Parenting Stories Archives

What The Jewish New Year Looks Like In Brooklyn

While my family passed those first few lonely months in quarantine together in Brooklyn, the pandemic’s...

High Holy Days, High Holy Days for Parents, Parenting, Parenting Stories

Quarantined in Brooklyn, Surrounded by Faith

I dress for Whole Foods like someone dressing for war, or like someone with an acute fear of dying. Maybe I’m...

Parenting, Parenting Stories

Motherhood: Am I Doing it Right?

I’m not sure how I’m doing as a mother. I mean, all self-criticism aside, I’m trying to take a step back, have...

Parenting, Parenting Stories

Why My Jewish Kids Love their Advent Calendars

I was at Trader Joe’s the other day and bought an advent calendar. For my dog. While this does make me...

Parenting Christmas, Parenting Hanukkah, Parenting Stories, Tu Bishvat, Young Kids

Can We Be Happier Parents?

Author KJ Dell’Antonia with her daughter. Photo credit: Jessica Lahey I didn’t read any parenting books...

Camp, Parenting, Parenting Stories

Why Can’t We Have a Christmas Tree?

“We can’t have one,” I replied, full of the weary knowledge that only the mother of a...

Christmas, Hanukkah, Jewish Holidays, Jews of Color, Multiracial, Parenting Challenges, Parenting Hanukkah, Parenting Stories

Talking to Children About Events in Pittsburgh and Anti-Semitism

We must always take sides. Neutrality helps the oppressor, never the victim. Silence encourages the tormentor,...

Anti Semitism, Identity, News, Parenting Stories, Young Kids

What Does My Jewish Community Say About Women?

What does my Jewish community say about women? I can’t remember. For all of my time in Yeshiva, all of my holidays...

High Holy Days for Parents, Parenting Stories, Simchat Torah, Yom Kippur

Why We’ll Be the Family in Midwood Without a Sukkah

I think my family never celebrated Sukkot (the Jewish harvest festival that comes after Yom Kippur) because...

Parenting Christmas, Parenting Hanukkah, Parenting Stories, Parenting Sukkot, Yom Kippur

3 Alternatives for Tashlich with Kids

You can’t forget about performing tashlich for kids. When I was little, my favorite part of the High Holidays...

High Holy Days for Parents, Parenting Stories, Parenting Tashlich

How to Be a Kosher Vegan in an Interfaith Family

Almost two months ago I became a vegan. It’s a long story. I saw some crazy movies about meat and dairy, I...

Parenting, Parenting Challenges, Parenting Stories

Is it Time to Leave Our Orthodox Neighborhood?

My neighborhood of Midwood, Brooklyn, is changing and so is my family. It’s not just that new stores have popped...

Motherhood, Parenting Stories, Young Kids

When Faith Reaches the Border

There is a photo taken by photojournalist John Moore going around the internet of a child watching her mother...

Anti Semitism, Holocaust, Motherhood, News, Parenting Stories, Young Kids

Why Do I Worry My Daughter Won’t Fit In?

I was never a princess. In my favorite childhood photo I have short brown hair and a leather jacket covered...

Parenting Stories, Young Kids

We Aren’t as Different as My Neighbors Think

I grew up in an Orthodox community in Midwood, Brooklyn. My mother still lives there and I live three blocks...

Babies, New Parents, Parenting Stories, Young Kids

I Was the Loca Lady at My Baby’s Naming

Photo By Lizzy Sullivan I never thought that I would be the crazy lady in synagogue. You know the one: She sits...

Israel, Parenting, Parenting Stories

Helen Fell on Her Head and I Prayed to Jesus, Sort of

Helen fell on her head. In case I didn’t think I deserved the “worst mother award” before, I pretty much bolted...

Parenting, Parenting Stories, Young Kids

Top 5 Things to Know About Jewish Day Camp

You’re starting to think about summertime and what on earth you’re going to do with the kids for two plus months—err—we...

Camp, Parenting Stories, Religious Education

My Jewish-American, Mexican-Catholic Daughter Speaks with a British Accent…and It’s All My Fault

There have been a few changes in our home life since Adrian and I welcomed our newest edition, Alma, to the...

Babies, Baby Naming, Parenting Stories

The First Hero

2017-2018 Rising Voices Fellow Emma Mair with her parents at her bat mitzvah in 2013 On my parents’ first date...

Bar/Bat Mitzvah, Growing Up Interfaith, Parenting Stories, Parenting Successes

1 Family, 4 New Year Celebrations, 0 Resolutions

By Jessica Melwani Today, my family is ringing in the New Year for the fourth time in 2017. In January, we...

Parenting Challenges, Parenting Stories, Young Kids

Helen Turns 2 in English, Spanish and Hebrew

I can’t believe my first baby girl is already 2! In the beginning of this journey into parenthood I can remember...

Babies, New Parents, Parenting Stories

One of These Things is Not Like the Other

Making friends as a grown-up isn’t always easy. When I look at my “mom” friends, we’re...

Motherhood, Parenting Stories, Parenting Sukkot

How to Rebuild on Yom Kippur

What it means to rebuild on Yom Kippur… A few weeks ago my family had a hard day. It seemed that both...

Parenting, Parenting Stories, Yom Kippur

Parenting Stories

Stay in the know.