Mommy's Going Meshugganah

Wrestling with G-d

2011-09-29T17:10:00.000-05:00

My Hebrew name is Naftala. I know - kind of unusual, right? From what I have been able to learn, the translation of my Hebrew name is "my struggle," or "I wrestle."  This name is pretty apropos these days.

I have been friends with someone since we were seven years old. Literally. We went all though school together, went to college together, were in the same sorority. Our families are best friends. I cannot remember a time that she was not a part of my life.

We graduated from college and began our adult lives. I went straight to law school as I had always planned. She is a far more artistic soul, so she did graduate work to burnish her portfolio, and attempted to begin a career on the creative side of the advertising world. In a good economy, this is a tough field. When you graduate into a recession, as we did, it is nearly impossible. Still, she stuck to her guns, and landed jobs with some small agencies. It was a tough ride for her, and she definitely had some long periods of unemployment. Me?  I passed the bar and started at the firm where I had been a summer associate. Good, solid work.  For the first time in my life, I had a few dollars to my name.

Young and living in the big city, she played the dating game. She loved the funky, artsy boys. Me? I married my college boyfriend, the solid and dependable engineer.

In our mid-twenties, I was diagnosed with ulcerative colitis. It took a while, but after a few hospitalizations and lots of yucky meds, I got it under control. Soon thereafter, we learned that she had Hodgkin's disease. Her treatment was, in a word, horrific - culminating in a stem cell transplant. She came through with flying colors, squared her shoulders, and got on with life.

A year or two later, she took a terrific job opportunity in Los Angeles. While I was sad to see her go, I knew that she could never pass up this chance to start anew. LA suited her well. She rented an apartment in Brentwood, made a ton of new friends, and enjoyed a full and active life. The career she had chosen was still not an easy one - and she did suffer job losses.   Still, she managed to land a good position and stay there until the economy tanked.

And then....

After she was laid off, as so many people were in 2009, she became ill. At first she thought it was food poisoning. It went on for days and days. Finally, her cousins insisted she go the the emergency room.

She had five tumors in her brain.

The doctors eventually diagnosed her with extensive small cell lung cancer - it had metastasized to her brain. As she was not a smoker, I was flabbergasted. We all felt so helpless. With her being so far away, I couldn't even make her dinner or do her laundry. I turned to Judaism, and struck a bargain with G-d. I would become more observant if he would only spare her from this certain end. I took on the observance of mikvah, praying furiously each time I dunked that G-d would grant her a reprieve. I was not so naive to think that she would ever be cured - small cell lung cancer is notoriously deadly.  Still, I hoped that by taking on more observance, the blessings would rain down on her. Like I said, I felt helpless.

Over the next two years, she underwent chemo, whole brain radiation twice, and several gamma knife procedures in her brain. While her immediate family is still in the Midwest, she bitterly fought any suggestion that she move home and allow her parents to care for her. She wanted to stay in California, and simply refused to entertain the idea of going back to her hometown.

About a month ago, it became apparent that she was suffering cognitive effects from her disease and/or treatment. Her family in California gently suggested to her that it was time to go home. And so she did. We made plans to go for dinner - and I was shocked by her appearance. She weighed about 88 pounds. Her left eye drooped, and she slurred her words. She could not go up or down steps without assistance. Her short term memory had absolutely disappeared.

I have really not cried. I have been mad. Mad at G-d. How can he do this to her? She never had what the rest of us have had - no permanent loving relationship, no children, no career. What did she do to deserve this? I have struggled, really wrestled with G-d. As the High Holidays drew near this year, and as I have watched her slow decline into mental and physical impairment, I really wondered if I could go to shul for Rosh Hashanah. I was having a major crisis of faith.

But I went. After all, I am a mommy, and I did not want my children to get even a whiff of my struggle. I took it as an opportunity to have a little Talk with G-d.  I settled in as the rabbi began his sermon - about 9/11 and how terrible things can bring us to do good in the world.   At the end, he started talking about bargaining with G-d for things we want when faced with terrible things. He said G-d doesn't want terrible things to happen to people, and that G-d feels our pain when people are sick and hurt. And sometimes, G-d 's answers to our prayers are not what we expect - sometimes he gives us the strength to face these bad things. It was like my rabbi was talking directly to me. And I FREAKING LOST IT RIGHT THERE IN SHUL.  I cried my brains out.

So - G-d didn't wait for me to talk to him. He talked to me, first. He told me that he is not doing this to her, but that he will help get us through this, and he will take care of her soul. I wish he would explain to me exactly why my dear friend is suffering in this way.  Some would tell you that she has worked out all of her bad karma, and that her soul is getting ready to be reborn into a beautiful and healthy new life. Some would tell you that her soul is working to attain perfection, and it is getting ready to join G-d in Olam Habah. G-d did give me strength and a renewed faith when he came to me today, on the birthday of the world. I am grateful for that.

If you are reading this, please daven for Chasi bat Sharon. Say a Mi Sheberach or tehillim. Hug your family close, and pray that her family has the strength to face the coming days.

Savory Hamantaschen

2011-03-09T09:10:00.004-06:00

After having gastric bypass, I have to carefully watch my sugar intake. While I can have a little bit, too much sugar causes the dreaded dumping syndrome.

Of course, in the past few months, I have discovered a love of baking as a stress reliever. I know, great timing for me, right? My kids are thrilled, and I have had a lot of fun experimenting with different recipes.

With Purim coming up, I promised my kids I would bake hamantaschen with them this week. Let me just tell you - I HATE mohn. I think that poppyseed filling is one of the most disgusting inventions ever created. That being said, I was surfing the web today for some new ideas when I ran across this...

This is the most brilliant hamantaschen idea ever. Ever. Hat tip to The Jew and the Carrot, one of my very favorite blogs.

Challenge

2010-12-30T12:20:00.003-06:00

On October 14, 2009, I underwent gastric bypass surgery. It was a drastic step, but I took the risk in order to move forward with a healthier life. One year, two and a half months, and 82 pounds later - my weight loss is REEEEAAAALLLY slow. I am still 18 pounds away from my goal. I know at this point the "honeymoon" is over - and I need to move my tuchas to make it to goal.

Fortunately, I have found a lot of help online. I love the "Lightweight" board at ObesityHelp.com. And, today, I signed up for the "Power of One Challenge" at Sisterhood of the Shrinking Jeans.

I recorded my weight today. Hopefully, that is the last time I see THAT number :)!

This week's challenge is to record my healthy living goals for the new year...

1. I resolve to EXERCISE MORE
2. I resolve to eat ALL of my protein - 60 to 90 grams a day
3. I resolve to be a good example for my kids
4. I resolve to cut down on the Crystal Light and drink more water
5. I resolve to take all of my vitamins and calcium daily.

There are a lot of "rules" with being a post-gastric bypass patient - I resolve to try to follow "the rules of the pouch" the best I can.

Ok, ready...set...GO!

I'm Back!

2010-11-12T14:48:00.003-06:00

Just a check-in...I think Facebook has officially killed my blog. Since I have been here since 2004, I cannot just let it die. So...

Lots of change here in the Meshugganah house. My husband lost his job a few months ago. We knew it was coming - but it was still upsetting when it happened. We have both always worked, priding ourselves on being self-sufficient. While he attempts to get his own business off the ground, I changed jobs, too - to a new law firm that can give me more hours. Fortunately, they are allowing me to remain an independent contractor who works from home. Life is stressful, to say the least. But, I know there will be a light at the end of the tunnel.

What else? My son started junior high. The change in his behavior is simply amazing - he has taken the added responsibility and run with it. His grades are wonderful, and he even made the honor roll last quarter. He is still goalie for his hockey team, too. My daughter is attempting to be the next Sasha Cohen - we spend many hours at the ice rink while she twirls.

So - life is busy. We are hosting Thanksgiving this year, and plan to adopt the sailors again. I have lost more than 80 pounds since my surgery last year, and am scrambling to find a new wardrobe!!!

What's new with you?

All in the Family

2010-02-16T10:07:00.004-06:00

My little boy, affectionately known as Big Al, has started his own blog!! (Carefully monitored by his mom, of course!) He has a lot to say for a fifth grader. Check him out at The World According to Big Al.

View Ambassador

2010-02-15T18:57:00.004-06:00

Well, well...it looks like I have been named a View Brand Ambassador by MomCentral.com. I have watched The View for many, many years. I have always enjoyed the healthy exchange of ideas, and appreciate that there is a forum where different women can air their opinions.

And, if I was really being honest - I love watching the ladies get in a good shot, here and there...

MomCentral.com is currently sponsoring an exciting "The View" sweepstakes. One lucky winner will be randomly selected to receive a trip to New York City to watch a taping of The View! The sweepstakes is open until February 28th. Check out this link to sign-up for this sweepstakes: http://www.zoomerang.com/Survey/WEB22A5X7KF2CZ

So - stay tuned to Meshugganah-ville - I may have some good scoops on Ms. Walters and Company!

Disclaimer: I am a participant in a Mom Central campaign for ABC Daytime and will receive a tote bag or other The View branded items to facilitate my review

Bursting with pride

2010-01-29T21:09:00.003-06:00

At school, my son just completed a unit on Healthy Living. As I am constantly battling with him to eat healthier and move more, I thought this would be an especially good experience for him. As a part of this unit, the kids used the school Macs to publish a book called "Our Healthy Lifestyles."

Today, he brought his "published" book home. I was very impressed! He took great pictures, and had some well-researched facts.

And then I reached the end of the book. More specifically, the "About the Authors" section.

This is what he wrote:

"I am a 10 year old 5th grader, and I am a fat couch potato. All I do every day is play videogames and watch TV, eating too! I also like to doodle on random sheets of paper, and read. I am an amazing chef, and my family likes my cakes."

Oy.

Jewish Mommy Meme

2009-11-15T10:25:00.003-06:00

HomeShuling tagged me for the following meme. Here goes nothing...

The Holiday version of the Jewish Mommy Meme:

One menorah, or several? Hillel or Shammai? (just kidding about that part)

Many. We have a plethora of Chanukiot in this house - kid friendly, kid-created, wedding gift, etc. We usually light several at a time.

Do you buy your children gifts for every night of Chanukah?

Not really. They get gifts from the family, and one big gift from Mommy and Daddy. The other nights of Chanukah are small - candies, etc.

Do you and your spouse/partner or any other adults in your life exchange gifts?

No. Chanukah is for the kids.

Special family chanukah traditions?

Every year, I attempt to make latkes. Every year, I fail miserably and we end up ordering them or buying frozen.

Latkes or sufganiyot? If latkes, sour cream or applesauce?

For me - latkes with sour cream, although I am not sure my new teeny-tiny stomach will let me have them this year! My kids would definitely pick sufganiyot - chocolate.

Favorite chanukah book?

We read so many stories, probably the traditional story is favored here. Music, however, is big. We tune in to the XM Radio's Hanukkah Channel, and we love listening to Craig Taubman's "Celebrate Hanukkah"

Do you actually play dreidl? If so, what do you use for counters?

Yes. When my son was four, his teacher asked me to come to preschool to teach about Chanukah. I decided jelly doughnuts and dreidle would be fun for the little kids. The teacher watched me play dreidle with the kids, and asked me, shocked, "Is this like GAMBLING???"

What relationship, if any, do you have with Christmas and all things Christmas-y?

None. My son, who went to preschool in a decidedly non-Jewish area and was the only Jewish kid in his class, is totally uninterested. My daughter, who went to synagogue preschool in a VERY Jewish area, is all about all things Santa. We decided that it was better not to make a huge deal out of it. Our kids are very comfortable with their Jewishness - and a fat man in a red suit really doesn't threaten us. When she asked if Santa would come visit our house, we told her that his job is for Christmas, so he would not be coming to our house. We also told her that Santa is friends with everybody, just like she is. If she wants to say hi to him, that is okay!.

Okay - if you are reading this - TAG, YOU'RE IT!!

Alive and well

2009-10-17T19:05:00.001-05:00

I made it through. I actually did quite well - off all pain meds only two days after surgery. And, I apparently did well enough on the pre-op diet, because they were able to do the surgery laproscopically.

Now I am drinking one ounce at a time and am completely full. This will take some getting used to!

Two more days...

2009-10-12T10:00:00.001-05:00

In forty-eight hours, I will be on the operating table. What a scary thought! However, I know this is the best decision I can make.

I never want to see another Slim-Fast as long as I live!!!!!!!!

Countdown

2009-09-30T19:17:00.002-05:00

My surgery is two weeks from today. As such, I began today what is commonly known as the two week pre-op diet. For the next two weeks, I will only be allowed to have Four cans of High Protein Slim Fast per day, with raw veggies as needed for hunger.

Day one is almost over - I have one more shake to go.

This is terrible!

Here goes nothing....

2009-09-25T10:13:00.003-05:00

I am revealing a big secret today. Some in my priate life know about this, but I am not advertising it.

