What are your children doing for the summer?  Given the choice, one of mine would find a cozy corner, log onto an electronic device and Netflix or youtube the summer away, the second would ask me every day what activity I’d planned for each hour, and the third is used...

My husband blesses our children on Friday night when we sit down to Shabbat dinner.  If he is detained at the hospital and we bring in Shabbat without him, I make Kiddush and I make Ha-Motzi on the challah.  But I don’t bless my daughters.  I leave that for when he...

At a meeting the other evening, wanting to know if all the expected attendees were present, one of us counted, identifying each individual with a pointed index finger.  A couple of us had a kind of instinctual prickle at the counting of Jewish people. Among certain...

My youngest daughter’s first words were “No waaay!” Adorable. Impossible not to laugh and smile and giggle and eat her every time she said it. Incredibly frustrating when I just want her to lie down or stop throwing her food on the floor. When I just want her to...

“Can I get a glass of water?” “Can I have a spoon for my rice?” “I need a napkin.” “More spaghetti please.” When my children were little, I was firm about how they should sit at the table during meals.  I kept them in booster seats longer than most because I wanted...

“It’s not fair.” I’m sure we all hear it (too) often. Our children’s sense of right and wrong is definitive and categorical, with little room for nuance or consideration.  In my house, there is nothing cuter than an indignant 7-year-old arguing for moral or ethical...

“I can’t find my iPod,” said my daughter just minutes after Havdalah one Saturday night. “Where did you leave it?” I asked. “On the kitchen table,” she replied. “Well, it has not been on the kitchen table all of Shabbat, so when did you last use it?” I asked....

“Can you buy crackers,” my daughter asks. “Sure,” I answer. “After Passover.” “But that’s in like three weeks,” she moans. “Yes,” I reply.  “You will survive.” “Do we have any cookies?” she asks. “They’re finished.” “And you’re not buying more until after Passover?”...