Khairina and Puasa

Khairina first started fasting last year when she was 6 years old,  we didn't force her to but she was persistent to do it because she wanted to join the 'jingang' during iftar because if not she will not have the opportunity to sit at the dining table during iftar.  Anyway, last year she managed to get 18 days of puasa penuh, not bad, I would say for a first timer, however Nabil still holds the record of completing the 30 days of puasa at the age of 6 (I tell you that boy is made of steel), even during the fasting month he can still find the energy to play football in his agama school field.  Not only that, he has not missed his terawih yet (not sure where this scrawny boy gets his energy from).

Back to Khairina, her first day of puasa something funny happened, we woke her up for sahur because again she insisted she wanted to fast, she was half asleep as she could not open her eyes, I carried her downstairs, washed her face and told her to rinse her mouth (nasib baik anak Ibu ni kurus, bolehlah nak dukung2 lagi).  Put her down on the chair and told her to eat, she went 'I can't open my eyes', and I went 'Ok Ibu suap, Nina bukak mulut aje, tak yah bukak mata' and she went 'Ok Ibu, thank you Ibu'.  So I fed her and when she said she was full I carried her back to bed.  The next morning (actually it's the same morning), while getting ready for school, she asked me 'Eh Ibu, Nina ni puasa ke?'  and I replied 'puasa' and she went 'Tapi Nina tak bangun sahur pun', and came my reply 'Nina makan sahur, Ibu suap sebab Nina ngantuk sangat' and she went 'Oooooh....jadi Nina kena puasalah kan?' and I just nodded my head.

Off she went to school,  I came home at around 2.30 pm and she greeted me at the door by saying 'Ibu, Nina tak puasa, sebab Nina rasa Nina mimpi jelah Nina sahur tapi Nina tak sahur kan Ibu?  Ibu answered '  'Masya Allah Khairina, Nina sahurlah Ibu yang suap Nina makan' and came her answer 'Ya ke Ibu?' and Ibu answered 'Takpelah Nina, Nina dah makan pun, jadi Nina memang tak puasa ok' and she answered 'Tapi Nina nak'.  Haiyoo... 'Nina terlupa takpe, tapi Nina makan banyak ke tadi?' I just wanted to make sure maybe she ate some food by accident because she has forgotten that she was supposed to fast and she went 'Nina beli satu pinggan nasi lemak dengan air sarsi, Nina makan sampai habis'.  Oh my dear girl itu memang bukan terlupa, itu memang dah tak puasalah and came the whine 'Nina nak!' and she continued to fast refusing to eat and drink after that and she was adamant to join us during iftar because according to her she 'termakan'.  Suka hatilah ko nak oi....tak kuasa nak layan.  ahak ahak.  The subsequent days after the incident, she has been fasting for the rest of the days and so far, she is doing ok and am glad.

Unfortunately, the thing that I can't stand is when she asks the question of 'how many hours more to berbuka?' and after 5 mins she will be asking the same question again and again and again.  To solve the problem, we bought her a watch that she always wanted and my my whaddaya know she seldom bothers us with the question again.  Pretty good trick, I would say.

The thing about fasting month is, cooking has been a fulfilling affair because the are all eager to eat and nothing goes to waste and everything I cook is delicious to the kids (which is an achievement because I'm a lousy cook) and that shows when people are hungry, anything goes.

Kids Say The Darnest Thing

Well today marked the 6th day of fasting. The elder two kids so far had not much problem completing the task. Nabil had his puasa penuh last year when he was only 6. Khairina just started this year, and so far she managed to get 3 days of puasa, not too bad, I think for a start.

I did not actually force them to fast, they fast when they think they are ready as it's no use forcing when the child is not ready. But these children of mine can be funny when fasting.

Scene 1

Khairina lying flat on the sofa while watching tv at around 5.10 pm today.

Khairina : Ibu, Nina tak tahan dahlah, Nina nak minum boleh?

Ibu : Nina nak buka puasalah ni.

Khairina : Nina dah tak tahanlah Ibu, Nina nak air

Ibu : Ok, kalau Nina nak buka puasa, Nina minum air pastu Nina kena makan sekali.

Khairina : Nina tak nak makan, Nina nak minum air sejuk aje.

Ibu : Macam tu baik Nina puasa je lagi 2 jam dah nak berbuka, tapi kalau Nina nak berbuka pun takpe, tapi kena makan nasi ok?

