Sometimes a conversation goes horribly awry. Horribly, horribly awry. And there’s nothing a mother can do. Take today. This is one of those conversations that may cross the line of propriety, but it’s too good to not share. This week is Teacher Appreciation Week. And I am co-chair of it at the kids’ elementary school. [...]
Monday, September 10, 2012
My memories of childhood are hazy, which is why that I remember this one fairly clearly is rather odd: I’m nine years old. There’s a movie out that my father is crazy to see. It’s been out for a bit, and apparently everyone is talking about so we make arrangements to go to the movies [...]
Tuesday, January 17, 2012
One of the traits I inherited from my mother is the ability to relate any familial situation to a song from a musical. You’d be amazed how easily the world can be reduced to a Rodgers & Hammerstein number. We’re having a problem with Pie. Picture the women from Music Man, standing around gabbing nonstop. [...]
Friday, December 23, 2011
I’m open with my children. When they have a question, I answer it. I don’t censor them, I don’t censor myself, and it can lead to some interesting conversations. But what surprises me is from where the conversations originate. My six-year-old daughter’s questions have come from out of nowhere (“Mommy, when will I get my [...]
When it comes to parenting philosophies, I think I’m closest in spirit to Tom Hodgkinson, who last February wrote this lovely article called, “Idle Parenting Means Happy Children.” So much of the article resonated me, but I think my favorite was this: My idea of childcare is a large field. At one side is a [...]
Adam questioned my parenting techniques. Was it “irresponsible” or “idiotic”? Can’t remember. He seems to think it isn’t a good idea, when it’s an hour past your child’s bedtime and said child announces, “I’m tired,” to then crank up the iPod, hand the kid a drum, and yell at him, “No! Sleep! Till! Brooklyn!” To [...]
Wednesday, March 26, 2008
Random things said to children on a Sunday night:Pie, we don’t put artichoke leaves on our ears. Pie, seriously. Pie, get the artichokes out of your ears now! Pie, you can’t hide artichoke leaves in your hair, either. Pie! No, Pie, you cannot sleep with your shalach manot. Me: Doodles, you can’t celebrate both Purim [...]
Wednesday, March 12, 2008
Pie’s in a big girl bed. I really, really didn’t want to do it, but she was starting to sling her leg over the side of her crib, and I feared for the splat. Last Thursday morning, she was up at 3:47 a.m. Adam tried bringing her into our already overcrowded bed (Doodles had climbed [...]
Wednesday, March 12, 2008
Do you ever just have one of those days? When your toddler hasn’t napped, your preschooler is hopped up on sugar, and everything seems to be slightly off kilter? Like you turn around and your dinner (Shabbat dinner, no less) is setting off the smoke alarm, your daughter has peed on the floor and is [...]
Wednesday, December 12, 2007
Men think football is tough. Those Brits say rugby is even tougher. I’ve seen players get wailed in baseball. And how many hockey players have a full set of teeth. You know what I say to all those players? Ha! You only think you know what tough is. Hockey? Bring it on. Football? Tom Brady [...]