Celebrating birthdays, big and small

written for The PJ Library August e-newsletter One of the challenges of parenting is getting to know our children as individuals, and giving them what they really need, as opposed to what we think they need, or what their friends need. When we get it right, we get to see the very best of our [...]

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All I ever wanted….

We’re off to the beach. Don’t expect to hear much from me until August.

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How good I have it

Like many parents, I overthink a lot of decisions, and worry about things that probably don’t matter a whole lot in the final analysis. Can I buy the cheap No-Ad sunscreen, or must I spent $37 an ounce for the oxybenzone-free stuff? Should I say yes to that third tv show of the day? What [...]

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The Tushy Book

Perhaps the best part of my visit to Camp Ramah last week was getting to meet Fran Manushkin and scoring a review copy of The Tushy Book. To say may daughters love this book would be a profound understatement.To paraphrase Alvy Singer, they luuurve it…they loave it…. they luff it. Who wouldn’t love a book [...]

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Goodnight Shma

When my daughters were babies, I really knew how to sleep them.  I put them to bed early (and I do mean early) and on a consistent schedule. They slept for 12 (or more!) uninterrupted hours, and napped regularly. I established and followed through on bedtime routines. I successfully encouraged the girls to put themselves [...]

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Homeshuling goes to camp

I had the wonderful opportunity to spend the last two days (without my kids!) at Camp Ramah of New England with a group of authors. The trip was organized by the PJ Library, with the goal of inspiring us to create children’s literature that takes place in Jewish overnight camps, another passion PJ Library’s founder, [...]

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Challah, and a few other things

Until recently, I was buying my challah from a parent of one of Ella’s classmates. Not only are her challot delicious and inexpensive, but she delivered. For free. Not surprisingly, the little business grew and grew. Unlike the pushcart to department store stories of my ancestors, in this case she decided the businesses was too [...]

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My not so adventurous eater

Yesterday they were giving out samples of crackers with goat cheese and apple at Trader Joe’s. After Zoe, my four year old, took a bite I asked her if she would like me to buy her some goat cheese. She considered the suggestion for a moment. “Maybe when I’m 16.”

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