Khairina : Kena makan nasi ke? Takpelah camtu, Nina puasa jelah.

Ibu : (dalam hati) Wakakaka....kesian budak ni.


Scene 2

Nabil also lying flat on the sofa in the living room, after tiring himself with rounds of ball kicking.

Nabil : Help me! Help me! I need water! water !Water please!

Ibu : Ha! ha! Main lagi. I told you to stop, tak nak dengar cakap, sekarang dah dahaga.

Nabil : Mana ada Abil cakap Abil dahaga, Abil cakap nak water je. Bukannya nak minum.

Ibu : (dalam hati) weh! tak sama ke?

Scene 3

Khairina : Ibu, nanti Nina berbuka, Nina nak makan kuih bulu-bulu.

Ibu : Kuih bulu-bulu?

Khairina : Ala kuih yang macam semalam tu, yang warna hijau tu, pastu atas dia ada bulu-bulu warna putih, pastu makan dengan kuah yang black-black colour tu.

Ibu : Yang macam semalam tu kuih lopes lah darling.

Khairina : Hah! Kuih bulu-bulu tu lah, ok?

Scene 4


Before break fast today.
In the kitchen, I was busy preparing for the iftar.


Nabil : Ibu, hari ni Ibu masak nasi ayam kan?

Ibu : Yelah sebab semalam Abil and Kakak Aina kan cakap nak makan nasi ayam, so today nasi ayamlah.

Nabil : Jelly yang Abil suka tu Ibu buat tak?

Ibu : Dah. Dah buat dah. Ada raspberry dengan orange.

Nabil : Coklat Cadbury Dairy Milk tu ada.

Ibu : Dah beli dah. Ada dalam fridge.

Nabil : Ok. Very good Ibu. Nanti berbuka, Abil nak makan chicken rice, soup, jelly and chocolate, pastu Abil nak minum air grape tau.

Ibu : Yes Sir.

Nabil : Isyy...Ibu ni ada pulak panggil Abil Sir, Abil kan belum kahwin lagi.

Ibu : Huh ! Wakakakaka.....

During berbuka.

Nabil : Sedapnya nasi ayam Ibu. Lebih sedap daripada chicken rice shop.

Ibu : (sangat kembang) Ya ke? So makan puas-puas ok.

Nuraina : Sebab tu Ibu selalu cakap kalau nak makan chicken rice tak yah beli. Ibu boleh buat.

Ibu : (dalam hati) Ceh! macam terror!

After berbuka

Ibu : Abil, ni Ibu dah keluarkan jelly dengan chocolate. Nak makan tak?

Nabil : Abil sakit perutlah Ibu, sebab Abil makan chicken rice banyak sangat. Tulah sebab Ibu masak sedap sangat, sekarang Abil dah tak dapat makan dah semua tu.

Ibu : Aikkkk! Macamana boleh jadi salah Ibu pulak ni?

Nabil : Yelah, saper suruh Ibu masak sedap sangat, pastu Abil makan banyak sampai dah sakit perut dah ni.

Ibu : Hah! (tak terkata teman)

Funny kan? Sometimes they got me gobsmacked and dumbfounded.

But cooking for the family during Ramadhan has been fulfiling as they enjoy their meals during berbuka. The first week tu enjoylah, not sure on the days to come due to my limited cooking skill and recipe. ahak ahak.

Hope you all have a nice Ramadhan too.

What Ramadhan does to me:-

During break fast today, Nabil commented 'seronoknya berbuka, nikmat Abil rasa' the look on his face and how he finished his food sends some joy in me, knowing that he loves fasting due to the nikmat he gets during berbuka.

The doa my children recite before the break fast, makes me proud of them for being thankful with the food spread on the table.

The family walk to the surau in our praying attire for the terawikh prayer, brings me calmness beyond compare as we walk hand-in-hand clad in our wudhu' is a journey that I enjoy every night during Ramadhan.

Waking the kids up for sahur, though it's a challenge but the fact that they managed to be on the dining table in time for sahur, and finishing up their food gives me an accomplishment that even words can't express.

Sitting together in the living hall, laughing and teasing each other in the wee hours of the morning while waiting for the azan, is another simple pleasure in life that I treasure.

The obstacles the children had to endure to get a puasa penuh is another proud moment that only a mom can understand.

And I get all these during Ramadhan.
The month of Ramadhan definitely strengthen the bonds among my family members and I treasure the every moment it brings.