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...
3 months ago • 3 min read
“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....
3 months ago • 2 min read
Friendly reminders (or mantras, if you will): Dirt isn’t chametz The kids should not be the korban Pesach Kids aren’t in your way, they are the way I love my kids and I love to spend time with them It's not their fault that... (I'm overwhelmed, I need childcare, etc) This home will welcome Pesach with joy and excitement That’s it. That’s the whole email. I know you don’t have time for a longer one 😂 (jk I’m actually in the middle of writing a long one, about relatives who challenge your...
8 months ago • 1 min read
I flew in and out of the state last Sunday to attend my sister’s bris. By myself. Without kids. That’s a vacation in itself, even if I got the middle seat both ways. 3 thoughts on this: 1. My husband watched the other kids, but I got a babysitter just for the baby. He’s 7 months old, has a schedule and is super easy. Just to physically replace my presence for a few hours to care for one child—after leaving instructions, a packed diaper bag, and labeled bottles and solids—cost over $100. → If...
9 months ago • 1 min read
Today a Whatsapp group called “Pesach 2024” started buzzing with requests for shopping lists and a bunch of “what did we do last year???” messages. What we did last year: rented a bunch of houses with my husband’s siblings and made a huge Pesach all together. Except we wayyy overbought. I’m the list girl, so I pulled up my Google Doc to check if I had any notes about the quantities. Wow. I didn’t just have notes. Mushka of 2023 had pasted messages, typed up store receipts and online invoices,...
9 months ago • 1 min read
This week is Tu Bshvat! I only know because I saw the display of dates and carob being set up in my corner grocery late Friday afternoon, which is when I ran in so I could start cooking an hour before Shabbos, if you want to know how I roll. It reminded me to bring the kids to the store to choose a new fruit. That's been our tradition so far - feeling the fruits, checking the price (math), choosing one to bring home to cut open at supper. Pro tip: I make sure to get an ugly rambutan and...
11 months ago • 3 min read
This time last year, I wrote an email that the dead of winter makes no sense for new beginnings. (Punchline: you don’t have to parent the way everyone tells you to, make your own rules.) It was on my mind because the yoga teacher talked about new goals for the new year. This time last year, I started doing yoga. I got a monthly membership with unlimited classes, so to get my money’s worth, I went at least once a week but usually twice - walking 20 minutes each way. I started to exercise...
12 months ago • 2 min read
Have you seen what’s in the Chanukah aisle of your local grocery?? (Asking seriously. I successfully avoided that aisle with kids until one solo trip when it was safe for me to check it out.) OMG the amount of Chanukah themed toys, candies, crafts and general junk you can buy today. The consumerism this holiday has generated is astounding and kind of impressive. But you don’t need themed paper plates, window decorations or matching family pajamas. (It’s me, I love that stuff.) You also don’t...
about 1 year ago • 1 min read
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: what our convos look like, and yes I love her (and asked permission before sharing) Maybe you're like me. My delivery better show up erev Sukkos morning because that's when I start cooking. I'm making gefilte fish...
about 1 year ago • 1 min read
