Textbook parenting that works in real life! Look forward to personal perspectives, musings on motherhood, and some "been there, done that" tips or tricks to make motherhood better for you and your child (age 0-6). I'm an educator and mom of 4... so I get it, and I'm in it too!
I'll never be my sister-in-law
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Are you like my sister-in-law? A few days ago (like a few DAYS before Sukkos!!), she shared pictures of her 3 homemade desserts and the flowers she bought for DIY centerpieces. She's making a tablescape. Her menu has options. If you want to learn her secrets, here's her newest hack:
There's no shame in either game! She loves it. It makes her Tishrei. This is fun for her. It is not fun for me. I can cook, I just don't like to. And although I do usually host one nice large meal (complete with homemade dips), right now I'm not up for it. This year, it's not happening. And guess what? In both our homes, it will be Sukkos. Our kids will both feel the holiday. She has a tablescape, we have a special Sukkos toy and book. (Which reminds me - don't ask what erev Yom Kippur prep looked like here 😂 (we may have installed an indoor climbing gym)) Need permission to lower the culinary bar? Want validation to keep yours as high as frosting peaks? (I don't even own an electric mixer) Click to read (or print for later): how to redefine the expectations of the Tishrei season so it works for YOU in your home. Hint: Either don’t do it – lower your expectations, cut corners, and minimize. Or do it happily, without resentment. That's the real hack for having simchas Yom Tov! Remember the goal: an experience that is positive, warm and makes your kids say, “I can’t wait until next year!” From my home to yours, have a wonderful Sukkos, however that looks like! |
Parenting for Jewish Mothers
Textbook parenting that works in real life! Look forward to personal perspectives, musings on motherhood, and some "been there, done that" tips or tricks to make motherhood better for you and your child (age 0-6). I'm an educator and mom of 4... so I get it, and I'm in it too!
Man, today* was a lot. Of money. And sensory overload. And too much time sitting in traffic. What happened: my oldest son, who’s a Benny Friedman superfan, really wanted to go to his concert. His younger brother, who wouldn’t have enjoyed a minute of it, insisted he was also old enough to attend. So now, in addition to 1) finding a nearby attraction 2) to which I could easily take three kids solo, it had to 3) be cool enough that the 5 year old wouldn’t feel like he was part of the younger...
The one response I consistently get to this letter to a mother staying home on Yom Kippur is: I cried reading it. I teared up writing it, so words that come from the heart, and all. But that's not why it makes you cry. It makes you cry because it so deeply validates your experience as a mother. Nobody tells you that after you have a baby, you're going to have an identity crisis. You wouldn't understand it even if they did. You're too busy keeping yourself and a new baby alive, trying to be an...
“Hey! I want a cupcake!” said Mr 4 (turning 5). Oh man. He was in quite a mood, and I’d finally cajoled him into sitting at the supper table. Now he saw the last banana muffin, which Mr 3.5 had just put on his plate. This could go really bad, really quickly. Lucky for me, I had a few tricks up my sleeve. (I’ll star * and explain at the end, so you can learn them too!) “Two boys and one cupcake, what should we do?” I said. * “Cupcake? I want a cupcake!” called Mr 7 from the living room. Great....