But mama, baba, I don’t want to fast when I’m older, it’s too hard!
The nightmare—and for some of us, the reality—of our kids’ day-to-day. As soon as we hear those words, thoughts rush through our minds.
“Where did I go wrong?” “Why doesn’t he want to fast?” “Doesn’t he realize how bad it is to say he doesn’t want to do Ramadan?” “Have I raised him as a good Muslim?” “I should’ve put him in an Islamic school.” “I should’ve homeschooled.” “I should’ve returned home to my Muslim country so he’d be surrounded by Muslims.”
Ramadan Comes with Its Hardships
While all these thoughts race through our minds, after they’ve settled and we’ve gathered ourselves, we realize there’s likely no silver bullet. Ramadan comes with its hardships. Somehow, over time, we learned to accept those very same hardships that once felt overwhelming.
But let’s track back our process. What helped us?
- Was it our parents’ praise?
- Was it our all-Muslim community?
- Were we just born with iman (faith) in our hearts from a young age?
The answer usually lies in many factors, rather than one.
In the Age of Instant Gratification, Hardship Is Hard to Swallow 
We have to remember that our times were different. Whether you’re a millennial or Gen Z, you likely grew up without screens at a young age. Sure, we had a TV at home, but as soon as we stepped outside, we were free again. This generation is different. But it doesn’t have to be the end-all, be-all.
Depending on how easy they had it—ease of distraction from boredom, ease of getting any toy they wanted thanks to both parents working—we need to consciously instill values of perseverance. Slowly. Even if they’re used to none.
Perseverance is built slowly, while surmounting the hardships of life. The easier we make our kids’ lives, the more we embed the idea that life is supposed to be easy. So even low levels of hardship can feel unbearable.
Grit: The Key to Success 
A 2024 UK study of over 10,000 children found that the most important factor in a child’s long-term success wasn’t intelligence or talent, but grit—perseverance in the face of adversity.
This is obvious once we grow up. We know that short-term sacrifice leads to long-term reward. But for kids, it’s not so obvious. So how do we make it obvious?
Through something ALL kids love: Storytelling!
Rafiq Learns Perseverance 
Inspired by the verse from Surah Al-Sharh:
إِنَّ مَعَ الْعُسْرِ يُسْرًا
Inna ma’a al-‘usri yusra.
Indeed, with hardship comes ease. (Qur’an 94:6)
Kids are introduced to the story of Rafiq the bear, who loved raspberries but struggled to compete with bigger bears who always got the best berries. Determined to succeed, Rafiq decides to climb to a hidden valley of berries.
He faces hardships—sore muscles and exhaustion—but keeps pushing forward. Eventually, he discovers rows of berry bushes all to himself.
Along the way, kids will learn fun science facts about raspberry growth, muscle development, and the importance of perseverance. Our newly published story is designed to entertain and educate, amusing kids while sparking curiosity and reflection.
The Best Part? 
We’re offering the eBook for FREE on Amazon this Thursday, March 13th, and Friday, March 14th!
Download it here: [Amazon Link]
The only thing we ask? If you enjoyed the story, please leave us a review. Your feedback helps us continue creating stories that matter.