On Oct. 14, I will undergo a Roux-en-Y procedure, more commonly known as the gastric bypass. It has taken me a long time to get here. While I am terrified, I know this is the right thing to do.

Please...no judgment. This is NOT an "easy" way out. It is a way to ensure I will be around for my kids.

I Need Some Hebrew Help!!!

2009-09-24T10:51:00.004-05:00

My mother in law gave me a beautiful gift for my fortieth birthday. It is a silver necklace from Coolil.com - the "Shema Israel Double Silver necklace."

Here's my question - Inscribed on the top of the necklace charm are the words "Shema Yisrael" in Hebrew. The bottom of the charm has the Hebrew letters bet, shin, kof, mem, lamed, vav.

Does anyone know what the letters signify????????

Forty and...Fabulous?

2009-08-25T21:24:00.002-05:00

I am turning 40 tomorrow. I am really, really, really, really not happy about this.

I have no idea why I am fighting this birthday so badly. I have a terrific husband, great kids, great house, good job, etc. I am exactly where I wanted to be at this point in my life.

But I DO NOT WANT to turn 40. 40 is an adult. 40 means I can no longer join organizations with the word "Young" in the title. 40 means I am no longer too young to have all of this gray hair. 40 is - gasp - middle aged!

In my mind's eye, I am still that silly kid down in Champaign, IL who is hoping that cute boy I met at Chin's will call me. In reality, I married that cute boy 15 years ago.

Sigh.

Definite Beauty, No pageant!

2009-08-11T17:13:00.006-05:00

Let me preface this by stating firmly that I HATE beauty pageants. Further, I think that child beauty pageants are possibly the most repulsive things on earth. I am trying to raise my daughter to shoot for the moon, not to wiggle her tush on stage for monetary gain.

THAT having been said, I was properly horrified when I caught my daughter watching an episode of "Toddlers and Tiaras." She sat rapt, transfixed by the vision of fluffy pink dresses, manicures, spray tans, false teeth and BIIIIIG hair. She imitated the dancing, sang along with the music and went absolutely nuts when the winning girl received a sparkly crown, sash...and a puppy.

Ugh.

After wailing when I tried to change the channel, she informed me in no uncertain terms that SHE would be entering a pageant as soon as humanly possible. I kindly explained to her there was no chance of that ever happening in this lifetime. Completely ignoring her mother, she spent the next hour devising a dance routine for her grand pageant entry.

I have now seen that damn routine about eight billion times. I have consistently told her no, she will not be entering any kiddie pageants. I have put the lockdown on the TV. The horse, however, is already out of the barn. We have had long talks about why I will not allow this, she knows that I do not approve of the idea of being judged on your looks, and gussying up young girls to looks like adults.

How do you get a seven year old to understand? Our Nana told her that "Smart girls don't do that." To my daughter's innocent mind, though, there is no difference between those pageants and the ice skating competitions or tap dance recitals she already enjoys.

This too shall pass. Can't wait for the teenage years!!

The Wedding Dance

2009-07-24T16:06:00.002-05:00

This is the most joyful thing I have ever seen...

Lipstick and Tears

2009-07-14T21:00:00.002-05:00

It's another uh-oh Mommy moment in the Meshugganah house tonight...

My little girl is now seven. She has an unbelievably active social life. From someone who was quite shy, she has blossomed immeasurably - making tons and tons of friends at school and at camp. This, of course, has translated into lots and lots of play dates.

Today, she was invited to a good friend's home after camp. When I arrived to pick her up after the play date, she begged to be allowed to stay for dinner. Her friend's mom told me that she had invited her, that she was more than welcome to stay, and that she would call after dinner. As they only live about five minutes from our house, I relented, and drove home.

When I returned to pick her up after dinner, the girls were nowhere to be found. They were soon located in a little sister's bedroom, hiding under the bed in hopes of extending the play date. This is pretty typical behavior, so I though nothing of it.

And then they emerged from under the bed.

COVERED in Red Lipstick.

My daughter had created a superhero mask of lipstick on her face.

Her friend had completely colored her face, her armpits, etc. with the lipstick.

OY!

And then there was the carpet - smeared in red.

Double OY!

I was so mortified, I was frozen to the spot. I seriously could not form words. I grabbed my daughter, forced her to immediately apologize, and offered to pay for the carpet cleaning. Her friend's mom is really a very lovely person, and she absolutely refused to let me pay for it.

I want to crawl under my covers and hide.

Jewish Mommy Meme

2009-06-24T10:54:00.004-05:00

In an effort to keep this blog alive, here are my answers to the Jewish Mommy Meme. Hap Tip to Home Shuling - a blog I have recently discovered and very much enjoy!

1. Challah – home baked or bought?

Well...let me admit that it is usually bought. I am very partial to Shalom Bakery out in Buffalo Grove, IL. Sometimes I will buy frozen challah dough and bake it at home.

2. Favorite shabbat meal:

We are decidedly NOT vegetarian. Friday night is usually both brisket and chicken. We have had great luck buying great quality, hormone and antibiotic free meat from our local farmers markets. Recently, we bought chicken from Solar Harvest Farm. It tastes terrific - and we received five seven-pound whole chickens. We have cut them up and put them into the freezer - it is now very easy to defrost a package for Friday nights.

3. Any creative shabbat rituals?

Not really. I am just happy when we get a chance to sit together after a hectic week! My kids take turns reciting the blessings, and we sit down to eat.

4. Shul? With or without the kids?

On occasion. In our old town, we went on Friday nights more often. Up here, we tend to go Sat. morning as our synagogue has a terrific Mini-Minyan and Jr. Congregation program.

5. Traditionally shomer shabbat? If not, what’s your definition/style?

Not at all. Sorry.

6. Favorite shabbat story/book

We love the Friday Nights of Nana, too!

The American Girl circa 1914 - Lower East Side

2009-05-23T16:36:00.001-05:00

I am so getting this for my daughter.

On Board the Bar Mitzvah Train....

2009-05-07T17:36:00.000-05:00

My son, my oldest child, is 9. In a month, he will be 10. For some reason, synagogues in our area give out Bar Mitzvah dates THREE years in advance! I am still absorbing the fact that my kids are no longer babies, that I have an entire school day to myself, that everyone is potty trained, can swim, feed themselves, buckle up and smart off to Mommy. Thinking about a Bar Mitzvah makes my head swim...

So, it was with great trepidation that I trudged off to the meeting where we would receive our assigned Bar Mitzvah dates. We sat through the shpiel from the rabbi, the chazzan and the ritual director. After fidgeting for an hour, we got our magic letters and were on our way.

I also received an email from the volunteer mom who will be coordinating "the list." Apparently, one mom from each middle school keeps a spreadsheet of who is having a bar/bat mitzvah, when the service will occur (some Reform temples in our area allow B'nai Mitzvah at services other than Shabbat morning), and ...when the party will occur.

Theoretically, this list prevents the various Bar and Bat Mitzvahs from being scheduled at the same time. After all, no one wants to put our kids in the position of having to choose which party to attend. Middle school is tough enough - you don't want YOUR kid to be the one blown off for a bigger and better bash or a more "popular" kid.

In reality, this leads to a lot of sniping between the moms. I have heard such horror stories about people refusing to compromise, sticking to their guns that they MUST have their party on Saturday night. My stomach is turning at the thought of all of this.

First of all, this Bar Mitzvah is going to be a super-meaningful event for our family. This will be the first grandchild to reach this milestone. My husband and I take our Judaism very seriously. We belong to this synagogue primarily because of the superb religious education our children receive. Our son really enjoys Hebrew School this year - and he is getting very involved at shul. He trots off to Jewish camp every summer, and constantly surprises us with his knowledge. (He recently showed us the Lag B'Omer comic book he created.)

It is NOT all about the party for us.

Having said that, I would like to make a nice, and APPROPRIATE, party to celebrate the occasion. I do not, repeat DO NOT want to deal with any suburban mom politics regarding when this party will occur. (As for the service - it will be Shabbat morning. Period. Our synagogue is very firm on that rule.) I also do not want to rush out, THREE YEARS in advance to book a space, etc. Am I being naive?

Okay - J-Blogosphere. This is where I need your advice. Who has been through this rigmarole? How do I not get caught up in the lunacy?

Getting Away From it All...

2009-04-16T15:53:00.000-05:00

Ever think about chucking it all and hitting the road? I confess, it is a fantasy of mine....

Meet the Ezgurs. In a rotten economy, this family is taking lemons and making lemonade. They have taken their three kids, packed up the RV, and will spend the next 5 months "roadschooling" and exploring America.

http://familyofftrack.com/

I am interested to know what you think...

I'm a Hit!

2009-04-08T15:54:00.002-05:00

Just taking a break from frantic seder preparations to notice that, if one were to google "Children's Haggadah," the number one hit would be yours truly, from a post I wrote waaaaay back in 2005!

If you are a first time visitor - welcome! I hope you'll be back.

Wishing everyone a wonderful Pesach!

Bad Blogger

2009-04-06T14:24:00.002-05:00

I know, I know - I have virtually abandoned this blog. I will hit my fifth blogoversary this summer - so I would like to keep it going! This is a tough week = Pesach, LOTS of work, kids on Spring Break. Meshugganah is a mild term for me these days.

I wish everyone a Happy Passover - see you on the flip side! I'll be back after the holiday.

Prayers for Z's husband

2009-03-25T16:18:00.004-05:00

For those not following Z over at JewView, her husband will be undergoing a heart transplant TONIGHT! Please pray for his safe passage through surgery and easy recovery.

School Fundraising

2009-03-11T16:38:00.003-05:00

Because I have an inability to say no, I have co-chaired one of our school's fundraisers - a gift wrap sale - for the past two years. Of course, that would happen to EXACTLY coincide with the economic downturn. Needless to say, the funds have not exactly flowed.

So, after having been sucked into another endless PTA meeting, I found myself on the receiving end of another assignment - re-evaluate the fundraiser to determine if we should switch companies or try a new fundraiser entirely.

I am turning to the J-Blogosphere for help. Which school fundraisers have you found to be successful?? Any ideas would help enormously!!!!!

And the J-Blogosphere keeps on spinning!!

2009-03-03T07:58:00.003-06:00

It's been a great month for our little corner of the blogosphere. Not only has the estimable Renegade Rebbetzin begun to blog anew, but...

Z's back!

Go check her out at Jew View - her original blog. The is is the blog that started me on my own path. So glad to see it return.

Baffled and Befuddled

2009-01-18T15:52:00.014-06:00

Motherhood is making my head hurt these days.

I have a nine year old son, in the fourth grade. This kid is what my mother calls a "real character." He has ALWAYS been gregarious and outgoing. He has ALWAYS made friends easily. While he can be a wild boy, social skills have never been his problem. In fact, friends of ours have recently nicknamed him "Baby Blutarsky." (Not sure I really want my kid compared to John Belushi, but, that's another story.) This kid is not exactly a shrinking violet.

Recently, we learned that our synagogue will assign his Bar Mitzvah date this spring. At the dinner table, I brought up the subject with the family. My little boy's eyes bugged out of his head, and he started to whine:

"NOOOOOOOO!!!!!"

My husband and I looked at him like he was some kind of alien. This is a kid who has done pretty well in Hebrew. This year, he really loves his teacher, and is happy to go to Hebrew School. My husband explained to him that his Bar Mitzvah is almost four years away, and if he was nervous about learning all of the material, we have plenty of time to help him get up to speed. In return, we got:

"NOOOOOOOOO!!!!!"

Hmmm. This is the kid who has always been the life of the party. I remarked that not only is it time to start thinking about his Bar Mitzvah, but we can also start thinking about what kind of party he wants. And THIS was his response:

"Well - I do want a Big Rocking Party. But, I want to have a small service. A private service. I just want our family there for services."

Meshugganah Daddy and I were absolutely dumbfounded. My husband told our son in very stern tones that that was NOT the right priority. And, then I realized that it wasn't a matter of skewed priorities. My little boy was absolutely terrified to get up on the bimah in front of the entire community. To say I was surprised is putting it mildly. Never in a thousand years would I have imagined this reaction from him.

It has only gotten worse. My son, who is a fantastic reader and terrific speller, has refused to participate in his school spelling bee - a spelling bee that he has a good shot of actually winning. He finally told me today that he is terrified of making a mistake in front of everybody - and that everybody would laugh at him. When I pointed out that he is okay with doing presentations in his class, he replied "That's because our Class Constitution says that no one is allowed to laugh at anyone else because they made a mistake."

I want to ease his fears, but need some advice. Any mother/fathers/educators out there have ideas?????

I want to move

2009-01-16T13:30:00.002-06:00

I hate the cold. Today in Chicago, it is below zero. I have always considered myself a hardy Midwesterner, but I have reached my breaking point.

Get me out of here!

As the J-Blogosphere spins

2009-01-01T12:59:00.005-06:00

I have been blogging, albeit infrequently, since 2004. There have been many blogs that have come and gone in that time. Some have disappeared forever, some have gone private, and some are just in hiatus.

