This article was originally published on urbansitter’s blog. If your life with young children is anything like mine, it’s rare that you’re able to walk to the bathroom without a child attached to your legs or shower without a child or two peering through the glass. Needless to say, you need a break, but how […]
I don’t know how it happened, but Easter is one of my daughter’s favorite holidays. We aren’t religious, so to me it was always sort of a non-event holiday. But when my first child, now 5.5, was born, every chance to do something special was embraced; maybe even overindulged. If you ask her today why […]
Passover has always been one of my favorite holidays, second only to Chanukah and birthdays. We love the family seder, and use the time as an opportunity to connect. What makes the holiday special for kids? Many of these ideas are inspired by my children’s Beth Sholom Preschool: Sing! We love to sing fun […]
The amazing joys and challenges the parenting journey brings are so much better enjoyed with a strong support network. Sharing the ups and downs, crazy antics, touching moments, and worries can make all the difference. In my experience, the best network includes different kinds of people from friends and family to medical practitioners and of […]
Purim is Sunday! My kids love to wear costumes and bake hamentaschen, triangular cookies with filling. Now for my secret hamantaschen recipe: gingerbread with nutella filling! We make both these and the traditional ones and give away boxes to our friends and family. Here are my favorite Purim family fun activities and recipes. […]
Most of us have siblings; some are close, while others are not. To some extent, our personalities dictate how close we are as adults. But as children, how can we encourage a positive relationship? How can we avoid pitfalls that drive our children apart? A space of ones own. Our retired pediatrician, Jane Anderson, recommended that […]
My daughter falls down and starts crying, and her brother goes to her and asks if she needs ice. Warms the heart. But other times, he knocks her down or grabs a toy from her. We all want our children to grow up with empathy, good citizens compassion for their fellow human beings. Yet children […]
As an experienced au pair, I know how challenging it can be to get young children to do the every day things you need them to do. I love being with children and learning their individual personalities and interests. I believe the easiest – and most successful – way to motivate children to do things […]
You walk into a baby store visibly pregnant, and the friendly salespeople offer to help you out. They’re so nice, so helpful. So why do you feel guilty that you can’t afford a stroller that costs as much as a used car? You are not a bad mom if you cannot afford a “Mercedes” stroller, […]
When I was pregnant with my first child, a friend told me that I was already behind on my preschool applications. Holy cow, I thought. How can I choose a preschool when my kid hasn’t even been born yet. I hastily got on the waitlist at one preschool and applied to a second shortly after […]