This is the house my parents built in Hofit, Israel, in 1970. I call it my childhood home because I spent more of my childhood there than in any of the other places we lived - Silver Spring, MD, New Providence, NJ, and Los Angeles, CA, are the main ones I can remember. I lived … Continue reading Saying Goodbye to My Childhood Home
Category: Parenting
On Sending a Child to Summer Camp
I never went to summer camp – that is not something that people do in Israel. When I was little, I went to day camp in the next village over, and I remember making crafts and singing songs and going to the beach. Fun, but hardly life-changing. Here in Manitoba, the attitude towards summer camp … Continue reading On Sending a Child to Summer Camp
About Batteries
The theme of my life this week seems to have been about batteries. It's connected to the fact that it's been very cold here, but as my coach Berni so astutely pointed out, there's a metaphor there I need to consider. So, on Tuesday the battery in my van died. It was more than time, … Continue reading About Batteries
The Superman Passes
I am so sad. The beautiful, courageous, wonderful Sam Sommer is no longer with us. According to the Times of Israel, Sam passed peacefully away at home, with his loving parents at his side. I cannot imagine what it is like to be Phyllis or Michael Sommer right now, and all I can do is … Continue reading The Superman Passes
Sorry for Phubbing
I learned a new word the other day. It really brought home to me some anti-social behaviours I've been exhibiting lately, and I want to apologise in public to all who have been affected by them, especially my family. So, the neologism is phubbing. It was apparently invented by an Australian advertising firm to describe … Continue reading Sorry for Phubbing
Why My Girl Is Not Vaccinated Against HPV
In Manitoba, the Human Papilloma Virus (HPV) vaccine is offered to all Grade 6 girls. I had to do some serious soul-searching, as well as some research, before I decided against having my daughter vaccinated, and here's why. I should start out by declaring that I am not against vaccination, in general. My children are … Continue reading Why My Girl Is Not Vaccinated Against HPV
Please Pray for Superman Sam
If you've been following this blog at all for the past couple of weeks, you've noticed the #blogExodus series, which took over in the time just before Passover. The inspiration for that series came from Rabbi Phyllis Sommer. She writes an interesting blog on Jewish parenting, by a Reform rabbi who is also a mother … Continue reading Please Pray for Superman Sam
Review – Your Teen for parents Magazine
One of the perks of being a blogger, even as small a fish as I am, is that sometimes people will send you things to review. I was fortunate that the lovely and accomplished Susan Rubin Borison, publisher and editor-in-chief of Your Teen for parents magazine, sent me a copy of their fall issue. I … Continue reading Review – Your Teen for parents Magazine