Well.....one of my old favorites has come out of hiding! I highly recommend everyone go visit Golda over at Go West, Young Jew. Maybe we can convince her to stick around for a while!

What are some dear, departed blogs that you would like to see return?

Thanksgiving with the Sailors

2008-12-08T14:26:00.001-06:00

Before too much time elapses, I wanted to post about our wonderful Thanksgiving. Won't be the best-written post, but, hey.....

Anyways, after initially being told that the Adopt-A-Sailor program was full, we received an email telling us that yes, as a matter of fact, we were approved to adopt four sailors for the holiday. My husband quickly decided that our dining room table was not big enough to seat everyone together. While I could have set up a table in the other room, a decision was quickly made that, while I would do all of the cooking, we would do the eating at my inlaws.

The morning of Thanksgiving, the Meshugganah kids were up at the crack. We drove up to the training base, which surprisingly was very close to our house. As we entered the base, we were greeted by the sight of many, many rowdy sailors, in uniform, waiting for a ride to their adopted home for the holidays. My kids' excitement grew by leaps and bounds. By the time were were done navigating the various red tape, they were ready to burst. We pulled up to the curb, and four sailors popped into our car!

Introductions were quickly made. We learned that these kids were in school to learn to be medics. They hailed from New York, New Mexico, Virginia and Texas. And boy, were they HUNGRY! I am used to a nine year old boy, not nineteen year old boys! After learning that they had not yet had breakfast, we took them straight home, put a pot of coffee on, and broke out the eggs and bagels. Sixteen eggs later, they were ready for some snacks!

My son ran for the Wii, to the delight of all. They spent the next few hour on video games. One of the boys was a Navy Sharpshooter - he blew away the Wii Skeet Shooting with little effort. My kids were in absolute awe. Another boy was quiet - he asked me if we could just sit and talk. I learned about his life back home, his dream to become a firefighter, and how he was doing at the base. It was such a pleasure to spend time with him.

The lone female sailor spent the entire day with my daughter in her lap - braiding her hair and reading stories. They really bonded, and my little girl is currently angling for a Brownie trip to the base! I noticed some droopy eyelids, and suggested that a few of the boys lay down. They completely crashed on my living room couch - and slept for a few hours. Through the day, there were so many reminders that these were just teenagers - barely out of high school.

I spend the day cooking and cooking and cooking. (I used the Oprah Turkey recipe, and basted the bird with orange juice all day. It was wonderful!) When all the food was ready, we piled into the car and headed for the inlaws house. They were excited to meet the kids, and gracious to our guests. Before we sat down to eat, one of the boys tapped me on the shoulder and handed me his phone.

"My mom wants to talk to you."

I took his phone, and listened. His mom was crying. She thanked me profusely for taking care of her son. She told me how much she missed him, and that he was a good boy, "raised with love." I explained to her how lovely her son had been to my kids, and how he had really made our Thanksgiving so meaningful. We "mom-bonded" for a while, and I returned to phone to her son.

As we sat down to eat, talk turned to the events then happening in Mumbai. As we prayed for the Holtzbergs' safety, I looked at these kids - each who had expressed the hope that they would soon be "in the action." As you might guess, we are not a military family. The last person in our family to serve in the military was my Poppy, who served in the Navy during WWII. Frankly, I had more experience interacting with Israeli soldiers that those in the US military. The juxtaposition of the very real and terrifying terrorism in India with the very real, open and honest faces of kids who were hoping to be sent to help protect our country was mind-blowing.

After dinner there was more Wii and some football to watch. My son curled up with the boys and conked out. We took lots of pictures, traded emails, packed up the leftovers for them, and exchanged hugs and kisses. We took the kids back to the base in time for curfew - and drove home in silence.

Now...I need to figure out how to adopt some kids for Passover......

Tzedakah

2008-12-01T16:43:00.000-06:00

I will post soon about our amazing Thanksgiving. We were fortunate enough to host four sailors from the Great Lakes Naval base. A wonderful experience for all.

However, we are all still numb from the shocking events in Mumbai. On a very personal level, I have a soft spot for Chabad. I know there are many who criticize the Chabad-Lubavitch movement, but I have spent many engaging evenings at a Chabad Shabbat table. To this day, I remain friends with a wonderful family of shlichim. Although I am down to about four readers (!), I urge everyone to make a donation to Chabad of Mumbai. Donations will help rebuild the Chabad house, as well as support Gabi and Rivki Holtzman's children.

Donations can be made at http://www.chabadindia.org/templates/relief/donate.htm.

May their memories be for a blessing.

Seven Things About Me....

2008-11-26T12:00:00.003-06:00

So, I have done a bunch of memes in the past, but figured it was time for an update. So - with a tip of the hat to blogger extraordinaire Ima, here are Seven Things About Me...

1. I am a speed reader. As a young child, my mother had very limited eyesight. While cornea transplants eventually cured her condition, she needed someone to read street signs for her. So, at the age of three (I kid you not!), she taught me how to read. To this day, I can polish off a book in nothing flat.

2. I love to cook. My husband, having worked in restaurants in his youth, is an excellent chef. I had to learn how to cook just to claim my own space in the kitchen.

3. I am a sucker for sophomoric comedy. My sense of humor is akin to that of a twenty year old frat boy. Mel Brooks, Monty Python, classic SNL, any of the Apatow movies....

4. I am horribly addicted to Web surfing...to the point that my husband and kids are seriously annoyed.

5. I would probably be more observant if I weren't so damn lazy.

6. While I am still anonymous on this blog, I am slowly coming out of the closet.

7. I am the world's worst housekeeper.

Okay - if you are reading this meme - TAG, YOU'RE IT!

Haveil Havalim is Up!

2008-11-23T11:23:00.003-06:00

A very lovely edition of Haveil Havalim, the Jewish Blog Carnival, is now up over at Ima on and off the Bima. Check it out!

A Happy Thanksgiving to all!

A New Day

2008-11-05T10:33:00.005-06:00

Yesterday, my husband and I woke up at 6 am, got the kids dressed, and left for the polls.

We entered our local polling place and, with our children beside us, voted.

We voted for change.

We voted to secure a future for our children.

We voted to protect our daughter's personal freedoms.

We voted to bring America back into the world community.

We voted to put a period on a shameful past.

We voted to bring our soldiers home, safe and sound.

We voted to heal our wounded economy.

We voted to refute those who tried to strike fear in our hearts as Jews.

There are no words....

Adopt A Sailor

2008-10-26T14:47:00.002-05:00

This year, our public school opened its doors to welcome forty new families who are newly stationed at the military base in our area. It has been a wonderful experience for our kids. They both have made many new friends that live "on the Fort," and it has opened all of our eyes to the sacrifices soldiers and their families make for our country.

This week, I read about the Adopt a Sailor program at the Great Lakes Naval base in North Chicago, Illinois. We were very excited at the prospect of hosting Naval recruits at our home for Thanksgiving. We gathered all of the necessary information, dashed off our application, and the kids ran around telling everyone they knew that we were having sailors at our house for Thanksgiving.

Within hours, however, I received the following email:

"Thank you for your interest in the Adopt-a-Sailor program.

Due to the overwhelming generosity of the public, all of our Sailors have found a home to enjoy Thanksgiving dinner, so we will no longer be taking applications.

Once again, thank you."

My daughter's eyes filled with tears when she heard the news. I felt so badly for the kids - they had been so excited to share our home for Thanksgiving. In asking if there would be further opportunities, I learned that we can adopt sailors for Christmas. Seeing as how there's no tree at the Meshugganah home, I don't think we'll be participating in that one! I googled to see if there were any other volunteer opportunities, but I am at a total loss.

I am open to ideas! If you have one, please share!

My mind is made up

2008-10-23T11:27:00.003-05:00

I used to consider myself a fiscal conservative, and thus was comfortable on many occasions voting for Republicans. I used to admire and respect John McCain. I have watched our economy melt down. I have watched vicious smears thrown at Obama. I have received numerous emails trying to convince me that Obama is a Muslim, a friend of terrorists, and an enemy of Israel.

I have watched John McCain ridicule "women's health" as a valid reason to consider abortion. I have watched Sarah Palin ridicule my part of the country as unpatriotic.

Enough. I am voting for Obama.

The Obama Grandmamas

2008-09-29T10:49:00.001-05:00

The Great Schlep

2008-09-26T17:28:00.001-05:00

Mommy's Going Political...

The Hebrew School Blues

2008-09-21T19:47:00.003-05:00

We send our kids to our synagogue's Hebrew School. One of the reasons we opted to join this particular synagogue was its reputation for providing a stellar Jewish education. My son has been going there since kindergarten, and has generally enjoyed it. After a rough Bet year, he has a great teacher for his Gimmel class, and is again happy to go to Hebrew School. I always knew that his attitude was rare - after-school Hebrew School is generally NOT the most enjoyable experience for a kid! However, since there were really no other feasible options* for our kids, it's what we do.

*Please - don't hock me about the merits of day school. I KNOW it is a wonderful option. My mother taught at our local Schecter for many years. We cannot afford it. It is not a matter of getting scholarships, or prioritizing, or "cutting back." We don't drive BMW's. We cannot pay $20,000 per year, per kid. Period. It frustrates me to no end that my friend pays $4000 to send her two kids to Catholic school, and I would have to pay $40,000. But, that's the subject for another post, entirely*

My daughter started Sunday-only Hebrew School last year as a kindergartener. Her prior Jewish education was at the preschool run by our local Reform temple. This is not the synagogue where we are members. Essentially, we chose not to send her to our synagogue's preschool because the local Reform temple's preschool is (1) much closer to our house and (2) heavily feeds into our elementary school. Our daughter is not as outgoing as our son - so starting kindergarten with a group of friends was wonderful for her. However, that meant that she would not know a lot of kids in her Sunday School class. Our neighborhood, while heavily populated with Jewish families, does not send many kids to the Conservative synagogue where we belong.

Our little girl can be quite shy, so she did not speak much at Sunday School last year. Fortunately, she had a wonderful Morah who really understood her. I would have to admit that she really did not get comfortable there until last spring. Adding to the fact that she was one of the only girls at school who went to Sunday School, there were a lot of tears last year.

I was really, really hoping things would be easier for her this year. A new Hebrew School principal started, and she announced some curriculum changes. Chief among these changes was the announcement that the kindergarteners and first-graders would be mixed. Needless to say, this did not go over well in our house.

"I don't WANT to be with the kindergarten babies!!!!"

So - she told me she "hated" her first day. She "hates" Sunday School, even though she likes her teacher, she likes the kids, she likes the music teacher, she likes the library, etc. I can't get anything concrete out of her as to what, exactly, she "hates." Sooooooo frustrating!!! We have tried to do fun things at home - she knows that Mommy goes to class at synagogue, too. I am at a loss as to figure out she is so unhappy.

Is she just torturing me?

Blog Aggregator-vated

2008-09-18T21:52:00.001-05:00

Ok - JRants seems to be dead. I cannot connect to Jewish Blogging. Can anyone point me to another aggregator service for the J-Blogosphere?

J-Blogger Convention

2008-08-21T07:20:00.003-05:00

I sat through the entire J-Blogger convention via webcam yesterday. I have to say - the most enjoyable part of the entire process was the chatroom!!!! It really was quite a treat to have so many bloggers together in one virtual reality. I discovered some interesting new blogs - check out my Links section for some new favorites. The entire conference can be viewed at the Nefesh B'Nefesh web site.

There was definitely controversy concerning the selection process for the panelists. Nevertheless, my curiosity was piqued. As anyone who reads my blog know, I am the furthest thing from right-wing OR Orthodoxy. This is a Jewish Mom blog. For whatever reason, I have chosen to align myself with the J-Blogophere rather than the Mommy blogosphere. I felt a bit out of place - I am not an Israeli, I am not promoting Aliyah. (Don't misunderstand me, I certainly support and encourage any person wishig to make Aliyah - it; just that this is a Jewish American Mom blog!) Nevertheless, I learned quite a bit from the blogging gurus.

Watch the conference if you have the time.

J-Blogger's Convention

2008-07-25T10:27:00.002-05:00

Having been a minor player in the J-Blogosphere since 2004, I noted with interest that Nefesh B'Nefesh will be sponsoring the First Annual J-Bloggers Convention on August 20, 2008 in Jerusalem. Considering a round-trip ticket from O'Hare to Ben Gurion is over $2500, I think I'll take advantage of the live webcast!

Hope to "see" you all there!

Worth a Thousand Words

2008-07-21T11:23:00.003-05:00

Does this not say it all?

In my next life, I am going to stay nine forever and live at overnight camp.

A New Era

2008-06-16T07:22:00.004-05:00

The backpacks are packed, the lunches are made...I am just waiting for the kids to awaken so that I can get them dressed and feed them. A shmear of sunscreen, a hat and water bottle...and for the first time, I will have two kids in camp all day this summer!

