Anyone For a Papaya?
At 10.06 am on a Saturday, the third day of Ramadhan, this my dad had to say:
"Mmm.. anyone for a Papaya??"
[Hello! This is Ramadhan, and your son my dear was already 10!]
And with a sheepish grin he'd dangle the juicy papaya, eyes smiling (my 6th too is endowed with smiling eyes). Along with papaya came Pisang Bunga ( pisang embun, i believe). He couldn't bear to watch us went through with the puasa *S*; funny but true. My dad was a very pious man by any standard, but he succumbed to pitying his children ( I translate that to 'loving' his children).
Needless to say, we took that as a command to break our fast. Hishhh.. don't let my kids read this.
On the other end of the scale, Countess was trained early, since she was a toddler, to fast. Everybody in her mom's household did that. And they pass down this tradition, religiously. One day I chanced upon a nephew eating, and drinking, but in front of his regimental mom&dad, he was fasting, and happily sat at the dinner table, looking tired (*) at 7.19 pm.
And needless to say, Abdullah was induced into fasting early (yes, we did have our arguments of when to start..but CB gave in). The beauty of Abdullah's fasting was that his mom impressed upon him very early what the great qualities of good Muslims are, and fasting is one such.
When Tim Graham of the Tyning, Widcombe, wanted to bring Abdullah along with his son, George (Pidge) to watch Cuty Sark that came to birth in London, he wrote us a letter asking for permission that Abdullah could break his fast, so they could all enjoy the outing. We relented of course. And even if Tim had not been so kind and understanding, Abang had the facility of a musafir, thus breaking of fast was a matter of choice.
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I remember that day.. It was a very good day. A bit cold and wet when we started, but it was definitely cold and wet in London.. Mama packed my lunch - 2 vegiburgers (which tasted really nice btw, considering we didn't really have the luxury of an abundance of Halal meat where we were).
Funny, I can't seem to remember it being Ramadhan then.
oooh... I find it very difficult to train my children to fast over here in the UK. The teachers seem to think that fasting is not good for children, hence they make such a fuss. My twins are going for a 4day residential trip next week. Fasting? Kasi can la.. *wink!
Alhamdulillah our children sort of went with the flow fasting when they were 6 or seven. and even when we broke our fast at 9.30, they did so - tapi lembiklah by the end of the day.
The one in India now broke her fast, much to her father's displeasure of course.
Selamat berpuasa to both you and countess.
Abdullah
I remember it was Ramadhan son, because Tim wrote in to ask for that permission. He also mentioned something about his saver ticket that could take George and you both for free(?).
We waited anxiously for your safe delivery, and when u came home late that evening, looking very happy , we were glad we made the decision to let u tag along.
2 vegiburgers? Funny I can't seem to remember your menu that day :)
D
Thanks for sharing. Hmmm.. now I'm wondering if the teachers *pity* my children, then discreetly gave them drinks when they were at school, telling them not to tell us parents :)
Yesss.. kasi can them la, *what! The residential trip is a trip. So they can decide to break, and if they are adult, they can replace the fasting some other day.
Salam to your twins, D
CB
Kak Teh
We had our fair share of the 9.30pm iftar in Edinburgh. Subuh was at 2.30 am so 1 meal a day was all that we could take. Abang was then 3, and kakak, just 4 months old. The only person who was lembik was Countess who was breast feeding Kakak.
Your daughter is traveling so she can break her fast. I know sir AG felt that way because he understood the immense reward of fasting in Ramadhan, which will not be equalled in any other months.
Selamat berpuasa Kak Teh and sir AG. May Allah bless you both
I remembered spending puasa overseas twice; in London (after completing my Cambridge fellowship) and while on assignment in Ohio, US. Lucky for me it was winter both times that I was overseas and as such, enjoyed a short fasting hours.
But back home, if my father had been alive, I can bet you that we can have almost anything we want for break of fast. He would buy it for us as a reward for the day’s fast.
