At long last I am thrilled to announce that The Gift of Children is now available to pre-order! After months of waiting for printing, shipping, (and shipping delays due to the conflict in the middle east), the books have finally arrived at their destination and will be in stores in a week, with Hashem's help!… Continue reading What we have all been waiting for!
Category: Family
Is it rude and close-minded? Or is it something else?
What my children taught me about the power of an exclusively Jewish education.
Maybe I’m Not Good Enough to be a Parent
I don't feel prepared for this. It’s one thing to raise toddlers, who basically need food, sleep, and a generous dose of love. But now it’s getting more complex.
Any Great Party Leaves a Great Mess
Life is a party. Parties make mess. But at the end of the day, it's the good times we remember that make it all worth it.
Trust Part II: Trusting Fate
Yes, G-d takes it upon himself to personally supervise every aspect of my life. It's a beautiful idea, and I think most of us really embrace it. But I think sometimes we forget what the real lesson of Hashgacha Pratis is.
Oh G-d, this is not what I signed up for!
I'm still reeling. I don’t remember another message that hit me as hard as that announcement on Friday. No. School. For at least a month. In the busiest season of the year. This can’t be real. This is NOT what I signed up for. I’m supposed to be able to send the kids out.I’m supposed to be… Continue reading Oh G-d, this is not what I signed up for!
Choosing Denial
I despise dirty stoves.Dirty counter tops get to me too, as do dirty dishes and pots. And I loathe clutter.But nothing gets under my skin quite like a grimy stove. And yet, this morning, my stove is dirty.I see it, but I pretend that I don't.Instead, I see my 17-month old in his high chair… Continue reading Choosing Denial
So How’s Life with Six Kids?
"I know it's hard now," she said, "but it will get better. It will be worth it in the long run." She has eleven kids. She's talking from experience.
Mama, It’s OK to Rest
Recovering after birth is always a journey... there's always that struggle, that feeling of guilt when we put ourselves in the center for a change. I wrote this three weeks after birth as I talked myself through that struggle.
Trust Part I: Trusting Nature
There are some pretty nice perks to living in Jewish Brooklyn. For one, there's the convenience of having practically any product you'd need available in Kosher or Jewish form, not to mention dozens of restaurants and cafes to choose from for any occasion. And while there’s what to say about its lack of green spaces… Continue reading Trust Part I: Trusting Nature
When It Comes Down to Trust
It’s been a little while since my last post. The main reason for that is the obvious: time. My job has been extra intense recently, and life with five kids is busier than with four. Bedtime now takes longer, depriving me of that precious post-bedtime quiet time I used to depend on. I also haven’t… Continue reading When It Comes Down to Trust
Aren’t five children enough?
I was surprised at my reaction. I mean, it may have sounded casual enough, but boy, was I taking this to heart.
Postpartum Reflections
If you aren't following me on social media, you may not have heard - Baruch Hashem we had a beautiful baby boy on 12 Av, about two months ago. Thankfully we are both doing well, and I hope to be posting here more frequently now that I'm back to myself! xx Chaya *** I wrote… Continue reading Postpartum Reflections
Principle #3: Be Positive
I started an Instagram account recently. It wasn’t for publicity, though I won’t complain if it helps with that too. I did it because going on this journey, I realized another vital principle in successfully raising a large, busy, and happy family. It’s called Positivity. The Challenge of Parenting We all know that parenting is… Continue reading Principle #3: Be Positive
A Quick Recap
Hi! Thank G-d, it’s been a busy Jewish holiday season: beautiful and inspiring, hectic and crazy, and still wonderful and fun. As for now, I’m glad to be back at the keyboard! But first - a quick summary of what we’ve covered until now; it’s been a while! Quick Recap The goal of this project… Continue reading A Quick Recap
Silencing the Bells
Hi friends, I'm back! It’s been a busy few weeks, with four little ones home between camp and school on top of high-pressure deadlines at work. Basically, the kind of situation that calls for the blog to take a back seat. As for now, we are back in business. When I began this project, I… Continue reading Silencing the Bells
On Parents, Gratitude, and Children
Every day that I work on this project, my appreciation for my children grows. It’s a wonderful thing, and yet I worried that I was losing sight of an issue I had set out to address: namely, the attitude of the American society today towards family size and children. So, I decided to get back… Continue reading On Parents, Gratitude, and Children
An Update
My dear friends, I know I have brought up many questions, perhaps even some you had never considered, and you’re waiting for answers. I, too, would love to see the answers. Truly, through the work we’ve done so far, I feel that I have already seen many, but until they are lined up neatly, clearly,… Continue reading An Update
A Question of Worth
Let’s talk a little more about these people. Those little people we call our kids, who are not really kids, but extraordinary people we have been blessed to help raise. Forgive me while I ask another basic question. What is a person, really? I mean, there’s over seven BILLION people in the world. That’s a… Continue reading A Question of Worth
More Questions
First and foremost, I'd like to thank all of you who have joined us on this journey. The incredible response and outpouring of support is encouraging, if not a bit overwhelming. We look forward to exploring this together, and hope that you will enjoy it along with us. Before we continue discussing the topic at… Continue reading More Questions