For me, this is a milestone. My baby will enter first grade next fall. No more rushing home before lunch to meet the kindergarten bus. No more lazy afternoons hanging out and coloring. While I still work part time, there will be lots of free time for Mommy to actually do some laundry and dye her gray roots. I will miss these days of having very young kids. But, time marches on, and elementary school beckons. We will actually receive our son's Bar Mitzvah date next year!!!

I always thought that at some point we'd have a third child. I really love babies - I do! However, we have finally reached a point where we are having such a good time with our kids. Not that the baby/toddler/preschool years weren't, ahem, enjoyable...but it is a whole lot of fun to watch our kids take a running leap into the pool. We are doing so many enjoyable things with the kids. For example, this past weekend, we (1) visited our son's overnight camp, (2) rented a motorboat on Lake Geneva, and (3) washed and rigged our new sailboat!

It's definitely a new era in the Meshugganah house.

Do Bad Things Really Come in Threes?

2008-05-27T14:32:00.000-05:00

A very good friend called yesterday to let me know her mother had passed away. This was quite a shock. While her mom had been diagnosed with cancer and was undergoing treatment, the family was not at all prepared when she passed away suddenly.

This is the third time this year that a friend has called to let me know her mother has died. Each time, it was totally unexpected. This time, it sent a cold shiver down my spine.

About eight years ago, I received a phone call at work. My mom had gone in for a minor procedure. She had had this procedure many times before, so I really did not think anything was amiss. My father called, however, to let me know my mother had been diagnosed with breast cancer. She had apparently had it for a while - unbeknownst to her - and it looked fairly advanced. My mother went in for a total mastectomy, and spent the next year in chemo and radiation. Mimi pulled us all together, and we got through it. It was a very tough road for all of us. I never voiced it, but I was absolutely terrified my mother would die.

She taught at the local Jewish day school during the whole time of her treatment - she was very concerned that "her kids" should know she was okay. She made it through that horrible year, and was pronounced to be in remission. Eight years later, she has four beautiful grandchildren. She recently tested negative for the BRAC gene, thank G-d.

I have to tell you, however, that the fear is always the back of my mind. Seeing my girlfriends lose their moms is absolutely heartbreaking - and it scares me to no end. I am grateful for every day we have with my mom.

So, once again, I will attend a funeral, feed dinner to the family, and help serve and clean up. But I am also so very thankful that my mom is still here.

NOW who needs a Hebrew Tutor????

2008-05-06T13:36:00.003-05:00

It is total karma. I blogged a few posts back about people hiring Hebrew Tutors instead of sending their kids to Hebrew school.

I should have kept my big mouth shut.

Yesterday, mere hours after learning of my grandmother's death, I received a call from our synagogue. Thinking it was the Rabbi, I grabbed the call. It was not the Rabbi - it was the principal of our Religious School. Apparently, my son's teacher had sent him to read with the principal as she was concerned about his progress.

Let me interrupt this story by saying that my son is GOOD at Hebrew. It comes easily to him - and his teacher has previously told me that he was one of the most talented students in the class.

Not any more.

Apparently, my loving son has spent too much time goofing off with his Hebrew School buddies - who call themselves the 5 Stooges - instead of paying attention in class. He made numerous mistakes while reading to the principal, forgot vocabulary and even some letters. Our principal let me know that he is NOT ready to move to next year's Gimmel class. Oy. He has arranged for a Hebrew tutor. My son will have to work with the tutor ALL SUMMER so that he can move onto Gimmel with the rest of the group.

I hung up the phone with steam coming out of my ears. I was furious with the kid. He has been complaining about his teacher all year - she "criticizes" him. Meshugganah Dad and I have explained to him time and time again that he has to behave in Hebrew School, and that if he wants to get along with his teacher, he had better cool it. I have even spent time going over his Hebrew with him. This advice has fallen on deaf ears. He is not trying at all. And, this is a kid we call "the little rabbi." He LOVES our synagogue.

I called my husband at the office. Thank G-d, he and I are on the same page with regard to religious ed. We do not intend for our kids to spit out a Torah portion and be done with Judaism. Our kids go to Hebrew school to be educated Jews. We do not send our kids to day school because of the outrageous cost. I asked my husband if maybe we should think about sending our son to the local Schechter - maybe after school Hebrew just isn't working for him. My husband replied in the usual way - how were we going to come up with the cash? He did not appreciate my idea to whore myself along Central Avenue to get day school tuition. Hmm....

So, a tutor it is. My son came home, and I launched into a tirade. He did fine on his vocab with me, so I asked him what was the matter. Apparently, his friends "distract" him too much to pay attention. He cried when he realized that he now has to spend the summer playing catchup. His dad and I informed him that the tutoring will occur even when he goes off the overnight camp this summer. (Thank G-d for Jewish Camp!) The principal and I have arranged for him to be transferred to a new class with different kids, and a teacher who will provide some "structure" for him.

I am going to scream.

Death in the Family

2008-05-05T21:25:00.000-05:00

Mimi passed away today.

A Puzzling Trend

2008-04-06T14:59:00.002-05:00

Meshugganah Daddy and I try our best to avoid "keeping up with the Steins," and try to teach our kids to have appreciation. It is a struggle sometimes. We are certainly not wealthy, but we both work hard. We live, however, in the land of excess for kids. Fancy camps, expensive sports programs and the like. Honestly - a popular day camp in our area is now charging close to $5,000 for the summer. (Yes - I said DAY camp. No - my children do not go there!!!!)

One thing that we do struggle to pay is our synagogue dues. Between annual dues, building fund and tuition, it is a real choker. (Forget about asking for a break - the shul will demand to see our personal finances, and that is not something I am willing to share with them.) For now, we can (just barely) afford it. It is a priority for us - we want a community for our kids along with the stellar Jewish education they provide.

So - when I sat at sports practice, and listened to the other moms yap about Hebrew tutors, I was confused. In my experience, you went to a Hebrew tutor right before your Bat Mitzvah; it was in addition to your normal Hebrew School classes. This, however, was something entirely different. These moms were opting to skip the synagogue membership entirely, and pay a "freelancer" to coach their kids. The kids get enough Hebrew to spit out a Torah portion, they hold a Bar Mitzvah somewhere, and that's all she wrote.

At first, I was totally horrified. I could hear my rather judgmental mother ringing in my ears - "Those kids don't DESERVE a Bar Mitzvah if they can't take the time to do the work properly!!!!!" All I could think was that these moms were hemorrhaging cash to get these kids into camp, soccer, ballet, tennis, baseball - but Hebrew School was not a priority. I was annoyed - these moms live in a Jewish area! Their kids have never been the only Jews in their school. Ungrateful! Spoiled! Misplaced Priorities!

I stuck my nose in the air, and rather primly explained that WE make Jewish education a PRIORITY, and that I didn't see a tutor as being sufficient for MY kids.

And, then I thought about it. The cost of temple membership is very, very high. For example - the average family with two kids in our area pays well over $4,000 a year. We are committed Jews, and will willingly bear that cost. I realized how lucky I am that Meshugganah Daddy and I are on the same page on this issue. There are many, many families where Judaism is simply not a major component of their lives - for myriad reasons. I would venture to guess that a family that is minimally connected to their Jewish identity is not going to blow that kind of cash to go to shul. Not. A. Priority.

The cost of Jewish living, I am afraid, may eventually be our undoing.

The Rollercoaster Ride

2008-03-23T20:18:00.003-05:00

What a week. It all started last Saturday night. As my husband and I were getting ready for bed, the phone rang. It was the nurse from Mimi's rehab center. She told me that Mimi was running a fever and her doctor wanted her to send her the ER. The nurse was looking for my aunt, who apparently was the one to give permission for an ER trip. My aunt and uncle are snowbirds (lucky!), and were not in town. We had told the rehab that she would be out of town, and that they could check with my mother or me in an emergency. The nurse was insisting only my aunt could send Mimi to the ER, but could not locate either my aunt or mom.

"What are you waiting for?" I asked the nurse. "Just send her to the ER!"

No dice. I hung up with the nurse in a huff and tried my aunt's Florida number. Nothing. I tried my folk's house. Nothing.

I was getting furious. Mimi is almost 90 years old - why were we putzing around looking for my aunt? As I was about to "take care of business, " and show up at the rehab screaming my head off, my mom finally called from her cell. I explained what was going on, and she managed to get Mimi released and sent to the hospital. I might be almost 40, but I might have well have been 14 that evening.

The ER docs diagnosed Mimi with the flu, and admitted to the hospital. With almost no beds, she spent the night in the ER until they finally had a room for her. I was at the hospital the next morning, and she was totally incoherent and refusing to eat. She looked at me, and had some flicker of recognition in her eyes. I don't think she could have called me by name, but she knew that somehow, I "belonged" to her. I managed to coax her into eating some tomato soup and chocolate cake, and she fell asleep.

My mom and dad spent the next few days at the hospital, and called the next morning with terrible news - Mimi had developed secondary pneumonia. I went to see her, and she was totally unconscious. I sat with my aunt, who had blown a thousand dollars on a plane ticket so she could rush back to Chicago. My aunt held Mimi's hand, and talked softly to her. She talked of the old days, when my mom and she were little, of the good times they had had. And then she talked of when my great-grandmother passed away, then Mimi's brother and sister, and then, finally Poppy. "And if you want to stay with us, that's wonderful," my aunt said. "But, if you want to go and be with Poppy, that's okay. We love you and it's okay."

The next day and evening, Mimi remained unconscious, and eerily quiet. I felt like this was really the end for her - that she had taken my aunt's words to heart and was going to be with Poppy . Her doctor began discussing options for hospice care. Mimi has left us with specific instructions for her end of life care, and all of us agreed with and respected her decisions.

This morning, however, Mimi's fever was gone. Her heartbeat was regular, and she was up and talking. She's not one hundred percent, but she seems to have gotten beyond the flu and pneumonia.

It has been quite the rollercoaster ride...

My fat girl hero

2008-03-13T14:00:00.001-05:00

I have been overweight for a while now - a bout with steroids left me a chubby girl. I was never heavy as a child or young adult, and I am really, really trying to work on it.

I live in the land of blond-streaked skinny bitches. I have been the vicim of more up and down "appraisals" than I care to mention. This chick is my new hero.

In the Sun-Times....

2008-03-07T13:52:00.000-06:00

I am generally a Trib reader, but the other day, I read the Sun-Times while enjoying my morning cup of coffee. Neil Steinberg's column caught my eye...

How can we grieve if you're still alive?

What to do about the Palestinian-Israeli mess? Is there experience enough in the world to solve it?

The issue is before our eyes more than usual because Israel has been trying to stop missiles from being fired at it from Gaza.

That any sovereign nation on Earth would react strongly to missiles being shot at it is a given. That Israel is excluded from this logic is due to a phenomenon I call "exceptionalism." What is true for every country -- imagine if Mexicans started firing crude rockets at us from Tijuana -- somehow isn't true for Israel.

Why is that?

Could it be . . . and this is just a theory . . . but could it possibly be . . . and I admit a certain bias . . . but could the reason conceivably be . . . that Israel is made up of Jews?
Wacky, I know, but work with me here. What is the central argument the Palestinians are making? That Jews don't belong here. Their being born in Israel does not make them legitimate residents of their own land, and everyone would be a lot happier if they just went away.

A very old argument. And not an original one. The Palestinians want the Jews to go to Europe, but if you recall, Europeans weren't too happy to have them either, and wanted them gone as well. Centuries of residency weren't enough.

The Holocaust proved the world can be sympathetic to Jews, provided they are safely dead. In that uncomfortable pre-death period, however, they are held to a special standard, created just for them, by which they find themselves denounced as they struggle to keep on the breezy side of the grass.

If you posed a theoretical case: Group A lobs missiles randomly at cities, trying to kill as many people as possible while Group B tries to stop them, respectable citizens everywhere would automatically embrace the latter.

But make Israel Group B and that changes. Israel is a special case, and I have a hunch as to why.

Undecided

2008-02-04T09:51:00.000-06:00

I normally shy away from politics on this blog - this is my "Jewish Mommy" space. However, I have been a "political junkie" ever since high school, during the debate over Sen. Percy's support of the sale of AWACS to Saudi Arabia. In college, I spent a summer and a semester interning on Capitol Hill - one term in the House, one in the Senate. I really thought I would go to law school out in DC and end up on the Hill or as a lobbyist - until love and marriage got in the way. So - Chicago it is, although I do try to stay knowlegable and involved.

Tomorrow is Tsunami Tuesday. For the first time in my life, I am absolutely, unequivovably undecided. Although I have voted Republican in the past, and was honored to work for Cong. John Porter, I am planning to vote in the Democratic Primary. But...Barack or Hillary? I just don't know...

