Scent of a Woman

Page 10 of one "Scratch and Sniff" book poses the question: Do you like the scent of this perfume? Sari dutifully scratches and sniffs and responds: "Mmmm. Smells like a lady!"

This, my dear friends, is a large part of the problem

A loyal reader was a bit disturbed by yesterday's post. "Are you sure you want just any person to know that?" she asked. And I ask, know what? That I'm not perfect? That we humans are fallible? That everyone has their good days and bad days? I don't feel like pretending to be perfect. It's a large part of what I believe is a problem in our "perfect" community. It's so taboo to have any problems. Take my experience as a young new mom. I felt so overwhelmed and there were days when I was ready to tear my hair out (or worse) because the baby wouldn't stop crying and I hadn't had more than 90 consecutive sleeping minutes in too long. I remember thinking, why does everyone else seem to handle it so well? I was blown away when a friend commented on how well I was adjusting to mommyhood. I realized I was contributing to the problem: I wasn't being honest. I was showing the world a face that didn't reflect the truth. Since then, I have made a small difference in many a new mom's life. I see the look of relief in a girl's eyes when I talk about how difficult the adjustment normally is. Key word: normally. Yes, it's normal to be overwhelmed. Yes, it's normal to have days where things don't go as planned. Yes, it's okay to take off your supermom cape and be human.

So, yes, dear readers, I am human and imperfect. I hope you can still respect me!

Mama said there'd be days like this

That's what I get for being so high on my superb mothering skills. The first two days of the week went so well. Everyone was so well-behaved, things went according to schedule, and lots of hugs, kisses, and smiles all 'round. I was so pleased.

Today was a little different. I did all the laundry (I hate laundry) and had an annual at my ob-gyn (what could be more fun?). Sari was whiny all day, using baby talk, and doing things like spilling cupfuls of water on the floor and stomping in the resultant puddles. Time out did not faze her in the slightest. She is such a firecracker, that one. In a last ditch effort to salvage my self-image, I took the kids to the park which was okay. After I got Mordechai and Ada to bed and Sari was out of bed for the fourth time in as many minutes, I took her on my lap and relaxed a little. She really is such a mush and, as all you amateur shrinks are muttering, she was just craving attention after all. Who doesn't crave attention? Heck, isn't that what started this whole blog business in the first place? We played "If You're Happy and You Know It" inserting hugs and kisses once the claps and hurrays were exhausted. I felt a little better but I still made Dovid put her to sleep having no patience left for her inevitable antics.

Writing all this (with a glass of wine at my elbow) has really soothed my nerves a bit. Thanks, Internet. Good night.

Why Women Cry

This was lifted from AidelMaidel but she stole it first so I don't feel quite so bad. Here it is:

A little boy asked his mother, "Why are you crying?" "Because I'm a woman," she told him.

"I don't understand," he said.His Mom just hugged him and said, "And you never will."

Later the little boy asked his father, "Why does mother seem to cry for no reason?"

" All women cry for no reason," was all his dad could say.

The little boy grew up and became a man, still wondering why women cry.

Finally he put in a call to G-d. When G-d got on the phone, he asked, "G-d, why do women cry so easily?" G-d said " When I made the woman she had to be special.

I made her shoulders strong enough to carry the weight of the world, yet gentle enough to give comfort.

I gave her an inner strength to endure childbirth and the rejection that many times comes from her children.

I gave her a hardness that allows her to keep going when everyone else gives up, and take care of her family through sickness and fatigue without complaining..

I gave her the sensitivity to love her children under any and all circumstances, even when her child has hurt her very badly.

I gave her strength to carry her husband through his faults and fashioned her from his rib to protect his heart.

I gave her wisdom to know that a good husband never hurts his wife, but sometimes tests her strengths and her resolve to stand beside him unfalteringly.

And finally, I gave her a tear to shed. This is hers exclusively to use whenever it is needed."

"You see my son," said G-d, "the beauty of a woman is not in the clothes she wears, the figure that she carries, or the way she combs her hair.

The beauty of a woman must be seen in her eyes, because that is the doorway to her heart - the place where love resides."

Our trip to the NY Aquarium

Special thanks to our Savta!



Penguins are so cute!

The kids loved the sea lion show.

note to Ada: I know you'll hate me for this one day but you look so cute I can't help myself. Please find it in your heart to forgive a love-stricken mom.

Like a queen

Mordechai came home from day camp (on time). As is my custom, I asked who today's Shabbat Ima and Abba were. He told me Chaya Esti was Shabbat Ima. After a thoughtful pause, he added, "She looks like a queen." I was taken by surprise at this first sign of true love (isn't he a bit young, I thought). What gave him that impression, I asked. He answered that "she wears cool earrings." (I breathed a sigh of relief.
)

This one's for you, New Orleans!

(Excerpted from "The Kosher Palette")

SNICKER DOODLES
1/2 c. margarine
3/4 c. sugar
1 large egg
1-1/4 c. flour
1 tsp. cream of tartar
1/2 tsp. baking soda
1/4 tsp. salt
1 Tbsp. sugar
1 Tbsp. ground cinnamon

Beat margarine until fluffy. Gradually add sugar. Beat in egg. Add flour, cream of tartar, baking soda, and salt to margarine mixture, beating until blended. Cover and refrigerate for 1 hour. (Feed children dinner, gently threatening that if they don't finish their chicken they can't help with the cookies when that timer rings!) Preheat oven to 375 degrees. Combine sugar and cinnamon in a small bowl. Form the dough into walnut-sized balls, roll in cinnamon mixture and put on ungreased baking sheets (line with parchment paper to avoid unnecessary clean-up). Bake for 10-12 minutes until cookies are flat and edges are a bit brown. Transfer to a wire rack to cool completely.

