I want to talk more about chinuch. I know I’ve said that before, but haven’t shared much yet. There’s a reason for that. Over the past three years or so, life has taken me and my family on a unique journey. And as I contemplated sharing my ideas, I doubted whether my unusual perspective would resonate with… Continue reading Chinuch: A New Chapter
Category: Insight
What Really Is Education?
I'd like to talk about education. And I know what you're thinking. You're right - I'm not a teacher, or any sort of professional educator at all. I'm just a mother raising her kids as best as she can. But hear me out. I've learned, over this past decade of raising my children, that I… Continue reading What Really Is Education?
And the Journey Continues…
Dear Friends, I am so grateful to update you that The Gift of Children will be on store shelves (and Amazon) in a matter of weeks, with Hashem's help. I know many of you are waiting to get your copy, so hang in there, and I'll be sure to let you know as soon as… Continue reading And the Journey Continues…
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.
Why I’ll Never Again Be Ashamed of My Mommy Brain
The kids are finally heading back to real school.Sigh of relief, anyone? It’s been a long summer.I don’t know if my summer was longer or shorter because of the crazy thing that I did. Listen to this: I ran a day camp in my own house. If you thought you remembered me saying I’m NOT… Continue reading Why I’ll Never Again Be Ashamed of My Mommy Brain
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.
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
Principle #2: Set Yourself Up for Success
So we’ve dropped the idea of the perfect mom and the perfect family. We agree that it’s not something to aspire for, but an unhelpful ideal we had best forget. But accepting our flaws is not a free pass for neglecting our job. It is our duty to be the best parent we can with… Continue reading Principle #2: Set Yourself Up for Success
Principle #1: Expectations
In the past few posts, we discussed some ideas about parenting. How the primary partner in forming a child is G-d, and how that awareness affects deciding to have kids. I discussed how parenting fits in to my life even when I have big plans for myself. Now I want to move into a slightly different… Continue reading Principle #1: Expectations
When You are a Parent and also Ambitious
Today I want to talk about why parents are important. And why it really matters, at least to me. Let's start with the basics: Parents give birth to you, raise you, and give you everything you need as a child – and the tools to grow into the adult that you later become. Simply by raising… Continue reading When You are a Parent and also Ambitious
Deciding to Be a Parent
Having a child is a huge responsibility. It is not like any other relationship, where, should things go wrong, one can usually walk away. Once a child is born, there is no going back. The choice that we made to have them is a permanent one, with lifelong consequences. It is up to us, the parents,… Continue reading Deciding to Be a Parent
What Makes a Parent?
A parent is defined as a father or a mother, or someone who has kids. It’s a simple equation: 1 man + 1 woman = 1 child. Ok, that equation doesn’t actually add up. But it still makes sense, somehow. Well, what if I told you that in Judaism, the math is even stranger? Here’s… Continue reading What Makes a Parent?
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
The Big Picture
There’s nothing like a Chassidic explanation to give some perspective. So, this first mitzvah in the Torah. It’s a big deal, I know. It really is a big deal, not just because it’s important but because it’s actually a big deal to fulfill. My kids are sure to remind me of that, every day, and… Continue reading The Big Picture