A Tu B'Shevat Contest

2008-01-21T11:13:00.000-06:00

I love this holiday - it is a perfect opportunity to teach kids how to take care of the Earth. This year, my daughter made a little Chia head, while my son's class held a Tu-B'Shevat seder. My favorite Tu B'Shevat kids' project involved planting parsley seeds in Dixie cups. We spent a few months taking care of the seeds, watering them and watching them grow. When they sprouted around Pesach time, we had parsley for our Seder plate!

Rabbi Phyllis, the Ima on the Bimah, is sponsoring a Tu B'Shevat giveaway!

According to Phyllis...

"In honor of Tu B'Shevat (the Birthday of the Trees) and the commitment to the earth that the holiday brings with it (read more here and here), I am so excited that b.happybags is giving away one of their gorgeous reusable shopping bags to one of my lucky readers!!! (Isn't it pretty???) All domestic materials and made right here in the U.S.A. Gotta love it. "

How can you win the Ima's contest?

1. Make a comment on one of her Tu B'Shevat posts. How are you "going green"? What is your green legacy...? You can enter each day - once per day.

2. For an extra entry, post on your blog or tell a friend about this giveaway and b.happybags and link back to Phyllis.

3. Don't forget to give her a way to get in touch with her if you win!

4. This giveaway ends on Tuesday, January 22nd at 9pm Central Time. Winner will be announced Wednesday morning!

Good luck!

Up to My Eyeballs

2008-01-17T13:21:00.000-06:00

My son is a smart kid. I am not being an annoying braggy mom about this - he scores very high on his peformance tests in school. He participates in a school enrichment program, reads like a maniac, and is very inquisitive.

I recently had a conference with his teacher, and I am worried about the kid. He is not completing his assignments in class, he is extremely forgetful and is basically "not working up to his potential."

Last night, his Hebrew teacher called me. My son apparently forgot his Hebrew book for the millionth time in a row. (I had put in in his backpack myself with a reminder - he proceeded to leave it in the carpool mom's car!!!) I got a stern lecture, eeerily reminiscent of the public school teacher, that my son is a vey good student, very good at Hebrew, but he is not doing well in her class because he is daydreaming and forgetting his assignments. In her crusty sabra way, she told my son that she won't teach him if he doesn't do his part. This of course, led to wails and tears from my kid. "She's always CRITICIZING ME!!!!!"

Lovely. I just don't know what to do. I have, in the past, had him evaluated for ADD - the answer was negative. My take is that he is overwhelmed with the amount of schoolwork he gets, and is shutting down in reaction. His dad and I have it together at home - we do not have him scheduled for a lot of extra activities, and we ensure that the work that comes home is finished and returned in a timely fashion. The problem is that he forgets to bring things home, and doesn't complete his work in class.

I am at a loss...

Meshugganah Mommy and the Meanest Mom in the World

2008-01-09T21:39:00.000-06:00

While my kids sometimes break my heart by stating I am the "meanest mom in the world," I have nothing on her!

Dan Fogelberg

2007-12-16T21:16:00.001-06:00

Dan Fogelberg passed away today from advanced prostate cancer. He was only 56 years old.

Catching Up

2007-12-12T12:22:00.000-06:00

As some of you know, the road to shul membership in our not-so-new town has been a long one. After three years here - we finally sucked it up and joined the Conservative shul in the area. Now, this synagogue has been termed "right-wing" Conservative. In all honesty - it is not an exact fit for us. BUT - people have been warm and welcoming, and we are slowly finding our way. Also, their children's education program is really superb. For my kids' sake, I am willing to "give" a little - the fact that they are actually happy to go to Hebrew School is worth everything to me.

Having been raised Reform by parents who actually cared about our Jewish education, I am able to pray a typical Reform service. (I have great respect for the Reform movement - I know wonderful rabbis and laypeople who have a whole-hearted commitment to Judaism.) As I have become interested over the years, and married a Conservative husband, I am also somewhat self-educated enough that I can usually pray pretty well anywhere.

This particular shul, however, has a very advanced quality - people daven well, and there's no time for beginner's catch-up. They first time we went to services as a family, I quickly became lost as people blew past me in the siddur. While I had been to services there before, I had never felt so...inadequate. It was quickly apparent to me that there are gaping holes in my Jewish education, and that my kids are also going to be beyond me pretty soon. It was one of the reasons I had hesitated to join this shul, and now my fears were realized.

I went home with a pit in my stomach, unsure as to whether we made a huge mistake. I soon refocused, and decided that I had better educate myself. While I have no problems passing the kids onto their dad for math homework (LOL!), I must show them that their father and I are fully committed to being educated Jews. I will NOT have a bar mitzvah factory family. I want them to see that if I can't follow the service, then I will buckle down and learn it, just as they must.

So, this morning was my first session at the Tuesday morning Siddur class. I sat there, like an idiot, while our charismatic assistant rabbi began to discuss the Amidah. Let me tell you, I cannot say the entire Amidah. I usually read it to myself in English. It is simply that, as a child, I learned the "Greatest Hits" version. Imagine my surprise when another mom raised her hand, and voiced those exact thoughts. Turns out, the table was loaded with Reform-raised moms playing belated catch-up, just like me.

Phew.

The rabbi was terrific, and basically told us that learning the service was NOT impossible. He told us that, if we were to ask the average "advanced" davener at our shul, we'd probably be surprised to learn that most don't have a day school or extensive Hebrew education. They have just demonstrated a commitment to come to services, and have thus learned to daven well. He stated that the shul's philosophy was to keep a very traditional service, and expect people to rise to its level, rather than dumbing it down to make it more user-friendly.

I feel much better, even though I have a lot of work ahead!

Sending out "the vibes"

2007-11-25T16:41:00.000-06:00

A good friend of mine is having open heart surgery tomorrow. We have literally been friends since the first grade - and together we survived elementary school, junior high, high school and college. I know deep down that she will be fine - but a surgery which entails the replacement and the repair of heart valves is pretty scary.

Back in college, we used to send out "the vibes" on particularly important occasions....for tests, presentations, asking boys to our sorority formal.Knowing your friends were putting positive thoughts your way always makes the task at hand a little easier.

So, I' m sending her the vibes for Monday. If you are so inclined, her Hebrew name is Chasi bat Sharon.

Thanks!

The Joys of Room Parenting

2007-11-08T13:19:00.000-06:00

I have always tried to make an effort to be involved with my children's school. Sometimes, it is pleasurable, like chaperoning a field trip to the Botanic Gardens. Sometimes it's just painful.

Apparently, the head kindergarten room mom has designated me as the "Holiday Party" Planner. Our kids go to public school. In our heavily Jewish suburb, my daughter''s kindergarten class is actually fairly well blended between the Chanukah and Xmas crowds. So - I need to find some fun and inclusive activities. Also, thanks to rampant food allergies and our new "Healthy Schools Initiative," my old standby of "make a dreidle with a hershey's kiss, a marshmallow and a pretzel stick" is out the window.

Help!!!!

Let's Find Lee Cutler - Buffalo Grove Teen is Missing

2007-10-25T12:00:00.000-05:00

Lee Cutler, a Stevenson High School student, is currently missing.

He disappeared this past Saturday. Police have found his car, his pack, a blanket and his favorite yarmulke in Baraboo, Wisconsin.

If anyone has any information on Lee's whereabouts, please contact the Buffalo Grove, IL police

Low-fat cooking

2007-10-18T06:37:00.000-05:00

It has been a long, long summer in the Meshugganah house. Daddy surprised us all in the early summer with the news that we would finally be able to remodel our kitchen. In his excitement, he began the demo in June.

It is now mid-October, and we are just finishing up. My house is a disaster. I have spent the summer cooking with a toaster oven and a grill, with only the wet-bar sink. Let's just say... it has been challenging!

Everything is mostly hooked up, and I look forward to actually having a functional workspace in a few weeks. I never thought I would look forward to cooking dinner! In my own excitement, I have been poring over recipes online. One of our family's staples is, of course, cholent. (Yes - us Conservative Jews eat it too!) However, I am looking for a way to make it lower in fat - maybe with chicken or turkey? Has anyone ever done this? I would love to try it, but the idea of chicken or turkey bones in the cholent makes me queasy.

Any recipe or cookbook recommendations would be greatly appreciated!!!!!

The Playdate from Hell

2007-09-26T10:00:00.000-05:00

I thought I was an old pro at this by now. Meshugganah Daughter made a new friend in kindergarten this year. An adorable sweet little girl with whom she enjoys being silly. My baby can be quite shy, and does not always open up to new people. So - looking to encourage this new friendship, I invited her girlfriend to have lunch at our house.

BIIIIIIIG MISTAKE!

Her mom (who is lovely, by the way) knew that we had a new puppy, and told me that her daughter was afraid of dogs. I assured her that while I would have to take Teddy out to go to the bathroom when we first got home, he would be on his leash, and that I would crate Teddy for the duration for the playdate. The playdate was only scheduled to be an hour and a half.

The LONGEST HOUR AND A HALF OF MY LIFE!!!!! But, I digress.

The fun started at pickup. My daughter was very excited about the playdate, had decided she wanted to serve peanut butter sandwiches and fruit. I mentioned this to the girls....

"NO!" said her little friend.

Ever the diplomat, my daughter asked me if they could have McDonald's. I am not so big on the fast food thing, but I agreed. We pulled up into McD's, and I asked the girls what they wanted.

"I GET TWO HAMBURGERS. TWO HAMBURGERS. AND APPLES AND FRIES. APPLES AND FRIES!!!! AND CARMEL. CARMEL! MY MOMMY LETS ME HAVE THAT!!!!"

Oy. A billion McDonald's bucks later, we pulled away and headed home.

DON'T YOU HAVE HIGH SCHOOL MUSICAL 2 IN THE CAR? I WANT TO LISTEN TO HIGH SCHOOL MUSICAL 2. HIGH SCHOOL MUSICAL 2!!! WHAT???? WHY DON'T YOU HAVE HIGH SCHOOL MUSICAL 2?????

I popped in the Celebrate Kids CD and told her to listen to it. A few minutes later, I pulled into the driveway. Mindful that the child was scared of dogs, I told her that I needed to let Teddy out so that he could go to the bathroom, but that he would be on his leash, and would not go near her. My daughter and she opted to stay in the front bay window while Teddy did his business outside. A few steps out the front door, I heard

AAAIIIIIIEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEE!!!!!!!!!!!!

I have never heard such a loud scream from a child in my life. Frantic, I rushed back into the house to find her screaming and sobbing.

THERE'S A CAT, THERE'S A CAT!!!!!!!!!

Yes, she was pointing at my eleven and twelve year old cats, who were fast asleep on the couch. My big, giant nerd cats Buddy and Charlie.

I DIDN'T KNOW YOU HAD CATS! PUT THEM AWAY!!! I WANT YOU TO PUT THEM AWAY. AAAAIIIIEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEE!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Her mom had said that the cats would be fine, but, whatever. I put Buddy and Charlie into a crate I used for Charlie back when he was peeing in the house. They were slightly perturbed, but they cuddled up and laid their keppies down like good kitties.

AAAAAAAAAAIIIIIIIIIIIIIEEEEEEEEEEEEEEE!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! THE CATS ARE LOOKING AT ME. I DON'T WANT THEM TO LOOK AT ME.

I explained in a firm tone that I could not stop the cats from looking at her. Teddy, Buddy and Charlie were now all crated for Her Majesty's visit, and they could not leave their cages.

OKAY. I WANT YOU SIT SIT IN HERE WITH US. SIT THERE. ON THE COUCH. ON THE COUCH. I EAT MY HAMBURGER CUT UP IN LITTLE PIECES WITH NO BUN. NO BUN. YOU ARE NOT CUTTING IT RIGHT. I NEED KETCHUP.

We were out of ketchup.

IT TASTES BETTER WITH KETCHUP. I NEED KETCHUP. YOU ARE CUTTING MY HAMBURGER WRONG. I HAVE NEVER SEEN ZOEY 101 AND I DON'T WANT TO WATCH IT. I DON'T WANT TO WATCH ZOEY 101. PUT ON HIP HOP HARRY. HIP HOP HARRY. I WANT TO WATCH THAT. WHY DON'T YOU HAVE HIGH SCHOOL MUSICAL 2?

AAAAAAIIIIIIIIIIIIIEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEE!!!!!!!!!!!!! THE CATS ARE MOVING!!!!!!!!!!!

The playdate ended, I drove her home, and my daughter told me in no uncertain terms that she was not interested in having another playdate.

Thank G-d.

Five days and counting...

2007-09-21T08:41:00.000-05:00

Meshugganah Daughter has had a fever since Monday night. Two trips to the doc later, we know it is neither strep nor mono. She woke up this morning with another high temp.

Looks like I'll be missing Kol Nidre - and possibly Break the Fast tomorrow. Sigh...

Have an easy fast, everyone!

P.S. - Are you allowed to fast if you are taking Metformin? If there are any religious authorities out there who can answer my question - I'd be much obliged!!

