I was never a fan of giving the kids timeouts when they were little. I didn’t think putting them in a room by themselves taught them anything about their bad behavior. Instead, I reserved the timeouts for myself. And I still do. I remember the days when I’d spend a fair amount of time cooking…
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Parenting
Parenting
Parenting through this pandemic Thanksgiving
There will be four people at my Thanksgiving table: my husband, my two children and me. They’re the same people I sit down to dinner with every night. And…
Parenting
It all turned out fine, so it looks like my worrying worked
When our kids were younger, there were a lot of things that I used to worry about. I called the pediatrician in a panic many times — would our daughter…
Parenting
Even my 4-year-old knows more than our leaders
We have a family tradition of doing tashlich on the afternoon of Rosh Hashanah, and then taking a family photograph near whatever natural body of water we…
Parenting
The new normal is not normal, but the kids seem all right
In some ways, the start of school this fall and the preparation leading up to it were similar to most other years: We did some school shopping, cleaned…
Parenting
First day of school — a new state, new anxieties
From the moment I woke up, this morning was different. My alarm went off at 6:45 a.m., one of the only times I’d set it since the pandemic hit. I got up…
Parenting
My favorite family dishes are an anchor in turbulent times
Cooking for my family has become one of the joys in my life. Being able to express my love for them in this way, well, for me, there’s nothing better.…
Parenting
I’m baffled by the books my kids love — and thrilled
“I was determined to be the best and fastest tree climber in the family,” my husband told my children. “So I kicked him in the head while he was standing…
Parenting
Here’s everything I haven’t done during the pandemic
I am not baking bread. I haven’t made a sourdough starter. I didn’t learn how to knit, so I haven’t knitted a sweater with a matching…