Umrah or amrah as BBoss calls it

Alhamdulillah, MrF and I managed to do our umrah with BBoss in tow. This year the “panggilan” feels much louder and stronger. Not too sure if I’m more aware or what but it felt like a lot of relatives and friends all went within these few months. Whatever it is, hope all our umrah and ibadah diterima!

I went umrah once with my family nearly 13 years ago. After that no more chance cos my dad got really sick that means my sisters and I didn’t have any other muhrim (the cons of not having brothers). We all knew that in order to go again, we will need to be either married or >45yo. When I got married, MrF suggested for umrah as honeymoon but I gatal tak nak hurhur. After that, we just had too many excuses not to go (ie trying for baby la, MrF change jobs can’t take leave, my miscarriages la, etc etc). End up, we couldn’t senang lenang go as a couple. However, we took on the attitude of “go je!” and decided to go with BBoss along. If we nvr take this stance, I think we will forever not go.

Taking things positively, BBoss was lucky to be invited to tanah suci at such a young age and we managed to spend time as a family for 12 whole days (something which I’ve been whining abt as a full time working mom).

My mom was worried for BBoss being too young there (and doubting my capability la ni haha) so she asked my aunt if she wanted to go along. Fully sponsored yo! So thanks to dear mama, my Makcik and Pakcik went along at the last minute. Their first time there so they were nervous about it. MrF and I were generally ok with BBoss on our own (of cos la, we’re his parents kan haha) so we told them to focus on their ibadah cos don’t waste this opportunity just for BBoss kan. All we needed for BBoss was potential backing. U know it feels much easier when u know there will be someone to help if anything fails. Knowing that is already a battle half won. So win-win situation for both sides.

I was advised to go there with lower expectations. That advice truly helped! I went there with a mentality that I will sacrifice more and let MrF do more ibadah. Cos when MrF masuk syurga, he’ll confirm drag his dear wife along kan? Heheh amin! Initially I thought I will be at the hotel most times while MrF solat jemaah. Lucky me, I didn’t have to resort to that! We figured out how to make BBoss quiet while we jemaah.

Tip: bring lotsa snacks, toys and wet tissues to clean up the mess from the spilling of snacks.

Anyway even if BBoss was not quiet, people are generally very welcoming and not judgy. They are ok with babies crying or wailing even! They’re also ok with babies pouring air zam zam on their head while they sujud! Lol cos everyone there really loves babies! Alhamdulillah! So if you ever bring babies there, expect to get lotsa sweets, chocs and kisses from a lot of tetamu Allah 😀

Another tip: Baby wearing helps a lot. We didn’t need stroller. I had to babywear BBoss during 2 jemaah sessions and during tawaf and saie. I find it rather amazing how challenging times made one think of a quick solution. Last minute I had to solat with BBoss in carrier. I knew I couldn’t sujud with him cos he wasn’t in deep sleep yet (once sujud confirm wake up and I can’t possibly rock him to sleep back while in prayer) but I couldn’t find any chairs. So I quickly went over to sit on a Quran rack (after quickly removing all Quran and put on another rack) and joined the jemaah. So that was my panic moment. I know la I can just forgo jemaah but somehow panicky la nak sgt be part of jemaah.

All in all, I find it a really good trip. BBoss managed to go into Raudhah, followed us on a few umrah sessions, climbed Jabbals and did sightseeing. It was soooo soooo sooo good that I forgot about all problems back home. I felt like it was enough being there with MrF and BBoss leading a simple life focusing on ibadah. It was all so forgotten that MrF had to remind me “u btr plan ur doa for all the issues back home eh” hurhur

Let’s hope that we are invited to the place again! I hope there are good changes in us after the trip. 😬

Belanja one pic la: