Free Fridays: The deal.

20 February 2026

Getting your kids excited for Ramadhan is hard. I come across some reels of moms who show how excited their kids are for Ramadhan, with their advent calendars and little jubahs, and I’m like COME ON STOP IT.

My kids?

The big ones are fine, but the small ones…

“Moommmmm I’m sooooooo hungry, I think I died.”

“How come So and So don’t have to fast but I have to?”

“Why can’t we break fast at Zuhur time?”

“Why can’t I open all the advent calendar at one go? It’s a present you gave me so I can choose how to use it.”

So yeah, you and your smiling child who’s being patient to open only one a day WHILE SMILING. Yeah I don’t need to see that, thank you.

This year, we took it up a notch. Levelling up. We said something that was like torture to the children. A sentence they never thought they would hear in their lifetime. A sentence that can make their ears bleed and furniture fly across the living room.

We said…

“This Ramadhan, no TV and no music.”

YA ALLAH, ASTARGHFIRULLAH. 😂

You should’ve seen their faces. I wanted to laugh so hard. It was like THE END OF THE WORLD. With looks of the utmost betrayal hurt on their faces. They weren’t even able to utter a word, just shocked from the thought of not watching Blippi or play their video games. Mouths just wide open. Like this:

After their original colours have returned to their bodies, we discussed about Ramadhan and how special of a month it is.

The angels roam around us, Allah swt is ready to forgive all sins, so can you imagine if the angels are watching us on the couch watching Netlix? The other day we were watching Hell’s Kitchen and I felt so uncomfortable – F word every few seconds, my heart felt so wrong that I just didn’t want to watch it anymore. I like Gordon Ramsay, but I like Allah more. And then we’re fasting while listening to Spotify bobbing our heads to songs about intimacy? Where is the sincerity? And we’re weak creatures so we’re bound to lose to all this entertainment - suddenly it’s two hours passed, and we still want to click “Yes I’m still watching” on Netflix. And Asar was missed.

As we’re trying to level up our deen, it has to be a family effort – not just Fadza and I alone. Our kids have to be on the journey too. The entire home should be designed for good.

They understood.

Well, Idris didn’t. But he just follows Sarah so whatever, he’ll get over it.

And my kids, bless them, they accepted the challenge but one smart alec started opening his mouth.

“Ok, Mom and Dad. If the purpose of this ‘No TV and no music’ is to eliminate distractions, then you have to do it too,” Daniel said.

“Yes of course, we’re going to do it too!” Fadza and I said.

Then Daniel added, “That means your phone too, with your Instagram and YouTube.”

Oh…. right….

“Yesss!” Mariam agreed so eagerly. “And If we catch you playing your phone and it’s not about work or necessities, we get ten minutes of gadgets.”

Daniel added to it, “And the ten minutes cannot be continuous. If we have to go and pee, the timer stops.”

Can’t hang his towel back on the rack but this, wow the level of detail.

“Deal??” Mariam asked, almost just telling.

Fadza and I exchanged glances, telepathically gulping at each other. I guess it’s “monkey see, monkey do”. If we’re telling the kids to not be on gadgets, and both of us are doomscrolling on Instagram, that’s hypocritical. As parents, we have to set the best example to our kids…

… is what I’m telling myself because now I’ve been cornered by my teenagers.

“Fine,” Fadza said.

“Easy,” I added.

Both of us nervous, I can tell.

“Deal?” Daniel and Mariam asked.

“Deal.”

So… how are we doing now?

The kids have not complained about no TV and no music. In fact, they’ve found other things to do – play together, taking longer showers, taking naps, making art, reading… it’s sooo amazing!

The adults?

Well, someone was caught on Instagram this morning at sahur and Daniel happily claimed his ten minutes of video games. I won’t name names but that someone wasn’t me.

“I was on Instagram to read the news!” that someone exclaimed to defend himself.

“Yep, that’s how it starts. I’m disappointed…” Daniel shakes his head, while playing his game.

And guys, it’s only Day 2.

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Before you go…

Choose your team. Comment “Team Parents” or “Team Kids” on my latest post at @sincerelyvivy. Choose wisely. 🤨

See you there! :)