Hawzah News Agency (Edmonton, Canada) – Ramadan is a time for Muslims to fast and pray. But for the women it's also a time to manage stress as they take on more responsibilities as mothers and caregivers.
"It does get a bit hectic and tiring, but the contentment and happiness that I get when I sit down [at] the table with the family and eating our favorite foods, that moment is priceless," said Hina Tareq, a mom with a full-time job who lives in Halifax.
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Tareq is the first one to wake up for Suhoor, which is a meal that Muslims have as early as 4 a.m. to sustain them for the rest of the day.
She prepares a meal for her husband and eight-year-old son, cleans afterward, goes to work and then comes back home to quickly prepare a meal for Iftar to end their fast.
"I would say your time management and organization skills have to kick in because once you're back from work you don't have ample of time that you have for prayers as well as cooking a meal," said Tareq.
"So, like me, I'm sure a lot of women most likely prepare in advance prior to Ramadan. This way we wouldn't spend all our time in the kitchen."
Tareq is already preparing in advance for the start of Ramadan on Monday.
Rahma Mohamed is a mother of three children and a self-published author living in Edmonton. She said mothers who work and have young children have a hard time dealing with not being able to pray, or not being able to attend the night prayers, because they're running a household.
At the start of every Ramadan, Mohamed felt anxious, so to help herself and other women focus on worshipping more she co-authored 'Ramadan For Us Prep Program.' It is an e-book that provides methods, meals and strategies to help mothers and busy women make more time for themselves.
"Some of what we recommend is while cooking could you also be listening to some lectures? Could you perhaps take two weeks off from work to focus on your Ramadan? Or could you cancel all your kid’s extracurricular activities so that you have less to do?" she said.
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