Love and kisses from New York!

Help for the technically challenged

My family and friends are really great but their computer literacy...let's just say it's not their strong point. In light of this fact and since several of them have expressed frustration in this very arena, I have a few pointers about how to properly give feedback to a (specifically, my) blog. (Note to Ima: Please take your fingers out of your ears and stop singing the alphabet song on the top of your lungs. You can do this.)

• At the end of most of my posts, you'll see the word "comments". It will be preceded by a number - usually zero (sob). It will also be underlined. That, my dear Watsons, is a clue. You can click on that word to post a comment.
• You will be directed to a page that allows you to view the 0 (sob) comments posted already. Below the most recent post is a link (remember the underlining clue?) that reads "Post a Comment". Click on it. That's an order.
  
• A window will pop up. In it, you will notice a box. It will be empty. Click in the box and write your comment/ feedback/ requests/ hopes and dreams and whatnot.
• You do NOT need to have a blogger id in order to post a comment. You can choose "other" and type in your name or pseudonym. You can choose to remain "anonymous" if you prefer that I sit and wonder who wrote your comment and why you wouldn't want me to know that you wrote it (unless of course you have something nasty to say in which case I'd prefer that you keep your comments to yourself or get your own blog to vent).
  
• Do be sure to click on the button at the bottom that says "Publish Your Comment" so that your words don't get lost in cyberspace without ever having made it on to my blog. That would be a great shame.

I hope you've been able to get the main idea (remember that from your fourth grade reading comprehension workbook?) amid the clutter of my tangential wordiness. Let me know how I can help you in any other way.

Good Sport

The kids have this ongoing tradition of racing each other back home from the little room down the hall that has the trash chute and recycling canisters. Invariably, Mordechai reaches our door first and gleefully shouts "I won!" Sari reaches the door several seconds later and, just as gleefully, shouts "I losed!"[sic]

And today's "Bad Mommy" Award goes to....

me. I was the last mom to pick up my kid on the first day of day camp. It gets worse: he was crying. Nearly tore my heart to shreds. I promised we'd bake cookies together to make up for it. We made a batch of the best SnickerDoodles ever! I thought that would ease the guilt but it hasn't. I'll do better tomorrow, I promise.

Three's a Charm

A third boy has joined Sam and Saul today! Best wishes to the proud mama and papa, Cindy and David. Can't wait to see y'all on Wednesday.

The Flash Mind Reader

This is too spooky! See for yourself.

Hat tip: Krum as a Bagel

Pics, pics, pics

Sari actually slept in her new sunglasses for nearly a full week after she got them!


My kids' babysitter, Namie, is so talented. She's the one who did Sari's hair. How cool is that?


Reb. Ruchie Kramer was the one who recommended this book to me. Being a great fan of hers, I purchased the book that very same week. I haven't gotten past the intro - haven't found a minute to squeeze in some reading. It seems, though, that the book holds the interest of a wide variety of readers. Dovid was the one who noticed this precious scene and called my camera's attention to it. I think he was also kinda' proud about the continutaion of the May Bathroom Legacy...


And some random cuteness....








And, finally, a true sign of the times. That there is Mordechai "taking a picture" of Sari with his "camera phone"!

Mazal Tov! Mordechai graduates from kindergarten with honors!

Getting his diploma from the Principal a.k.a. Zeidy

with the proud mama

Morah Sarah Rivka Harris

Morah Pinina Englard

Not yet a Rabbi

Mordechai had a difficult halachic question. He wanted to know if he could play with a little handheld electronic game on Shabbos if he doesn't turn it on or was it still forbidden because the item is normally muktza. I directed him to Dovid. Dovid said that he wasn't sure and that he would have to check with the rabbis in yeshivah. Mordechai responded with the suggestion: "Or you could just look in one of the books!"

Internet, we have a problem!

Ada has learned to get from prone to a seated position. In most respects, this achievement should be considered cause for celebration. Tonight, I have learned the not-so-exciting ramification of this exciting development. She wakes up at night. Normally, after a few whines, she'd fall back asleep. Now, she sits up and cries(loudly) and in her over-tired hysteria does not realize that all she needs to do is LIE DOWN AND GO BACK TO SLEEP!

Don't do me any favors!

Sari kept insisting "I have favors" and I had no clue what that was supposed to mean until Mordechai intervened and explained, "She's saying she has fever. I think she wants medicine." How come he's so much better at Sari-tongue than I am?

Shavuos menu

Do people eat the milchig meal at night or day? I could've sworn it was totally a day sorta' thing but I'm hearing some conflicting arguments from friends....

funniest commercial ever

The views expressed here are not my own - duh!

Overheard:

[Scene: Sari's hugging big, red bear which belongs to Penina - despite what you are about to read.]
Penina (my adorable neighbor who has a huge collection of stuffed animals): You really like my bear, huh?
Sari: It's my bear.
P: No, it's my bear and I let you borrow it.
S: No, it's my bear and I let you keep it in your house. I'm so nice, right?