raya eve
July 6, 2016My view right now.
It’s Raya eve and this year we are sleeping over my parents’ house and it’s so fun with my sister’s family here too. The house is chaotic and I can see happiness in my parents’ faces having the complete family here with them. Because we are a small family, one person’s absence is really felt so I’m so happy that everyone’s here today.
My kids are fast asleep and have no clue what’s going on, but just look at them sleeping peacefully. These were the same pillowcases I slept on as a child and now my kids are sleeping on them. It’s crazyyyy! I’m in my room now and everything is still the same. Photo frames of me as a child, pink cupboards, pink laundry basket, pink wallpaper (torn at certain places), pink teddybears… I’m so glad my parents kept my room as it was. Dean? He’s terrified of this room. This room screams Little Teenage-Hormones Vivy.
Anyway, how was your Ramadan?
I had a lot of highs but also a lot of lows. Those targets I set in my previous blogpost… didn’t achieve them. Which I’m so disappointed about. It was really difficult to because I’d have full days till late nights at the warehouse, I couldn’t terawih and I was too tired to read the Quran sometimes. When we come home, it’s basically attending to the kids and then I’d cook for sahur on some nights. By the time I look at the clock, it’s past midnight and I told myself I should sleep. Kids will cry one by one in the middle of the night, then before I know it, it’s time to wake up for sahur. Sleeping in the mosque? Howwwww, when you have small babies and have to go to work tomorrow? Sigh. But at the end of the day, I know it’s all just finding EXCUSES. If I really wanted to, I would. My friend Huda has 4 small kids and she managed to khatam Quran this Ramadan. Toots memorised one whole juzuk in the Quran. Asma’ basically lived in the mosque in the last 10 days. I felt down one day because hearing about them made me feel less of a Muslim, but Dean picked me up and reminded me to do it in my own pace, and that working and being a mom is also ibadah and I shouldn’t beat myself up if I can’t finish the Quran in a month. He was very sweet. But I still have to do better next Ramadan. Let’s all push each other to be, ok?
But there were highs too. Dean and I jemaah terawih together after work, I managed to cook quite a bit for the family, we spent a lot of time with both sets of parents and got closer, we buka a lot with our teammates which made us closer, we did some charity which was really nice. For the first time ever, we had one buka puasa at an old folks’ home. A lot of companies do hotel buffets but I thought this year let’s make it more meaningful and brighten up someone’s day too. A lot of people choose kids’ homes, but I wanted to spend time with the elderly instead – maybe also because I miss Tok and Opah very much. Being with them really opened my eyes; they weren’t a bunch of depressed and grumpy lot, they were soooo cool and happy and even bedridden, they were so positive making jokes and even being grateful to God for still living. My goodness, here we are complaining here and there. But there are people out there having worse health conditions than us, thanking God and making the best of what they have. It’s sooooo inspiring guys, you guys have to experience this at least once in your life. (One even watched Love, Vivy on TV – that one was my favourite bahhahaha).
Selamat Hari Raya and Maaf Zahir Batin from my family, my colleagues and I. Eat lots and enjoy the day with your loved ones, and don’t forget to be grateful in everything we do. Till the next Ramadan, let’s always strive to improve ourselves!
Ok lemang time, bye.
Yeayyyy, first reader hahahaha
Selamat Hari Raya Vivy, and family! Have a great one. Mariam, entertain the guests with your dancing. heheeh
ok, lemang time too. kbye
Show us a picture of your pink room. Selamat Hari Raya Vivy & Family.
Selamat hari raya Vivy 🙂
Selamat Hari Raya Sis Vivy take care !
Enjoy your Hari raya with family and have a good rest 😀
I felt like crying while reading this post. I mean i havent started work and i still cant acheive all of that! Reading this reminds me of my mother who keeps complaining she doesnt do enough ibadah when everyday she cooks for us (almost hehe) just like dean, i try to tell her also! But i guess we all just want to be better all the time! I once heard a tazkirah saying, habnulminallah habnulminnanas ( dunno how to spell heheh)! Meaning that have a good relationship with god and also a good relatiobship with those around you! And im sure you do both vivy!!! You inspire people to do good so keep up ☺️ Hugs and kisses for you! Xx
Ps: so jealous my mum met you at the mosque!
Selamat hari raya vivy ^^
Vivy, this is such a good read. I felt really down as yeah it was so hard to khatam the whole Quran, and all as being a work at home mum. But this writing from the FB: Islam for kids, brighthen up my Ramadhan!
“To all the mothers who are not able to fast or not able to do as much ibadat as people without children…
Don’t think for a split second that what you are doing as a mother is not ibadah and rewarded immensely! As long as your intention the moment you wake up every morning is to take care of your children and family and house all for the sake of Allah subhanahu wa ta’ala, every single thing you do throughout the day is ajr! Why do you think Prophet Muhammad sallallahu alayhi wa salam put so much emphasis on the mother?! Who next? Your mother! Who next?! Your mother?!
Every time we change a diaper=ajr
Every time we feed our child, even if it is a tiny little cheerio=ajr
Every time we wake in the middle of the night to feed or tend to our crying baby=ajr
Every time we clean them up or give them a bath=ajr
Don’t think for a moment that you are not gaining ajr this Ramadhan! Allah subhanahu wa ta’ala knows your circumstances as a mother and knows it is not easy! Be patient my fellow mommies. Enjoy this time with your children and don’t feel bad for a moment when you see everyone going for taraweeh and you are home with the kids struggling to bathe them before bed, reading them their good night stories, putting their PJ’s on, and giving 1001 good night hugs and kisses and then chasing them back to their rooms after you thought they were asleep. Every single one of these is ajr!
You will get your chance! When your little ones are older and you’re able to go back to the masjid, able to read Quran several times in ramadhan, able to listen to hours of tafseer, able to cook lots for poor people, you will remember these beautiful days when you were gaining mountains of ajr!
Don’t despair, the mercy of Allah subhanahu wa ta’ala is great and you’re doing a great job as a mother. Allah subhanahu wa ta’ala reward all of us mommies and grant us patience and steadfastness at all times when dealing with our children Ameen ya Rabil Alimeen.
Via A sister”
happpy raya, to you, vivy & family.
maaf zahir & batin 🙂
You’re such a real person that you blow my mind all the time. Your parents brought you up well and kudos to them. Continue to be humble and inspire the world because we need more real people like you. =)
Hey! Thank you for such a lovely blog post. I’d been having a bad moment and reading your blog never fails to cheer me up. Your sincerity, zest for life and sense of responsibility are so inspiring, and you are definitely an amazing role model. Thank you for sharing your stories and more importantly, your sweet and cheerful personality. You are truly an inspiration and going through your blog and instagram posts always brightens my day 🙂
Hai Vivy, Ramadan is coming so soon. You can do the mission on this year. Happy always Vivy.