Sunday 28 July 2013

On being a female in a Muslim household in Ramadan..

Girls. I need to rant about something. Y'all know how much I love fasting. It makes me sad when I can't. But it's that time of the month right now. And it's slap bang in the middle of our blessed month. Which means I can't fast. 

It also means I can eat whatever I want; but the thing is.. I just - I just CAN'T okay, it's really hard!! Not because I physically can't, or I feel like I should be fasting (although I do sometimes feel like the latter). No it's neither of those. It's just.. how do I eat without getting caught by the opposite gender? They're usually clueless about the whole period thing..

 Let me walk you through the awkwardness and problems I face when it comes to this issue and how I deal with it.. or how I try not to deal with should be much more an accurate of a description, LOL

At first, I try and eat stealthily. When they're in masjid, when they're at work, when they're napping. I tip toe across the creaky landing outside my room and lightly jump over a couple equally creaky stairs like a cat stalking its prey, flee to the kitchen and find something to eat that won't leave a mess, a scent or any dishes to wash. 

But then... *horror music* they come home early, or they wake up from their nap and instinctively walk to the kitchen for a snack and BAM they find you stuffing your face with Jaffa cakes with a cuppa on your right and a half eaten tube of Pringles on your left and time freezes for a moment and you're just stood there like AW POOP NO I'VE BEEN CAUGHT! 

So now what do I do? Do I flat out tell them the reason?

Me: ...
Them: OMG YOU'VE BROKEN YOUR FAST?! 
Me: ohai.. um.. yeah I'm on my er.. you know.. my erm... *mumbles* period..
Them: Your what?
Me: *flails at the prospect of having to explain menstruation to her 15 year old brother*
(or alternatively)
Them: Oh.. *awkward silence*
Me: *flails inwardly just as awkwardly*

DO YOU SEE WHAT I MEAN? If I wouldn't tell someone I'm on my period on a normal day, why am I going to tell them now?! Obviously I try to avoid this situation. I mean who wouldn't? Maybe someone who wasn't dropped in a pool of awkward as soon as they were born and can deal with stuff like this in a mature way.. heh.

The only alternative left is for me to not eat, or flat out lie by saying I'm ill. Or bring up a fruit basket* up into my room and put a lock on the door. 

*sigh*. #muslimgirlproblems

Luckily, (even though I don't believe in luck, I just couldn't find a better word) I have actually been ill and have been given some meds so I can just half lie and say the doctor told me not to fast if they ever catch me. xD Teehee! *rubs hands with glee*

How do you deal with your time of the month in Ramadan?

*And by fruit basket I mean a basket full of Jaffa Cakes. And Pringles. Lots of Pringles..

8 comments:

  1. Oh man, I had never thought of that! It's awkward enough trying to explain/not explain why you're eating an entire 1/2 gallon of ice cream straight out of the container. I guess it'd be even worse when everyone else is still fasting!! Ugh. I don't think I'd be any better at non-awkwardly explaining!

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    1. LMAO @ the ice cream comment OMG! Hahahaha xD

      I agree it would be much worse whilst everyone else is fasting :P I'm glad someone else sees my problem! xD

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  2. Haha 'luckily' for me it coincided with being ill!

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    1. bahaha well I do like to look at the upsides of things ;D kehehe

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  3. It's funny how they are clueless to this.
    I had to sneak in the kitchen last year and quickly shove food in my mouth and leave. Plus they question EVERYTHING. Like go away dude -__-
    I think I'll be doing all the fasts this year! :D

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    1. Lmao ikr?! Hope your Ramadan went well! :D xx

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  4. I can't say I'd know not being Muslim, but this was fascinating for me to read :') Maybe stocking your room up prior to fasting, make an emergency period nom box for such situations in future is a good idea XD

    Lizzums x
    http://benebelle.com

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    1. Hehe glad you liked it! Thanks for the ideas, I might do that next year! :D xx

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