Some people dread carpool. And with good reason. It’s not just the traffic. I have lots and lots of experience carpooling. At one point in my life a couple of years ago, I was part of six different carpools (!). When I wrote the first version of this post in 2017, though, most of my…
Children & Teens
Playdate Etiquette 101
Do we need to be more mindful when hosting other children, or sending our children to a friend to play? Our readers respond. I had this great idea for a post: let’s give parents and their children the tools to be the best hosts and guests on play dates. But then I realized I might…
Set Your Child Up For Success in the New School Year
Do you have a child who gets apprehensive about new starts and new teachers? These pointers will make the transition so much easier. You are taking in the last few weeks of summer, watching your children enjoy its freedom— freedom to wake when they please, to play for endless hours— and you can’t help but…
Oh No, I’m Not Ready to Send My ADHD Kid Back to School!
You can do this! Opening my inbox this morning made my heart sink. The first two emails were the school supply list for this year and the cheerful “welcome to – grade” letter from the new teacher. Ugh! There I was blissfully enjoying lazy summer days, later wake-up, no homework, kids coming home from camp…
SBT: The Best Way To Unwind After A Long Day
You’ve never heard of SBT? Nope, it’s not a new therapy! It’s Scheduled Boredom Time. Here’s why it’s important. Ask any Mom (or any kid!) out there, being bored is the worst! Polling the mothers, bored means annoying siblings, kvetching, and the dreaded, ‘There’s nothing to do!’ And polling the kids, bored is a feeling…
Why I Love Homeschooling My Children
One mother tells us why homeschooling works best for her family. Are you the kind of mother who loves summer vacation and school breaks because it means full-time quality time with your kids? Are you perhaps sick of all the school carpools? Are you drowning under the weight of tuition bills? If so, this message…
Party or Pass? Do You Celebrate Your Birthday?
No matter how you acknowledge (or don’t acknowledge) your birthday, the day holds opportunity. How do you feel about birthdays? Are you one of those who eagerly count down to your next birthday as soon as the previous one has passed? Do you make elaborate parties for your kids’ birthdays and spend months trying to…
What Does My Daughter Need to Pack for Seminary?
Heading off to seminary in Israel for the year? You’ve never packed for this long of a time and it can be overwhelming. What do the girls actually wear? This guide will help! This is a list written by seminary students of a Bais Yaakov-type of seminary in Israel. As moms we’re familiar with the…
How to Inspire Your Kids to Daven Over the Summer
You have the power to make the experience a positive one. Summer is a time for relaxed routines and schedules and yet kids really need structure to calm the chaos. It is hard to strike the perfect balance but one thing that really makes a difference is how you start your day. Setting the tone…
How to Make Your Bas Mitzvah Girl Feel Special on Her Special Day
Mazal Tov, she’s now a woman! There’s something special about planning a bas mitzvah. I haven’t yet had the zechus to make a bar mitzvah, but I’m deep in the throes of planning my second bas mitzvah. Bas Mitzvah parties are celebrated so differently from community to community. Where I live, there is no standard…