![\"\"](\"https:\/\/wp-media.patheos.com\/blogs\/sites\/362\/2011\/08\/ramadan-camels-dessert-night.jpg\")
Here is a \u201cblast from the past\u201d post by one of our GrowMama writers we hope you\u2019ll enjoy. It was initially published in 2010 where she shares the story of a special first night of Ramadan. We pray yours are blessed as well! <\/span><\/em><\/p>\nRamadan is a tremendous opportunity to strengthen a child\u2019s Muslim identity, and to build a closer relationship with Allah SWT and with community. Each year I wonder how to make it special for the family. What can I do for them to taste it\u2019s sweetness?\u00a0 This year, like many others, I was not completely ready. At least not with the home perfectly cleaned or the fridge\u00a0 stocked with all the right suhoor\/iftaar groceries. I took a deep breath and said to myself,\u00a0 \u201cLets make the best of what we have.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n Listen to our story\u2026the first night of Ramadan was\u00a0 special for us\u2026<\/span><\/p>\n An hour and a half before sunset, I started to make crescent cookies with my children. Our goal: To welcome\u00a0 Ramadaan as a special guest. As the cookies baked,\u00a0 I pulled out a box of simple Ramadaan decorations. I collected some of their Ramadaan crafts over the years. While decorating our home I thought it would be nice to invite our neighbors. We called over to Michelle\u2019s asking if they wanted to come over for milk and cookies, watch the sunset and share in our welcoming party. They were at BMX biking practice. \u201cIf we were home, we would have definitely loved to come. \u201c<\/span><\/p>\n \u00a0<\/span>So, I tried again. We called over to Carrie\u2019s. \u201cDo you and the boys want to come for milk and cookies and wait for our special Ramadaan to start?\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n \u201cOhhh\u2026we would have loved to, but we are at the Texas Road House having dinner with my mom. Can we come by later in the week?\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n \u00a0<\/span>I sighed, maybe\u00a0 a dawa moment was not meant to happen tonight. As the\u00a0 children decorated, I remembered my new Muslim friend \u201cEileen.\u201d When I called, she was already in her PJ\u2019s .\u00a0 \u201cNo worries, I\u2019ll come as I am. Thank you so much for inviting me.\u201d She was ringing our doorbell within 10 minutes.<\/span><\/p>\n \u00a0The house was half decorated, the oven timer dinged. The sink was full of dishes, our tablecloth was full of crumbs. We all sat together at the big table by the window. We watched the sky turn pink, ate delicious crescent cookies with milk.\u00a0 We talked about our Family Ramadaan Goals. My husband wrote each family member\u2019s goals on a large poster board. He included a spot for Eileen. My youngest, who\u00a0 is almost five said her goals were to \u201cBe nice and learn more surahs.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n Eileen said \u201cTo be kind in word and actions.\u201d My husband would like to improve his taraweeh and read more Quran. Our seven-year-old son wants to fast between breakfast and lunch and give one of his toys in charity. I want to work on learning to forgive in a better way.<\/span><\/p>\n We prayed a peaceful Magrib salah together. My husband put the kids to bed while Eileen and I sat out on our deck next to the forest. We enjoyed\u00a0 some special sister time accompanied by the\u00a0 night sky and forest noises. My heart sensed\u00a0 Ramadaan around us. I thank Allah for a very special first night. In the end, I realized,\u00a0 having all the \u201cstuff\u201d\u2019 ready wasn\u2019t as important as having the right attitude, spirit and company.<\/span><\/p>\n \u00a0Sharda Mohammed<\/span><\/p>\n Here is a \u201cblast from the past\u201d post by one of our GrowMama writers we hope you\u2019ll enjoy. It was initially published in 2010 where she shares the story of a special first night of Ramadan. We pray yours are blessed as well! Ramadan is a tremendous opportunity to strengthen a child\u2019s Muslim identity, and […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1529,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[16],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-944","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-motherhood"],"yoast_head":"\n