You do your best when you are at your best. I know there is much to do thoughout the day, and it seems like 15 minutes to yourself is just too hard to get.

Does Mama Time Really Exist?

But, don’t feel down! What if I told you that it is possible to have that mama time?

Alhamdulilah, I have four children, three of whom I homeschool. On top of that, there are daily tasks to be taken care of, a husband to tend to, and food that has to be made. Even with all this on a mommy’s plate, there are such things that work as pick-me-ups during the day. I recommend the following:

Tips to Get Yourself Some Mama Time

1. Treat yourself- When my husband goes out, he brings my favorite treats back home, Masha’Allah. There is something that feeling you get when you have your favorite piece of cake. A little treat can bring the greatest delight.
2. Go outside- Move the homeschooling outdoors because hey, we need a little recess too! While the children are in the park  playing, sit on the swing, feed the birds, or just take a moment to unwind with the fresh air. Even taking the children to the museum or to an educational movie (IMAX) would be fun for everyone. Sometimes, we just need to get out of the house, and the children will enjoy it too.
3. Say a prayer- Yes, make du’aa!  Turning to Allah gives the heart ease and peace. We may feel, “No one helps me. I’m by myself. Where is my help?” However, Allah is The One who truly helps. After every salaat, make dhikr. You will find this amazing ease over your heart. Also, if you get frustrated, make wudu and start over.
4. Support- If you have the blessing of a family that supports your homeschooling or that helps with the children, use that card, and get Grandma to be the children’s speacial teacher for the hour.
5. Q is for Quiet Time- My children stopped napping a long time ago, but I insist on there being a portion of the day when there is quiet. Pick some quiet time activities, and let your child do some independent play and learning. We create DIY puzzles at Habeebee Homeschooling, and it makes a fun quiet-time activity. Also giving the kids their favorite books  a nice space on the rug will give you some time to relax.
6. Schedule- Sometimes we feel overwhelmed because everything is out of order, but once you put some structure in your day, you will finish everything on time, your children will sleep on time, and you will have time for yourself, Insha’Allah. 

Alhamdlilah we do a lot in our day. A mom’s job is one that does not end. Just because we work hard, does not mean we can’t take time out for ourselves. You can take care of your family worn and tired out, but how much would they benefit? To make the most of our efforts, it is very important to set aside that special time for Mama.

What are some things you do to make sure you get some personal “Mama Time”? Share your secrets below!

Time For Mama is a post from: American Muslim Mom Blog

The month of Ramadan is a time that we look forward to all year. We make duaa that Allah (swt) allows us to live till this blessed month so we can reap as many rewards as possible. There is no doubt that during Ramadan our focus should be on worship but as mothers we still have to make sure our families are well taken care of! One of the most time consuming parts of our day is planning the immense sahur and iftar spreads. So below are a few quick tips and meal ideas to help us get out of the kitchen!

1- Spend an hour a week pre-planning what you want to make each day and write out a detailed grocery list so there are no last minute trips to the grocery store.

2- Avoid dishes that require a lot of last minute fuss (ex. Fried foods!). Instead go for dishes with minimal ingredients that can be prepped ahead of time.

3- Make sure to include salads, fruits, and a lot of fluids. Not only are these easy to prepare they are essential to keeping you energized and hydrated throughout the day.

4- Do whatever you can ahead of time and store it in the fridge/freezer. A great way to do this is to have a prep-party. Invite over a group of friends, with each of you being in charge of purchasing the ingredients for a certain dish, and assemble everything together then divide it amongst you. Not only will you have a great time but each of you will come out with loads of ready made goodies! Not sure what can be prepped a head of time? Here are a few ideas!

• Cut up containers of fruit at the start of the week to serve with sahur, iftar, or after-taraweeh snack.
• Home made granola and granola bars are great for a quick sahur and are full of nutrients.
• Breakfast burritos can be assembled, individually wrapped in foil, and then placed in a ziploc in the freezer. All you have to do is pop them in the toaster oven (or microwave) and instant sahur! Another great thing about breakfast burritos is you can change up the flavors any way you’d like.

• If your heart desires more tradition iftar fare then samosas are a classic make ahead and then freeze item. The same goes for egg rolls. However, if you’re going healthy this Ramadan then you can brown off the mince meat for these samosa substitutes, portion it, and freeze it. Making the dough and cooking them will only take you 10 minutes in the kitchen! Another great healthy make ahead take on tradition iftar fare are these baked eggrolls!
• You can make marinades for meat, place them in labelled ziploc bags in the freezer. That way all that is left to do is take out the meat and place it in the ziploc bag to marinate the night before you need it.
• Casseroles and lasagna can be frozen raw in their pans and placed frozen in the oven. Just make sure to increase the cook time.
• Another time saver is to prep parts of meals. For example, make burger patties and freeze them. Meatballs freeze great as well. And you can never go wrong with browned off minced meat! Even pizza dough can be portioned and frozen until needed.

Ramadan is a once in a year opportunity that should be missed. With the right planning we can make the most of this Ramadan for ourselves and our families, inshaAllah.

Do you have some meal planning ideas or tips? Share them in the comments below!

Bio:
Maryam Adham is mother, wife, and entrepreneur. As the mother of 2 kids under 2 she saw the gap in clothing options for Muslim mothers and decided to do something about it. Her goal was to produce affordable, function, high quality maternity and nursing wear. The result? www.modest-mama.com. When she’s not chasing her little girls around she enjoys trying out new recipes and reading up on homeschooling. Like Modest Mama on facebook and follow on twitter to get the latest updates and deals on maternity jilbabs and nursing abayahs!
photo credit: juandesant

Meal Planning for Ramadan is a post from: American Muslim Mom Blog

“Farid: Successful entrepreneur intends to honor late mother“, By: George Moore
07/10/2008, Meriden’s Record Journal.

Salma K Farid Academy – Honoring their mother is a post from: American Muslim Mom Blog