L'Shanah Tovah

2007-09-12T11:15:00.000-05:00

Wishing all of the J-Blogosphere a Happy, Healthy and Sweet New Year!!

The Politics of Hebrew School Carpool

2007-09-10T21:02:00.000-05:00

I am feeling like such a jerk today. Let me start at the beginning...

Last year, my son started his Alef year in Hebrew School - Wednesday nights and Sundays. There is a dedicated group of families from our public school that go to this particular shul. Last year, I carpooled with three other families. It was really great - the four kids (two girls, two boys) would go to someone's house after school, have a snack and some playtime, and go off for some good, old-fashioned alef-bet. One of the girls, however, soon developed into a problem. She was quite an issue, and the other girl soon refused to have playdates with her. My son and she had a love-hate relationship, and argued constantly. She really drive him nuts, even going so far as to give him a kick in the ding-ding one day. I drove the "driving home" shift, complete with lots of yelling (and let's be honest - my son was a major component of the yelling), pulled hair and thrown objects. Her folks had recently split - I spoke to her dad, who told me he'd have a talk with her. Her mom, who did not have custody on Hebrew School Day, had no idea who was driving her daughter home (me), or that her child was even having these playdates before going off to Hebrew School. (After Dad talked to Problem Child, her behavior did slightly improve.) The other two moms were slowing dreading playdate and carpool time, but kindly held it together until the end of the year.

Fast-forward to this summer. The other two moms told me that they were not interested in carpooling with Problem Child this year - not that I can blame them. They asked me to carpool with their children and another family. There would be no room for Problem Child, what with the siblings and all. I work, and really do need the carpool. I accepted. None of us heard anything from Problem Child's family - nor did any of us go out of our way to contact them.

Today was the first day of Bet - we are now up to Monday and Wednesday evenings, and Sunday mornings. Carpool went off without a hitch. Everyone got along beautifully, and our new puppy got a ton of love and affection on the way home. And then...my cell phone rang. It was Problem Child's Dad - asking if we were in a carpool, and if so, was there any room for his daughter. I felt horrible, but answered him truthfully - that I was in a carpool, but that there was, unfortunately, no room. I offered to ask around for him, and hook him up with other, interested families. He thanked me, and reminded me that he now has two childen going on Wednesday afternoons.

I feel so guilty. I am a working parent, too. I know what it is like to really depend on having a carpool. I also know that my son is better off having some separation from this child. My mom said that Problem Child's parents are adults, and that they are capable of getting their child to Hebrew School. She reminded me that I have a tendency to absorb other people's problems. I know she's right, but I still feel like a royal jerk.

Home Again

2007-09-04T09:38:00.000-05:00

We're back from vacation...tanned, rested and ready for school! Our travels took us aboard the Freedom of the Seas - the largest cruise ship to sail the Caribbean. It was pretty unbelievable - the ship held a water park, ice rink, basketball court, climbing wall, miniature golf course and movie theater, among many other activities. We all had a phenomenal trip - the kids had their own activities, leaving plenty of Mommy and Daddy time. I gorged on books - and read Eat, Pray, Love, A Thousand Splendid Suns, and Peony in Love. After polishing those off, I completely succumbed to the urge to read some serious trash, and devoured Wifey - that adult Judy Blume classic. Swingin' Seventies, indeed!

After traipsing through Old San Juan, snorkeling in St. Thomas, and recreating and America's Cup race in St. Maarten, we headed back to the Rainy (not Windy) City. The fun continued when my girlie decided that her souvenir braids from St. Thomas were not enough to make a splash on the first day of kindergarten. It was off to the local mall for an ear-piercing extravaganza. The best, however, was yet to come...

Introducing the newest member of the Meshugganah family.......it's Teddy! He's four months old and a mix of Brussels Griffon and Shih Tzu. He is just a love - a very sweet and mellow puppy. The house training is still in progress, but I have to say that the kids have been just terrific about helping to take care of him. I am really proud of both my son and daughter.

The kids are back in school, and kindergarten and third grade have started swimmingly. I may actually have more time to blog! Hope everyone had a great Labor Day Weekend!

We're Off...

2007-08-10T09:09:00.000-05:00

While enjoying this lazy, lazy summer, I somehow managed to miss my third blog-o-versary last month. I have been a proud member of the J-Blogosphere since 2004, and have enjoyed every minute!

In the meantime, we are off on vacation next week. Where, you ask? Why - a Carribean cruise with the WHOLE fam! We're celebrating my parents' 40th wedding anniversary in style. All of the kids, nephews, nieces, aunts, uncles, etc. are gathering together for one fun-filled week. We're most looking forward to a stop in San Juan, where Meshugganah Daddy lived from age 9 to 14 - bar mitzvah included. (Yes, I am married to Juan Epstein, the Puerto Rican Jew!) Personally, I am going to sloth-out by the pool with a book and a frozen margarita.

Catch you on the flip side!

Staaaaceeeeyyyy!!!

2007-07-31T09:50:00.000-05:00

Contact me!

Book 7 - Still Unspoiled

2007-07-19T17:51:00.000-05:00

Staying unspoiled for Book 7 is turning out to be a Herculean task. Nevermind that fact that some yutz photographed every page of the book and posted it online. Frankly, I expect people to be idiots. The vaunted New York Times actually published a review of the book two days in advance of publication, and the review reveals significant plot details!! (I am not posting any links. No way.)

For crying out loud! You know - I am an adult, and I get that my HP obsession is ridiculous. This is a children's series after all. However, I have an eight year old son who has actually read all six previous books. He is practically jumping out of his skin to read Deathly Hallows. While he has been an avid reader since he became literate, the Harry Potter series sparked a significant love of reading for him. He loves to play online, especially on Mugglenet and other HP sites. While Mugglenet has set forth a strict no-spoiler policy, they cannot control what goes into their Comments. Fortunately, I closely monitor and limit his Internet use. If he were to find out details of the book before he read it, he'd be devastated. And, I'd be seriously pissed. REALLY mad. Mama-Tiger ANGRY!

I am turning off Commenting until after I have finished the book. In the meantime, we are off the The Party That Shall Not Be Named tomorrow evening.

Happy Reading, everyone!

UPDATE - Finished. Whew! Comments have been reopened!

Message in a Bottle

2007-07-06T21:30:00.001-05:00

Meshugganah Daddy and I relived our high school years last night. As an early birthday present, he took me to see The Police at Wrigley Field.

Wow.

The concert was so fantastic. I was jumping up and down and screaming like a thirteen year old. I sang every word to all the songs, too. The funniest part of the entire evening was watching the crowd - a bunch of thirty and forty-something moms and dads. (The front page story in today's Chicago Tribune makes great reference to this fact. I was reliving my youth - could they burst my bubble with any more force??) The show was two hours of one great song after another. The Police played numerous encores. While many people tried to beat it out early to relieve the babysitter after "Every Breath You Take" - the Police ripped into a blistering version of "Next to You" to end the show. Amazing.

The Friendly Confines is a fantastic place to see a concert - I only hope they'll have more of them. Sting actually mentioned that the last time they played Chicago was 1983 at the old Comiskey Park. (Of course, any mention of the Sox on Addison elicited a chorus of boos!) In 1983, I missed the Synchronicity tour because I was at overnight camp. Twenty-four years later, I finally got to see Sting, Stewart and Andy.

As we got onto the L to head home, I noticed that I was completely hoarse. I didn't even care.

Growing Up

2007-06-28T15:13:00.000-05:00

Well, today I passed another parental milestone. This morning, my husband, daughter and I drove our son to the local mall to meet the bus that is currently winging its way to the Northwoods of Wisconsin. Yes, it's his first taste of overnight camp - a four day "Rookie Camp." I keep obsessively checking the camp website to see if the bus arrived safely.

My little guy was both excited and nervous - but he marched onto the bus like a pro. He barely looked up from his Game Boy as the bus pulled away. My daughter, all of five years old, sobbed inconsolably. She spent yesterday trying to convince us that he shouldn't go - she has never been separated from him for more than a day. Before he boarded the bus, she hugged him, told him "You're my best brother!" and gave him a kiss. I, of course swelled with pride.

They are both growing up. As my mother often tells me, these are the years in childhood where they are busy creating the buttons they will be pushing for the rest of their lives. They are getting quite good at pushing those buttons! There are many days when I have to pull the car over until they stop fighting. They have both given each other a healthy smack or two. But, they are also fierce friends and protect each other.

It's days like today when I finally feel like maybe my parenting is on the right track.

8 Things

2007-06-27T21:43:00.000-05:00

Orieyenta and Frumhouse both tagged me with this meme...I've done ths before with 6 things, so I will add onto the previous answers..

"According to the rules... Each player of this game starts with the "8 Things about You". People who get tagged need to write a blog of their own 8 things as well as state this rule clearly. In the end, you need to choose 8 people to be tagged and list their names. Don't forget to leave a comment that says 'you are tagged' in their comments and tell them to read your blog!"Okaaaayyy.....

1. I am insanely close with my mother and sister and call both several times a day.

2. I am laundry-disabled. I can ignore a growing pile like it does not exist. One of the best things about switching our family's childcare from daycare to babysitter is that our sitter does the kids' laundry. Yeah!

3. You all know about my Harry Potter problem.

4. I am completely fascinated with Orthodox Jewish life. I am a firmly committed egaliarian Jew. I insist that my daughter have the same Jewish education as my son. I both like and insist upon sitting with my husband in synagogue. I would never, ever consider covering my hair. I don't even keep a kosher kitchen. But, I constantly read about Orthodox Jews - both in the blogosphere and the local library.

5. I hate gum.

6. None of my friends are aware of this blog.

7. I am a speed reader. I picked up Water for Elephants yesterday afternoon and had finished it by bedtime.

8. I love to sing. In law school, I was part of a band called the Learned Hands. We played the Law Revue show and KILLED! Part of the reason I can never be Orthodox - I could never hold by Kol Isha.
Okay - that should cover it. I am tagging anyone who wants to take on this meme.

What has happened to JRants?

2007-06-23T22:22:00.001-05:00

Anyone know? More importantly, can anyone suggest another way for me to keep up with my favorite bloggers?

Hear Me Roar

2007-06-20T11:24:00.000-05:00

Hat tip to Frumhouse and Mother in Israel for starting conversation on this topic...
While I am decidedly not Orthodox, here's some answers from another kind of Jewish mom

The truth about the Jewish superwoman.

Are you a superwoman?

No1) Being raised with a strong work ethic - ki adam laamal yulad (Job 5:7) - man was created to work. They expect to work.

Like Frumhouse, I was also raised with a strong work ethic. My Mother raised my sister and I to always be able to support ourselves, with or without a husband. As a result, I have a law degree, and my sister has her Master's degree. Since graduating, I have always worked - even after having kids. Right now, I only work two days a week from a home office, but I feel like I am setting a good example for my kids. Frankly, the money really helps!

2) They actually LIKE to work and can feel uncomfortable doing nothing - "I'll rest when I'm in the grave."

Well....I do enjoy my vegging out time. My husband and kids have recently accused me of being addicted to my laptop. I am also a bit of a TV addict, and read many books for pleasure. If I could be a purely stay-at-home mom, I might actually consider it.

3) Sure of their way - their kids don't get mixed messages or apologize when being expected to help.

Oh, no. I find discipline one of my toughest tasks as a parent. As my kids get older, they are constantly testing me. I strive for consistency, but sometime fall short.

4) Super organized - they don't waste their time looking for their car keys, having to run to the makolet (corner store) in the middle of cooking because they are out of something etc.

Not at all!! This is probably my worst fault.

5) Patient husbands

My husband is a doll. He's a great cook, and doesn't give me a hard time when the house gets cluttered. We are both first-born stubborn souls, but it works for us.

6) Don't sweat the small stuff - they don't lose energy because their neighbor didn't answer them when they said hello etc.

I pride myself on not sweating the small stuff. I actually get quite annoyed with other moms when they micromanage their kids' schedules...and expect me to follow along. However, living in this community can lower my self-esteem, sometimes!

7) Do it now - they wash the soup dishes while their husband sings zmirot,(maybe that's why we don't sing in my house?) wash the food processor as soon as the kugel goes in the oven etc.

Yes and no. I never leave dirty dishes or an unclean counter as that is a pet peeve of mine. I do tend to let the laundry pile up. Thank G-d for my sitter/housecleaner who comes when I work. A major luxury...

8) Know their limits - they may leave all weddings at 10 because if they're not in bed by 11 they can't function the next day etc.

Yes. I have learned my lesson on that one...

9) No nonsense - set limits and stick to them - supper is macaroni, if you don't like it you can make yourself a sandwich.

That is my ideal goal. I have, however, instituted "Choice Night at our house. I find it makes it easier during most suppers when the kids know that they have a Choice Night coming up. Cuts down on the whining

10) So, what do you think makes a superwoman?

I think it is a myth. You never know what goes behind closed doors, anyways.

