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That Time My Son Fractured His Skull At His Own Birthday Party
"Stop that,that's not a good idea," I said to my son and his friends as they climbed wildly over the jungle gym in the last 10 minutes of my 6-year-old's birthday party.A second later my… son was unconscious on the ground,spittle gathering around his mouth and my world narrowing to a pinpoint.In an instant,as I lifted his limp body and laid him out on the ground,my mind swirled: Was this our before and after?Would I ever have him—the real him—back again?"He's not OK!" I…>> Read MoreHere's What I Said–and Didn't Say–When Talking to My Son About 9/11
Last week we were sitting at dinner chatting about nothing in particular when my almost-9-year-old son suddenly declared:"I want to change the subject.""To what?" I ask."9/11.… I saw a book." "Did you read it?" I ask."No." "But you want to know what happened?" "Yes." READ: How Do You Talk to Your Kids About 9/11?And so,with no preparation or very little forethought,I told him.Not just about the crash,the collapse,and the deaths,but about my own personal…>> Read MoreTo My Dad,On My First Father's Day Without You
I was born in the earliest hours of a Monday morning,one hour and 13 minutes after Father's Day.You always told me I was a late Father's Day present.And now I'm about to mark my first… Father's Day without you.You've been gone for over nine months—the same nine months that baby Izzy,named in your memory,has been with us.I've gone to say Kaddish for you nearly every day.With less than two months to go,I'm so very ready to leave the confines of the mechitza,the early…>> Read MoreMy Father Died Two Hours After My Son Was Born
On September 10,2014 at 5:15 a.m.my third son came into this world.Two hours later,my father left… it.>> Read MoreDo You Pu Pu Pu?
My husband and I are pretty rational people.He's a scientist,for Pete's sake.But more and more often we find ourselves falling prey to superstitious behavior.We pu pu pu like it's going out of… style.So,what do the bubbes mean when they "pu pu pu"?It's short for "Bli ayin hara pu pu pu," which essentially translates as: "There should be no evil eye spit spit spit." Its Yiddish cousin is "keynahora." Basically,there's a superstitious fear that by speaking about your fortune you're actually attracting the attention…>> Read MoreLearning to Dress Like a Grown Up
At a recent professional conference we broke the ice with a rousing game of "two truths and a lie." My shocking truth that fooled them all?I can get ready for work in less than four minutes.I… should have guessed by the gasps that this wasn't something to be proud of.I'm a working mom with one son in grade school and another in preschool.On a typical morning during the school year I wake up,do dishes,rouse the kids,feed them breakfast,get them dressed,make their lunches,pack their…>> Read MoreI Have No Idea What Happens Next
I have "control issues." Anyone who has spent an hour with me knows this,and loves and respects me because or despite it.It's what makes me good at my job as a festival director.It keeps our… domestic life running on track.I have learned to embrace this part of my personality,to work with it.I used to create "18-month plans." And yet,today I can't see even three months into the future.My husband is in the last weeks of his PhD,with no offers yet for the fall.And…>> Read MoreLove and the Older Dad
My father was 46-years-old when I was born.He already had two children in their early 20s,and had recently been through a bruising divorce.He raised my half-siblings through his own 20s and 30s,a… time when he was building his career,buying his first house,and going to school part-time.Before he knew it,they were grown.This happens to so many parents…so busy providing for our kids that we miss some of the magic of their childhoods.But how many of us actually have a chance to go…>> Read MoreHow To Throw the Best (Cheap) Star Wars Birthday Party Ever
We've made some pretty lovely budget-friendly birthday parties in our day.For my older son's 3rd birthday party we celebrated him reaching the "age of education" by decorating kippot and tzedakah… boxes and doing Aleph Bet Yoga.For the baby's 2nd birthday we did an all-out Elmo party that cost just $25.But our schedules have been jam-packed these days,and poverty be damned,I was totally resigned to throwing money at the birthday party problem this year.>> Read MoreWe Don't Live Anywhere Near Our Family
The night I realized that we had nobody to parent our children for a stretch of October,I cried.My husband had a major conference in Reno,and I had a 10-day festival to run.That left us with no… one.For lots of folks,this kind of problem has an easy fix: Granny Nanny.But eight years ago my husband and I,childless and independent,moved to DC,leaving the closest grandparent five hours away.>> Read MoreThe Only Thing I Miss is Halloween
When I became observant I gave up half of my favorite foods and TV and shopping on Saturday.I don't miss those things one bit.What I really miss about my old life is… Halloween.>> Read MoreLoving My Pickle Man
For the last few weeks my husband has been working hard on fine-tuning his pickle recipe.Finally,last week,he got it just right—not too salty,not too bland.A real half-sour.Now he's working… on replicating his success.All of which is to say…I married the pickle man,just like I always knew I would.When I was a kid my mother and I watched Crossing Delancey.In it,a beautiful 30-something Amy Irving stars as Izzy,a professional,independent New York woman chasing pretentious jerks who aren't…>> Read MoreWill Sports Really Raise My Son's Self-Esteem?
