One of the most important skills we can give our kids is the ability to think through their decisions. Children are naturally rash, not known for considering consequences before taking action. We see this in our own homes – we routinely watch our kids react in ways that leave us wondering how much forethought, if […]
As we know, the challenge of parenting is not a “one-size-fits-all” endeavor; nor does an effective parenting approach for one child necessarily transfer or apply to another child in the same family. One of the most revealing and illuminating Jewish principles is Chanoch L’naar al pi Darko (Mishlei 22:6) – educate (and teach) a child […]
Nine years ago I was hospitalized In Haddasah Ein Kerem for a month with a ruptured appendix. I was admitted into the ICU where I was on a constant drip of IV administered medication. The medicine wreaked so much havoc on my digestion system that I was put on the same anti nausea medication that […]
Every year, we commemorate our storied and difficult past with the Three Weeks, a period of tiered mourning. We start with lighter restrictions – no music and no haircuts – and conclude with Tisha B’Av, the 9th day of the Jewish month of Av, where the rules of mourning are in full-force – sitting on […]
It was my first day volunteering as a “safety parent” at my kids’ day school. I was standing in front of the most adorable 2nd grade girls when one raised her hand and announced — to me and 18 of her peers — that her uncle touches her in exactly the way I just described […]
Last year one of my kids told me a secret he’d been harboring for a while, all alone. While it didn’t surprise me, but you couldn’t have paid me $5 billion in 1995 (adjusted for inflation) to tell my parents such a thing. So why did he tell me? I’ll answer with another story first. […]
“My kid is always flying off the handle about the silliest things!” “Is it normal for my pre-teen to be slamming doors in the house when she’s mad?” “Everything I say to my son makes him roll his eyes and stomp off in a huff!” Does this sound like your child? When kid’s tempers flare […]
As we continue our exploration of the Ben Sorer U’Moreh in order to glean valuable Chinuch lessons and reap the reward of raising healthy and well adjusted children we once again look to one of the fascinating Halachos of this Sugya. וְאָֽמְר֞וּ אֶל־זִקְנֵ֣י עִיר֗וֹ בְּנֵ֤נוּ זֶה֙ סוֹרֵ֣ר וּמֹרֶ֔ה אֵינֶ֥נּוּ שֹׁמֵ֖עַ בְּקֹלֵ֑נוּ זוֹלֵ֖ל וְסֹבֵֽא “This son […]
כִּי־יִֽהְיֶ֣ה לְאִ֗ישׁ בֵּ֚ן סוֹרֵ֣ר וּמוֹרֶ֔ה אֵינֶ֣נּוּ שֹׁמֵ֔עַ בְּק֥וֹל אָבִ֖יו וּבְק֣וֹל אִמּ֑וֹ וְיִסְּר֣וּ אֹת֔וֹ וְלֹ֥א יִשְׁמַ֖ע אֲלֵיהֶֽם: וְתָ֥פְשׂוּ ב֖וֹ אָבִ֣יו וְאִמּ֑וֹ וְהוֹצִ֧יאוּ אֹת֛וֹ אֶל־זִקְנֵ֥י עִיר֖וֹ וְאֶל־שַׁ֥עַר מְקֹמֽוֹ: וְאָֽמְר֞וּ אֶל־זִקְנֵ֣י עִיר֗וֹ בְּנֵ֤נוּ זֶה֙ סוֹרֵ֣ר וּמֹרֶ֔ה אֵינֶ֥נּוּ שֹׁמֵ֖עַ בְּקֹלֵ֑נוּ זוֹלֵ֖ל וְסֹבֵֽא: If a man has a wayward and rebellious son, who does not obey his father or his […]
In previous articles we laid out the following concepts: Children already have everything they need to become autonomous adults. Our responsibility is to create the appropriate environment for them to thrive and become the best version of themselves. Children need to be parented by adults, not only our own nuclear family but by adults in […]