As a parent, you don’t always know if certain ideas, information, and traditions you are trying to instill in your kids are actually “in there” until something is unexpectedly said or done that makes you grin from ear to ear. Today in religious school (I teach second grade, and the younger boy, my 13-year-old, is my teaching aide) we were talking about Hanukkah, since it’s fast approaching. I was explaining to my students that we load the candles into the menorah from right to left. So, on the first night, there is one candle on the far right and then the helper candle–or “shamash”, or “shamus”–is, well, wherever the hole…
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Proud To Be A Chicago-American!
I feel compelled to write a few words about this historical evening. I have feelings of “Did this really happen?” and “Pinch me…really, did it happen?” I am so excited about the possibilities for our country that I am jumping out of my skin. The fact that my favorite city plays a huge part not only as the “adopted city” of Barack Obama but also the stage on which he gave the speech last night when it was all over obviously warms my heart and makes me feel even more proud. I have to say that whatever people feel about his “readiness” to be the President of the United States,…
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My Baby’s No Baby
It’s amazing how, as a parent, sometimes you (okay, ME) tend to not expect your youngest child to be able to do certain things at certain ages and stages. I think in my case, it’s not as much that I feel like the thirteen-year-old will “always be the baby” or anything like that; rather, I really think that it’s just my brain. Sometimes I get frustrated because he isn’t doing something or acting in a certain way…and then I remember that–DUH–maybe it’s just beyond his level and I should cut him a break. He’s growing up, though. Sometimes I get an amazing glimpse at Maturation in Action; I got one…
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A Green Letter Day
Last night’s Lacrosse Banquet was lovely. It was held at a hoity-toity country club, and the golf course view from the room was phenomenal. Jim requested that we sit near the door because he has been really sick over the past week (having coughing fits so bad he changes colors!) and wanted an easy escape if he started to hack away. The fifteen-year-old, of course, didn’t want to sit with us (the players all sat together for the most part). So we grabbed spots at the table near the door, and sat alone until the late people came in: because nobody normally chooses the table that is furthest from the…
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Just In Case I Couldn’t Figure Out Whose Kid Gave Me The Cards…
Time for some Mother’s Day card-posting! First, the card that Roxie “picked out”. Here’s the front: Inside on the right: In case you are having trouble with Jim’s handwriting, it says, “Woof! I asked Dad to get me a card to give you for Mother’s Day and he told me there is a huge opportunity for card writers for pets, cause this was the best card he could find. Roxie” Inside on the left: “Thanks for taking me on walks and spoiling me with treats and getting my butt squeezed and all the other wonderful things you do for me. I’ll lick your face as soon as I finish licking…