Still trying hard to take it easy..
Being openhearted..
and..
every now and then..
if it's possible..
ask for permission to skip my 5 o'clock class..
Just for not missing the fasting moments with my family..
*lol..sigh..*

Happy Fasting Everyone!!
Allah Bless Us!!