Farhana & Farzana Fasting Experience During Ramadhan

Farzana & Farhana telling us what they think about Ramadhan fasting

My daughters were really excited with the coming of Ramadhan this year. Their reason – they wanted to fast for the whole month. While Lin & I were hopeful, we were only hoping that they’d surpass their last year’s tally of 5 days……we were very wrong then, because the twins have been on a straight marathon of fasting……not a single day missed so far with less than 5 days to go before Eid Mubarak and we are optimistic that they will be able to keep a perfect record till the end.

At the beginning of Ramadhan, they went through the adjustment of not being able to eat or drink during the day with some difficulties. They had to be cajoled, consoled and even distracted to ensure that they lasted till the Maghrib Azan (the calling for Maghrib prayer, also indicating the end of fasting). Cranky is the right word to describe them but being tired and hungry…..that was totally understandable. Their crankiness became less and they almost seemed normal after the first week, except for the fact that they became noticeably tired at the very last part of their fasting. They did complain once in a while, but they were also very proud that they have not missed their fasting.

The best part of fasting obviously

Activities to while their time away.....passing food to the neighbours, playing computer games...

...and helping Mama in the kitchen.....way to go!!!!!

While their behaviour when they were fasting was fairly predictable, the effect of sugar rush on them post breaking fast really caught us by surprise. With their bodies experiencing depletion of sugar level in their blood during the day, the food and drink they consumed at breaking fast suddenly boosted their blood sugar level to the sky (or so it seemed). Within a half an hour after Iftar (breaking fast), we would find two very bubbly and jovial kids running around the house full of energy. It was like a clock......unbelievable!!!! It was an interesting daily routine for both of us, trying to deal with cranky kids before breaking fast and after that, attempting to enforce law and order in the house with two six year old kids running riot. To be honest they were not bad....it was all good and we had a lot of fun watching our kids experiencing one of the five pillars of Islam at such a tender age with such grace.

This is what you get when their blood sugar level hits the roof!!!!!!

And Sahur (early meal to be consumed before the calling of Subuh prayer) has also been another very interesting moment for the twins. I normally woke up between 5 to 5.10 am during Ramadhan. I’d prepare some simple food for them like bread or cereals and then gave them milk formula and plain water to complete their early morning meal. It was obviously difficult for them to get up, and normally Lin would help me to feed them food while they were half-awake and their eyes fully shut. There were times that they did not even remember eating during Sahur. So, even on those few days when I slept through and missed Sahur completely, the twins would continue on their fasting assuming that they’d eaten in the early morning. Hahahaha....they did not asked and I did not tell.

"Are we awake....we're not sure" - from 'Blazing Saddle'

Now with a few days to go till the end of Ramadhan, I am beaming with pride with what my angels have accomplished. Fasting is really not difficult, God made it a feat that can be done by even six year olds like my twins. I’m really happy for them and eventually as they grow up I hope they will comprehend the whole meaning of Ramadhan physically and spiritually and understand that it’s not just about restraining desire for food. Until such time, I just want to enjoy this important and beautiful moments of my twins successful attempt at fasting during Ramadhan.  Well done girls!!!!! Alhamdulillah.

A little treat of breaking fast at Johnny's - notice the generous portion of their chocolate and strawberry milkshakes