How to share suhoor with kids under 5
Note: This should really be avoided at all costs, but if you must…
First things first, in Ramadhan, Muslims fast from dawn until sunset, the meal eaten at dawn before the fast is called Suhoor.
Now, on with the instructions…
If the 2 younger kids are awake at 5am and ready to play, sure, take them down. And if the eldest one has been crying all night because of an ear infection (we think), and insists that he needs to go down too, sure, take him down too. The more the merrier!
While preparing the meal to eat, you should really also think about getting bottles of milk ready for the kids. (My baby has decided that he is fonder of a bottle than a breast, so now I have to remember to wash and sterilize bottles for him!)
Now, if you don’t usually care for kids, then you should be warned that sleep-deprived kids are the crankiest creatures you will ever meet, and if you do have kids, well, you know. So, try to eat as fast as you can, and try to ignore any crying, fussing, arguing, harassing, hitting, biting, or otherwise, just concentrate on eating, for like 5 minutes, just eat, and then, drink, don’t forget to drink, especially if you’re breastfeeding, or, you know, trying to breastfeed.
So, while hubby gets dressed and leaves for the mosque, try not to get annoyed, obviously not because he is going to pray, but, because as you are holding the baby, drinking your water, AND trying to fill the bottles with milk, all at the same time, he walks out without even asking if you are ok, or saying sorry that he had to leave you alone.
When you are alone, focus on getting the milk to the kids, and yes even the 4 year old (he has had 3 dentist appointments already and he is perfectly cavity-free, so get over it!), if a bottle can give comfort to them, so be it. Quickly make sure that each child has enough room on the couch and there is as little kicking as possible happening, then let them drink, so you can feed the baby his bottle in relative peace.
When hubby gets back home, ensure that all the kids look happy and settled, ensure that the baby is back sleeping in his crib, and sit at the computer, you know, so he would think that you got it easy. I mean, come on, it is pretty easy, ya?
