Homeshuling

Conversation at pickup from pre-school: she only *looks* generous Zoe: Here mommy, I have a card and flower for you for mother’s day. Hands me a white carnation and a card.  One minute later: Zoe: Actually, mommy? The card is for mother’s day. The flower is supposed to be for kids to keep. For kid’s…

My friend, writer and jewelry maker, Lisa Oram sent me a wonderful piece she wrote a few years ago about the “Barbie dilemma.” She’s kindly given me permission to reprint it here.  The Slippery Slope to Barbie I never had Barbies when I was a kid. My mom believed that girls should play with girl dolls, not…

So far, my daughters have been relatively insulated from the horror of Barbie dolls. I recognize that Barbies are not pure evil – after all, lots of wonderful, strong women I know grew up grooming and dressing those stacked little hotties, to no apparent ill effect. As a kid, I mostly dismembered my Barbies and…

On this beautiful Shabbat morning, instead of going to Tot Shabbat, I took my daughters on a long walk though our neighborhood. We were carrying (and thereby violating the Sabbath) fifty empty bags given to us by the local Survival Center, a food pantry for the many in our community who are in need. Our…

Well, mostly we didn’t, since there wasn’t any kind of celebration or event in our community. We usually do nothing on July 4th, either, so at least I’m consistent when it comes to a lack of interest in patriotism. But I did make a delicious batch of Israeli salad that I ate throughout the day.…

I never know quite what to say when my children ask about God. It’s not that I don’t believe in God, it’s just that at 41, I still haven’t figured what I believe. I speak vaguely, but comfortably, about God being everywhere and in everything, and that we should be thankful to God for all…

Here’s a family portrait my four year old, Zoe, drew the other day. at least she didn't make *me* bald That’s me on the left, her father in the middle, and her big sister on the right. Judging from the relative size of my husband’s head, I’m guessing she doesn’t buy into the idea that…

I spent yesterday at a conference about teaching Hebrew to students with various learning needs. The conference wasn’t as useful as I had hoped*, but it left me thinking a lot about why, of all the second languages my children could be learning, we have chosen Hebrew. There are many languages that would serve them…

  only bubbe gets this smile My mother came to visit this weekend so that she could be here for Grandparents Day at my five year old’s school. She lives six hours away, but I wish she lived around the corner so every shabbat could be like this one. In her honor, here’s a story I…

or close up shop altogether, after reading this wonderful piece.

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