My sister has five children.All of them are heavily involved in team sports,and thriving--great physical shape,good grades,active social lives,and high self-esteem.She's utterly convinced that… team sports are crucial to self-esteem building,and that I'd better get my kid started with one--NOW--before he falls hopelessly behind.First of all,HE'S FIVE.There are lots of reasons to do team sports,but there are even more reasons to build garages for all your BOB trucks.Or put on goggles and swim…>> Read MoreMy 官网下载beplay体育ios版Pregnancy Panic Attacks
I sat alone in a small office suite in a suburb of Washington,pregnant,but generally in good health.Suddenly,something shifted.I felt my blood move.I became conscious of my breathing,which… felt increasingly labored,and my heartbeat,which was getting faster by the minute.I thought I was dying.I called my husband,my best friend,and my OB,trying desperately to stay centered.The OB counseled the emergency room,and minutes later I was speeding away in the back of an ambulance,my husband headed…>> Read MoreNo Matter How Much We Have,We Always Want More
As a nice Jewish girl,I've encountered this bit of wisdom from Pirkei Avot (popular Jewish text known as "Ethics of our Fathers") time and time again: Aizehu Ashir Hasameach B'Chelko.… Translated: Who is rich?He who is happy with his lot.I understood the words,but the deeper meaning never really sunk in.Then a few weeks ago I had an epiphany,with the help of a kitchen renovation and Shel Silverstein.Now I'd been feeling a little down lately,thinking about the things that…>> Read MoreBringing Home the Kosher Bacon
I never set out to be the breadwinner in my home.And yet,for six years running,I've been bringing home the bacon.With all the publicity around the new book The Richer Sex: How the New… Majority of Female Breadwinners Is Transforming Sex,Love and Family,I've discovered that--although I sometimes feel like the only breadwinner-ette on the block,I'm apparently part of a rising trend.So I thought I'd share my side of the story.I work for a non-profit organization.My husband (as he will gladly tell you) has…>> Read MoreLove Me,Love My Genes
Nobody thinks about genetics when they're falling in love.We sure didn't.And when we were newly engaged,I pointedly chose not to go for the genetic testing.I was sure about our love,… but I wasn't sure our engagement could survive a genetic bombshell.He had been all-too-clear that it was really important to him to have biological children.>> Read MoreFeeling Thin and Looking Thin–Not the Same
"I think that you should keep doing Weight Watchers," said my 5-year-old boy. "Then we can be a thin family."Ouch.It's not lost on me that my sons have inherited my husband's… long,lean build.And it's not lost on the boys,apparently,either.>> Read MoreAll My Hanukkah Presents Suck
"When you open your present," I told my 5-year-old son on the first night of Hanukkah,"I don't want to hear any complaints.Even if you don't like it,don't complain.Just say thank… you." An attitude of gratitude,as they say.My son hit out it out of the park.Smiles and thank yous,the whole shebang.I,however,did not.I got a present that,while perfectly lovely,did not match a picture that existed only in my head.And I kvetched.I can't remember when I…>> Read MoreUrban Chic or Just Plain Cramped?
"My sister has five children," I told an Israeli friend who lives in my apartment building."House or apartment?," he asked."House," I replied."Oh,that's not the same… then.It's a totally different game.She can send them outside to the yard and go read a magazine.You're not on top of each other like you are in an apartment.In an apartment there's no escape." Now listen—I know that my friend is delusional.Life with five children is incredibly demanding,house or…>> Read MoreThe Nanny Share Nightmare
D.C.is blessed with a large number of online parent networks—hyperlocal and greater DC listservs that make you feel like you're not alone in this grand experiment of raising a child and give you… great advice on questions big and small.I've always felt a real bond with these people.Until now.After a long,hard summer,I've come to the conclusion that a large segment of the parents in D.C.are psychopaths.Or at the very least,not looking out for my family's welfare.In the slightest.We…>> Read MoreMy Rosh Hashanah Standstill
Nothing marks the passage of time like the fall holidays.I can't believe that my first child is almost 5-years-old and that the baby that was in my tummy this time last year is now walking around… my living room.It really does go by too fast. From Rosh Hashanah to Rosh Hashanah,my children are growing and changing,becoming ever more engaged with their world and their religion.But I,oddly,stand still.I began noticing sometime this year that my spiritual development has literally stalled.From ages 14-29 I,too,…>> Read MorePacking Lunch: In Search of Authentic Culinary Heritage
Yesterday we asked about packing lunch for your kids.Here's one mother's struggle.An Indian family I know gives there 11-month-old baby Indian food—lentils,palak paneer—every day for lunch.… It's what we had every day for lunch,they say,and it's chock full of antioxidants and other healthy things for the baby.Now,I'm a Jew of Eastern European descent,and I love that culinary heritage.When Shabbat rolls around I'm a sucker for a baked chicken and a succulent kugel.I'll knock an…>> Read MoreMe vs.My Boobs
For the last month,I've been waging a battle against my breasts.My first son and I had an effortless breastfeeding relationship.Though the first few weeks were tough,we quickly found our… footing.Working from home,I nursed him on demand,and relied mostly on the prodigious oversupply in the freezer to supply the odd bottle.My second son has been a different story.We had a breezy start,followed by four months of blissful maternity leave.Then I went back to work….in an office.I was…>> Read MoreHome Delivery
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