11) What qualities have you found useful as your own family grew?

Silliness, patience and letting go....

12) What have you noticed in others?

I like non-neurotic moms who don't time their carpools to the minute and obsess over extra-curricular activities. Flexibility is a major, major asset.

They're Heeeeere...

2007-06-04T16:28:00.000-05:00

Every seventeen years they emerge....

http://www.chitownkids.com/new/cicada.mp3

Batten down the hatches - Brood XIII has arrived! The last time cicadas invaded, I was 20 years old and working at a day camp in the northwest suburbs of Chicago. I did not remember the cicadas being much of a nuisance, so I laughed and shrugged off my friends' dread of this summer's swarm.

Boy, was I wrong! Our area has gotten competely slammed with the noisy critters. I picked my son up from a sleepover this morning - the poor kid's house, front lawn and driveway were completely covered in cicadas. The trees in front of our house are affected, as well. My daughter's preschool picnic was completely ruined - there was nowhere to sit on the synagogue's lawn! Not to mention that cicadas are so LOUD you can barely hear yourself think.
Blecch.

Although they are completely harmless, it really is quite disgusting. Even worse - it completely affects our summertime activities. We cannot walk outside without crunching on shells. The cicadas are everywhere - either flying around, crawling in the grass, or invading the landscaping. The piercing song of the male cicada is inescapable. For Chicagoans, this is disastrous! We suffer terrible winters, and savor each precious summer day. I do NOT appreciate these stinking bugs ruining my summer!!!!

There are no backyard barbecues, right now. Our swingset sits forlornly, waiting for the kids to return. The Ravinia lawn is out of the question until the bugs are gone. (My beloved Indigo Girls will be here later this month - I ponied up for pavilion seats because I am so grossed out by those humongous red-eyed creatures.) If it were Passover right now, I'd swear we were in the middle of a plague! As it is, I feel like the Borg have taken over.

The experts have predicted that they will be gone by July 4th. That will truly be Independence Day!

Perfection

2007-05-10T18:35:00.000-05:00

I don't care what Simon says - Jordin blew this one out of the water. As sorry as I was to see LaKisha go home, my money is on Ms. Sparks.

Missing Woman - Please Help

2007-05-09T11:09:00.000-05:00

Lisa Stebic is the cousin of a good friend of mine.

From her family's website:

Lisa Stebic has been missing since Monday, April 30th. She was last seen at her home at around 6 pm. Her car is still in her garage and she has her cell phone and wallet with her. According to police her cell phone has not been used since Monday. Lisa would never leave her children.Lisa, 37, is 5' 2" tall, 120 pounds, with brown hair and hazel eyes. She has two visible tattoos, a small rose on her ankle and a large butterfly on her lower back.

If anyone has seen Lisa or has any information, please notify the Plainfield, IL Police Department at 815-267-7217.

Transitions

2007-04-27T10:00:00.000-05:00

At 37 years old, I am grateful to have one grandparent left. My grandmother, who we all call Mimi, is the matriarch of our clan. Always perfectly put together, with a beautiful home, she is the "lady" my poor mother tried so desperately to get my sister and me to emulate. Mimi's hair is always done perfectly, her nails immaculate, and she is never without hose and heels. Needless to say, she NEVER utters a foul word. Mimi is strong, calm and unflappable under pressure. Let's just say I have a lot of work to do to catch up!

Mimi and my grandfather, Poppy, lived in a beautiful, tri-level home in the Peterson Park section of Chicago. As a child, I loved going there to play on the flagstone patio and to have sleepovers in my mom's old room. Of course, I did my best to cause trouble. I once shoved an entire deck of playing cards down the shower drain, causing my neatnik Poppy to spend hours fishing out the cards with a string and a piece of chewing gum. I also managed to swallow the key to Mimi and Poppy's magnificent breakfront - Mimi calmly shoved her fingers down my throat, saving me from choking.

I loved Poppy with all my heart. When I took the bar exam, Poppy sat at home and mentally went through the day with me. When I started practicing law, he used to come to court to watch and offer suggestions. Poppy died in 1998 - before I had children. I named my son after him. At 28, it was the first real loss for me, and I still miss him every single day. Poppy's death was very hard on Mimi - but she bore it stoically.

During the past couple of years, Mimi's health began to decline. She moved into an assisted living facility where many old friends lived, and enjoyed her continued independence. She still missed Poppy, though, having a particularly bad day a few weeks before Passover.

The day before Passover, I got a phone call. Mimi had fallen - breaking her hip.

Mimi handled the surgery well. I brought her great-grandchildren to visit her, which perked her up considerably. She did quite well post-surgery, and was quickly released to rehab. Rehab, however, was not in her plans. She told me "I'm 89 years old, and I cannot do those exercises!" She is currently wheelchair-bound, and cannot return to her apartment.

My daughter and I went to visit her yesterday, and I was shocked at her appearance and demeanor. Dementia appears to be setting in, and she was in and out of lucidity. My mother is trying to prepare us for the worst, and I am facing it the best I can. What is it about breaking a hip that sent her over the edge?

My mother and aunt are dismantling her apartment. My aunt called today, and insisted that I put the breakfront in my dining room.

I can't seem to stop crying. But for Mimi's sake, I will square my shoulders, lift my chin, and help her to continue her life with dignity and grace.

Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows - The Countdown Continues!

2007-03-29T10:00:00.001-05:00

I KNEW we were going behind the Veil! Look, Ma, no wands! OH YEAH!!!!!

Dumbledore, Sirius, Cedric, James and Lily are waiting....

Faux Hawk

2007-03-29T10:00:00.000-05:00

Okay. My kids were hysterical at the sight of the Sanjaya faux-hawk. His performance...not so great. Despite the abuse he's taking in the media these days, this kid CAN actually sing. What the heck happened to the guy who impressed Simon, Paula and Randy at the try-outs with his Stevie Wonder? If I recall, Simon said something to the effect of "That was MUCH bettah than your sistah! She's got the presence, but you've got the talent..." I loooove Gwen Stefani - Sanjaya should have listened to her when she told him "Bathwater" was a hard song. "Spiderwebs" would have been a better choice...

At this point, though, what does he have to lose? I imagine that's why he's rocking the faux-hawk.

Can't wait to see if Howard Stern's fans and the 13 year old girls push Sanjaya through another week...

UPDATE: Well, well, well. Chris Sligh is going home. Sanjaya didn't even make the bottom 3.

Ouch!

2007-03-18T10:09:00.000-05:00

WHAT a day I have had!

It all started last night, at our elementary school's Family Bingo Night. Against my better judgment, we took our son's best friend home with us for a sleepover. My daughter immediately started crying - why couldn't SHE have a sleepover? She did not want to hear that four year olds do not have sleepovers. A major tantrum ensued. Further, the boys were up until all hours goofing around. I expect that behavior when a friend sleeps over, but they would not go to sleep! Once they finally settled down, the cough I had been ignoring all week emerged with a vengance. I spent the rest of the night in a hacking fit. Let's just say..I got almost no sleep.

I woke up bleary-eyed this morning, and stumbled downstairs. I thought I would be nice and make my husband breakfast. This was to be a peace offering - he was slightly annoyed that I told the boys they could have a sleepover. So, I brought out my brand new pans and began to gather stuff to make omelettes. I had started to brew my favorite coffee - Steep and Brew's Icing on the Cake - when I noticed that my brand new pans still had the plastic ring attached from the store. So, I grabbed my trusty serrated knife and began to cut it off.

BIG MISTAKE!!! Can you guess what happened next...?

Yup - I completely sliced my left thumb. Oh my G-d did that hurt! I danced around and yelped in the kitchen until Meshugganah Daddy came running in to find out what the fuss was about. He is a veteran of kitchen accidents - so he calmly wrapped my heavily bleeding thumb in a towel, got the kids dressed, and took me to the ER. Once there, the doc took one look at my thumb and told me that, of course, I needed stitches. She shot me full of lidocaine (OWWWW!!!!) and sutured me right up. As she finished, I started to cough again. So, Doc insisted on listening to my chest. Next thing I know, she had me puffing on Albuterol and ran me in for a chest film. No pneumonia, but I apparently have a nasty case of bronchitis.

I guess it is a good thing I went to the ER. I probably would not have made to over to the doctor to have the cough checked out - Mommy is always last on the list.

But my thumb hurts!

Oy - So Depressing!

2007-03-12T14:43:00.000-05:00

Well - I feared this was true. It's been a while since she last posted, and now Jack has confirmed what I initially refused to believe.

Stacey has stopped blogging.

According to my archives, I have been blogging since July, 2004. It all started for me when I met Z on the Dotti's Jewish Weight Loss Board. I discovered the blogging world through JewView, which inspired me to take a stab at it. Since then, I have seen blogs come and go. When I started, the big controversy was about Protocols, which soon died. I loved reading Mirty, Aidel, Golda Leah, Yetta, Aimless and many other magnificent bloggers who eventually stopped.

Aidel and Yetta came back. GoldaLeah came back for a little while.

Come back soon, Stacey.

Stolen from Z...

2007-03-08T11:42:00.000-06:00

And because I have nothing better to blog about at the moment...

1. What time did you get up this morning? 5:30

2. Diamonds or pearls? Diamonds

3. What was the last film you saw at the cinema? Dreamgirls

4. What is your favorite TV show? Alltime? The Office

5. What did you have for breakfast? Egg white and veggie scramble

6. What is your middle name? Lee

7. What is your favorite cuisine? Thai and Japanese

8. What foods do you dislike? peas

9. What are your favorite chips? sour cream and onion

10. What is your favorite CD at the moment? Cheap Beer Night - The Bad Examples

11. What kind of car do you drive? Honda Pilot

12. Favorite sandwich? Italian Beef with sweet peppers

13. What are characteristics you can't stand? Condescending attitudes

14. What are your favorite clothes? My black cashmere sweater and pants - bought for 1/4 of the retail price!!!

15. If you could go anywhere on vacation, where would it be? Maui

16. Favorite brand of clothing? Anything that fits...

17. Where would you want to retire? Madison, WI and Scottsdale, Arizona

18. Favorite time of day? evening

19. Where were you born? Chicago, IL

20. Where have you lived? Illinois, Wisconsin, D.C.

21. What is your favorite sport to watch? soccer, hockey and basketball

22. Coke or Pepsi? Coke

23. Beavers or ducks? Beavers

24. Are you a morning person or a night owl? morning definitely

25. Pedicure or manicure? BOTH - and a facial, as well

26. Any new and exciting news you'd like to share with everyone? Nope

27. What did you want to be when you were little? a fairy princess

28. What is your best childhood memory? Hanging out with my Poppy

29. Piercing? Ears

30. Ever been to Africa? No

31. Ever been toilet papering? yes

32. Been in a car accident? yes

33. Favorite day of the week? Saturday

34. Favorite restaurant? Osteria del Stato, Chicago

35. Favorite flower? gerbera daisies

36. Favorite ice cream? mint chocolate chip

37. Favorite fast food restaurant? wendy's

38. How many times did you fail your driver's test? once

39. From whom did you get your last e-mail? Cub Scouts

40. Which store would you choose to max out your credit card? Nordstrom

41. Bedtime? 10

42. Last person you went to dinner with? My husband

43. What are you listening to right now? Watching "The View"

44. What is your favorite color? cobalt blue

45. How many tattoos do you have? none

46. Favorite magazines? Moment

Purim Podcast

2007-03-04T10:07:00.000-06:00

The First J-Blogosphere Podcast is up! Listen here... you'll find me at #16.

Many thanks to Jameel for staying up until 4 AM to put this together!

My kingdom for a comfortable ski boot...

2007-02-28T11:45:00.000-06:00

My son's school district has about a million days off during the course of the school year. In fact, we have so many days off that our school year ends later in June than anyone else. (Believe it or not, the day camp my son attended last summer is actually starting BEFORE the end of the school year.)

All that aside, yesterday was one of our infamous days off - I believe it was an inservice day for the district's teaching staff. Annoyingly enough, it fell on a Tuesday. My husband and I decided to take lemons and make lemonade - so we took off for Madison, Wisconsin after school let out on Monday. Madison is one of my favorite places on earth. I went to law school there, got engaged there, and would still move there in a heartbeat. I even have season tickets to the Badger games, which I obediently turn over to my father and uncle each season. I have thoroughly indoctrinated my kids, and now, they like nothing better than a road trip to Mad-Town for the Farmer's Market, a visit to the Terrace, and a giant helping of Babcock Hall Ice Cream.

We crashed at a local hotel for the night. ($67 for the Sheraton Madison! Thank you, Hotwire!) Bright and early Tuesday morning, we turned the car northwest and headed for Cascade Mountain. The kids spent the day skiing. Meshugganah Daddy and I spent the day schlepping the kids down the slopes and pulling them up from their wipeouts. Every muscle in my body is on fire today. My feet have it worse than anything else - I rented some HEAVY clunker ski boots. I have wide feet and calves, so finding the right fit is never easy. It's time for me to shell out for some ski boots of my own. If there are any skiing aficionados out there who can point me to a better boot, I would much appreciate it!

