womanthismonth.com | MARCH 2025 PARENTING 76 The Holy Month of Ramadan is one of the most amazing times of the year, but it can also be extremely stressful for parents. Ouiam El Hassani offers advice on managing both your children and yourselves during what can be a testing time. Ramadan: Finding Joy in the Chaos of Motherhood Ramadan in Bahrain is a whirlwind of samboosas, sleepless nights and surprisingly spiritual toddlers. Forget the Pinterest-perfect Ramadan decorations; mine are currently held together with prayer beads and hope. This holy month isn’t just about abstaining from food and drink; it’s about abstaining from losing your ever-loving mind while simultaneously trying to raise tiny humans who seem to have developed a superhuman ability to locate the one forbidden snack in the pantry. Consider this your survival guide, fellow mums! Ramadan Rituals Let’s be real, mums in Bahrain during Ramadan are basically superheroes. We’re juggling Iftars that could feed a small army (because, you know, unexpected guests are a thing), Suhoors that need to be ready at 4am (even though we’re running on, like, two hours of sleep), and the general chaos of family life, all while fasting. It’s like a marathon, except instead of a medal at the end, you get a mountain of dishes and the faint scent of fried onions clinging to your clothes for the next week. Glamorous, right? Pro tip: Embrace the chaos. Lower your expectations. If the kids eat cereal for Iftar one night, so be it. Then there are the kids. Oh, the kids. Suddenly, they’re experts on Islamic history, quizzing you on the Prophet’s life while simultaneously demanding a juice box right now. Bedtime becomes a mythical creature, whispered about in hushed tones, never actually seen. And don’t even get me started on the “I’m hungry!” chorus that starts approximately 30 seconds after Iftar ends. It’s like they have a secret pact with their stomachs to rebel against all forms of parental authority. How to survive this? Engage them! Get them involved in preparing simple dishes for Iftar. Think fruit skewers or helping to set the table. This keeps them occupied and makes them feel part of the festivities. Also, strategically assign screen time. A little Paw Patrol before Iftar can work wonders.
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