On top of that, he gives us RM1 a day for every day that we fast. We outgrew that when we were in secondary school.
But I still get RM5 from an old aunt whenever I visit during the Raya.
You still get duit Raya? Fauziah you should count your blessings girl. The love and care your aunt is showering you is regal.
And your loving Dad too! Still keep his books?
It must be fun fasting in winter. By the time you looked at your watch, it was already iftar :)
i remember during my childhood - i started berpuasa at the age of 6.. up to 10am, up to 3pm at 7yo and by 8yo - i managed to do it well, up to magrib.
i thank God for the training. and i thank dad/mum - for i know; dis kind of thg is hardly be done nowadays..
CB,
Your dad is such a sweet soft hearted father. A bit like ikelah. I'd be the regimental one: bangun subuh cepat, pergi belajar, enough with the internet etc. And he'd be the one saying" biarlah dia letih tu, takperlah sikit lagi, nanti dia buat la tu...etc.. *sigh*
JM. Good on yer. That was a great training your parents met on you. You were 6 when u did the 10 am; and I was 10 when I did the same he he. One up to you JM
Here's wishing you a great remaining Ramadhan.
DITH, you are an awesome couple, one complimenting the other. The harmony you and ikelah shared, surely is well received and appreciated by your children.
I learned discipline from my Dad and superfluous loving from my Mom. There is no one formula that fits all, and my children do get individual treatment from Dad. And sometimes the tattle-consequences may not be 'too pleasing' to the ears.
ASSALAMUALAIKUM
Please dear friend, come by to my space, and leave me your thought, as it is something I dearly sought.
___________ooOoo___________
WHEN DARK ONE COMES
when the dark one come,
let not smile to tears it succumb,
let not fear raise his arrogant thumb,
let not love be turn to a limping lump,
in confusion when the dark one come.
the dark one come,
not to bring glum,
but notes sweeter than rum,
something that our children could hum.
___________ooOoo___________
oo(O)oo
i dont recall when i started puasalah..but 2005 was the worst...seminggu tinggal!!!!
yg penting in the end... u end up being among those who observe the fasting month piously... sooo comel of ur dad masa tu...
I think malaysians r lucky coz basically everyone fast there... n even if u dont... they dont eat openly... n u feel ashamed not to fast when everyone else does...
here... it is really difficult when everyone openly eat n drink without shame...muslims i mean..
my kids r at their early stages of fasting...entah la count.. kesian pun kesian.. we r not too strict..only i set the rule that by the 4th grade.. we expct them to fast fully... do u think thatz cruel of us?
Deme my son. It is always very nice feeling to see you posting your sweeter than *um rhymes. I am blessed with your acquaintance. May Ramadhan be a school that brings us to greater heights in our soul-department. May you be happy always
CB
Art my dear, seminggu tinggal when you are travelling ok what? Musafir is allowed to break his fast, as long as you replace them, a day for a day.
When are you going to send me the Batu rakit keropok lekor? penyicah skali k?
Looking forward to meeting up with you and your family
CB
Simah, thank you. Thanks for thinking that my Dad was cute. Besides you, the only other person who thinks he was cute was Countess. Others cringe even at the show of his shadow he he. Those were the days. I learned quite late not to fear my dad, and from that day on, there was no turning back.
4th grade, no, you are not cruel. [kecian Hatice and Baddin!! CB must be strong .. yessss... that's the best for them :)
Really, the essential is to instill in them the realisation that fasting is good for them, for their soul, for their body and for their emotional strength. Keep drumming these great motivation, in various creative ways that only you can think of, and it will sink in beautifully.
And cap it off with lots of doas
May you be happy always Simah, and may your children be your strength, ad the delights to your eyes as they mature.
Salam to Halil and the children
Countess and CB
I remember the Puasa Equation; 1/2d + 1/2d = 1 day. Had a good laugh latter..LOL
Hey, that was a tough equation to handle *smile*
Yes, we knew all along that it was his loving nature that over-rode his tough disciplinarian regime.
Like you, I can now smile about it
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