Our week is now back to its regularly scheduled programming.

Why I Love Purim

2007-02-19T09:46:00.000-06:00

Because Esther ROCKS!

Seriously. Many people point to Judaism as a sexist religion. However - where else would you find a holiday centered completely around a strong, sexy, independent WOMAN like Esther. She saved the Jewish people with her smarts and savvy. She's the hero of the story.

I love it. And, I love that all the little girls want to emulate her. Princesses don't have to be foofy and weak, like Cinderella and Sleeping Beauty awaiting The Prince to save them. They can be tough, strong, and altogether kick-ass.

Like Esther.

Harness Your Mamelah Powers

2007-02-19T09:05:00.000-06:00

This post is a shameless plug for a dear friend's new business. She makes beautiful crochet creations - I can attest to the quality of her kippot! Plus, she's an absolute doll.

Check her out!

ShulShopper - What A Great Idea!

2007-02-16T13:50:00.000-06:00

I have blogged many times about our family's search for a synagogue. We have a Reform-raised Mom, conservative/traditional-raised Dad, former membership at Conservative and Reconstructionist synagogues, a son at the Conservative Hebrew School and a daughter at the Reform preschool. Whew! When we moved, we wanted to take our time to make a decision - there are so many options here that it is simply overwhelming. After almost three years in our new town, we are about to take the plunge. (Of course, we are forced to jump over the cliff - our son will be in third grade next year and Synagogue membership is required to continue Hebrew school at all the congregations in the area.) It looks like, ding ding ding, the Conservative shul in our town is the winner. Still, though, I hesitate, fearful of making a costly mistake.

This is a fabulous idea - and will be soooooo helpful for people like me. Kudos to those who conceived of this project.

I Couldn't Resist

2007-02-14T14:18:00.000-06:00

Trolling the Internet today, I came across this adorable Queen Esther costume at www.galigirls.com. Cute for the girlie - and a MATCHING COSTUME FOR HER DOLLY!!! Even though I am supposed to be on a money diet right now, I popped for it. The big guy is vacillating between Harry Potter and Darth Vader. Something about Purim brings out the child in me. I can't help myself. Next week is hamentaschen baking - chocolate chip, of course. Then, my kids and I are going to introduce this community to Mishloach Manot - and they can't wait to put our packages together!

I am no Suzy Homemaker - but this is my FAVORITE holiday.

Head Over to the Shack...

2007-02-11T13:51:00.000-06:00

...for Haveil Havalim #106. I love HH - it is great way to learn about and read different J-blogs. Many thanks to Jack for including my Deathly Hallows post. Maybe I'll get some new visitors to this dusty corner of the J-Blogosphere!

Deathly Hallows!!!

2007-02-01T16:31:00.001-06:00

Today, J.K Rowling officially announced that Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows has a release date of July 21, 2007. Wheeee! I am more excited than my seven year old. I have officially pre-ordered two copies from Amazon so that my darling boy and I can each have our own book.

One of the things I love about the Harry Potter series is the chance I get to try and decipher all of the clues Ms. Rowling artfully sprinkles throughout the books. She's got a lot of stuff to tie up in Seven. Here are, in no particular order, my predictions for the end of the series:

1. Dudley is a Muggle-born Wizard. Petunia struck a deal with Dumbledore that the Dursleys would care for Harry if the Wizarding World would keep its mitts off Dudley.

2. Snape is going to bite the dust - but he'll die a Hero's death.

3. Draco is a goner. A cowardly, well-deserved goner.

4. Harry's scar is an accidental Horcrux. He will not die, however. A Dementor will suck the portion of Voldemort's soul out of his scar, destroying the Horcrux while leaving Harry alive. (Harry just CAN'T die. He CAN'T.)

5. Neville will break through the Memory Charm and avenge his parents torture. He will grow up to be Professor of Herbology at Hogwarts and Head of Griffyndor.

6. Harry will marry Ginny, and they will name their firstborn son...Ron.

7. It's the Deathly Hallows. We're going behind the veil, folks. I expect both Sirius and Dumbledore to make an appearance.

Whadd'ya think?

Bat Mitzvah Etiquette

2007-01-23T12:33:00.000-06:00

Seriously - how cute is this Bat Mitzvah gift?

http://ci-gallery.com/item_detail.asp?i=25&Prod=7537

We are invited to the Bat Mitzvah of the daughter of dear friends. We have been off the Bar Mitzvah circuit for many, many years. I have no idea what is even an appropriate gift. In my day, a Cross pen and pencil set would do nicely. Now, who knows???? I have been combing the internet for ideas, and came up with this necklace. Is this too much? Not enough? Help!

Shuffling' on Down

2007-01-21T20:13:00.000-06:00

OH YEAH!!!!!!!!!!!!!

On to Miami, baybeeee!!!!!!

Link to Jack Day

2007-01-11T21:06:00.001-06:00

Me, too!

I have got to come up with some material for a post soon, or just shut down this blog. Mommy cannot live on memes and blog games alone...

6 Weird Things

2007-01-01T15:31:00.000-06:00

Orieyenta tagged me with this meme...

"According to the rules... Each player of this game starts with the "6 Weird Things about You". People who get tagged need to write a blog of their own 6 weird things as well as state this rule clearly. In the end, you need to choose 6 people to be tagged and list their names. Don't forget to leave a comment that says 'you are tagged' in their comments and tell them to read your blog!"

Okaaaayyy.....

1. I am insanely close with my mother and sister and call both several times a day.

2. I am laundry-disabled. I can ignore a growing pile like it does not exist. One of the best things about switching our family's childcare from daycare to babysitter is that our sitter does the kids' laundry. Yeah!

3. You all know about my Harry Potter problem.

4. I am completely fascinated with Orthodox Jewish life. I am a firmly committed egaliarian Jew. I insist that my daughter have the same Jewish education as my son. I both like and insist upon sitting with my husband in synagogue. I would never, ever consider covering my hair. I don't even keep a kosher kitchen. But, I constantly read about Orthodox Jews - both in the blogosphere and the local library.

5. I hate gum.

6. None of my friends are aware of this blog, or even know that I am a blogger.

Okay - that should cover it.
I am tagging Z, Stacey, and that's it.

1 Guth, 8 Nights, 36 Bloggers..and I'm one of them

2006-12-18T19:54:00.000-06:00

Amy Guth, the author of Three Fallen Women kindly invited me to participate in her "Virtual Chanukiah." First of all, her book looks fabulous. I intend to read it at the first opportunity, and highly recommend everyone check it out. Second, this is the first "group" venture in which I've participated since starting my blog. Wow - I feel like I've been invited to sit at the cool kids' table! So, welcome to Meshugganah-ville - one of tonight's stops on the Chanukah Blog Tour

Here are my answers to Amy's meme:

1. Quick! You must turn a plate of latkes into an upscale gourmet delight(as if they aren't already?). What would you add to them to dress them up, flavor and/or garnish them?

I'd start with grated sweet potatoes, and maybe add a little sweet red pepper and some kosher salt. Extra-virgin olive oil for frying, et voila!

2. What is the dumbest thing you've ever heard anyone say about Chanukah?

I walk into a store and ask for the Chanukah display - I am looking for decorations for our house and a menorah to give as a gift to a friend. The store employee leads me over to a table LOADED with blue tree ornaments, blue lights for the outside of the house, etc. No dreidles, no menorah, not a Magen David anywhere. When I gently point out to the clerk that these are blue Xmas decorations, and that I am looking for Chanukah decorations, she looks at me, wide-eyed with surprise, and exclaims "But these ARE the Chanukah decorations!"

3. What's the best possible use for olive oil?

Lemon-flavored, mixed with aged Parmesan cheese on a dipping plate with warm, crusty bread.
Oh, yeah, and for lighting the menorah, too....

4. Settle it once and for all. Latkes or hammentaschen? Which to you prefer? What about pitting the winner of that contest against sufganiyot?

While I don't pretend to reach the lofty heights of the annual U of C debate, I'd have to say Latkes. Definitely Latkes. I am all about the savory carbs.

Latkes vs. sufganiyot? Hmmm....that's a tough one. I'd almost have to call a tie, but I'll go with savory again and vote for latkes. Although, the man at Bagel Country told me today that they are getting both chocolate and custard sufganiyot. Hmm....

5. What's the best way to mix up a game of dreidel?

Teach the game to a bunch of preschoolers (where your kids is the only Jewish one in the class), and have the teacher ask why you are showing these children how to gamble.

6. My novel, Three Fallen Women, shockingly enough, is about the lives of three women. Which three women would you like to have over this year for latkes and why?

My Mother
My Sister
My Daughter

7. Other than Three Fallen Women (har har), what book do you think would make a great Chanukah gift this year? What book would you like to receive as a gift this year?

To Give:

The Time Traveler's Wife, by Audrey Niffeneger
A Fine Balance, by Rohinton Mistry

To Receive:

My book club has selected When Madeline Was Young for January and Memory Keeper's Daughter for February. I'd better get started at some point!

8. What bloggers didn't participate in Chanukah Blog Tour 5767 and you think should have?

Z, Stacey, Robbie

All good things come from Chicago...

2006-12-12T15:28:00.000-06:00

Barack and DA BEARS!!!

A little bragging, and a question ...

2006-11-30T12:22:00.000-06:00

One of my few talents is that I am a fast reader. I learned to read at the tender age of three, and have been going gangbusters ever since. (I had a mom who eventually needed cornea transplants, so I used to read street signs for her. Never mind that she should not have been driving, but that's another story altogether...) I devoured books as a child, blowing through the Little House series, Anne of Green Gables, the Phantom Tollboth, etc. As an adult, one of my greatest joys is my monthly Book Club, where I am surrounded by much smarter women who constantly challenge me.

It seems as if my second grade son is much like his mom in the reading department. (He needs some help in the math department - again, just like me!) I am going to brag now - he finished "Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire" last night. He began the first Harry Potter in late August, and has now completed four books. I have tried to nudge him to Narnia, but he is only halfway through The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe, and is somewhat losing interest. Like his mom, Harry Potter is his true love.

Herein lies the problem - his reading skills are fast outstripping books with appropriate content. I do not mean to sound like the obnoxious mom who exclaims "Oh, my son is so smart, there's nothing good enough for him." Believe me, we have enough problems in the math world that I am under no illusions that he's a genius! But, the books at his reading level are oftentimes too mature for him.

He is dying to start "Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix." I am pretty reticent about it - the "Harry Potter" books become increasingly dark and scary as the series progresses. I wanted to cut him off at "Goblet of Fire," but he had seen the movie and knew the basic plot. He absolutely loved it, and asked me some very pertenient questions that showed me he really understood the storyline. This morning, he expressed his hope that Sirius Black would have his name cleared and come out of hiding to live with Harry. As most of my fellow Potter fans well know, Sirius is killed in a surprising and shocking battle scene at the end of "Phoenix," leaving Harry forever. Not to mention that in Book Six, "Half-Blood Prince," Professor Snape murders Dumbledore? Is this appropriate material for a seven year old? I say no - but my husband thinks our son will be okay, and that we should encourage his interest in books that challenge and stretch his imagination.

I have taken "Order of the Phoenix" out of the bookcase until I can decide if he's ready for it. In the meantime - any book suggestions?

Oh, Gross!

2006-11-01T11:21:00.000-06:00

A quick break from my "vacation..."

Has anyone dealt with lice? I would appreciate any lice-prevention ideas! My son's school is in the middle of the worst outbreak I have seen.

It all started when his best friend's mom called to tell me that her son had lice, and that I should check my son's head. She proceeded to regale me with stories - informing me that everyone in her house had it and detailing intricacies of ridding a home of lice.

After I hung up, I was so skeeved out that I actually got the shakes. Those two kids are inseparable. I sucked it up, as a good mom should, and combed through my little guy's hair. Phew - no lice. I though we were safe - but the VERY NEXT DAY another student in the class was diagnosed. Then another. Then another. Then the motherlode - a Pump It Up birthday party became a conduit for infestation of many second grade boys.

I am constantly dousing my kids with tea tree oil shampoo and checking their scalps. They know not to share combs, brushes or hats. The school nurse is holding random lice checks in the classroom. So far, we have escaped, but I fear it is just a matter of time. But.... BLEECHHH! Nothing can turn me into a twelve-year old faster then the topic of lice. I know that it has nothing to do with hygeine - I know the cleanest homes can become infested. It just makes my skin crawl.

So - that's whats' up in the Meshugganah house. Back to my vacation...

Blocked

2006-10-30T17:02:00.000-06:00

I haven't posted in a while as it seems I have a severe case of blogger's block. So, I am going to take a short hiatus - at least until I can find something to write about! I'll be around in everyone's Comments until then.