Every Jewish parent dreads the day the Holocaust comes up.
However, I have to say, our first go at it two years ago wasn’t so bad. Me: What did you learn about in Hebrew School today? Oldest: A lot. We learned about concentration camps. Me: Oh? What about them? Oldest: They put Jewish people in camps. We also learned about Anne Frank. Me: What about [...]
How much longer ’till school starts?
My children are definitely becoming preteens. They no longer involve me every time one annoys the other. After living with these kids for ten years, I’m never surprised when I find something in the toilet after they leave the bathroom. That *something* is usually of an organic nature and a quick, “Get in here and [...]
Two ways to watch World Cup action with grumpy old men who think soccer sucks (without killing them and then yourself)
My children are sports fans. It doesn’t matter if a puck or ball is involved, or even a race car; they enjoy the rivalry, drama, intrigue, and suspense surrounding physical competition and a winner’s trophy. Husband loves this about them. Not that he would love our sons any less if they were into Tom Cruise [...]
How can you tell teachers are ready for summer break?
In about a month, school will be over. My children cannot wait. Me? I’d consider voting for a gun-toting, pro-life Republican (is there any other kind?) if he promised to make year-round schooling a reality. When I taught high school, I felt quite differently about summer vacation. And as much as I loved my students, [...]
How you can tell the summer trip is over before it starts
Nothing frightens parents more than summer vacation. Kids look forward to a few months of fun and frolic. Moms and dads wonder how they can fill ten hours a day with activities when there’s nothing good on television. One way to fill the time is to take a summer trip. This is what my family [...]
Toilet humor: How to survive the hemoccult experience
I have always hated poop. My mother told me I started complaining about stinky diapers when I was six months old. Before my first birthday, I’d had enough of sitting in my own filth. I got undressed, grabbed a newspaper, climbed up on that porcelain throne, and became a “big girl.” Fast forward thirty years, [...]
How I give back/Advice that works – One way to save your sanity when spouse or children annoy
Sometimes, when I get annoyed or angry, Husband will walk me over to a picture from his brother’s bar mitzvah. This is an old picture, circa 1970. Husband points at a little boy who’s wearing a brown suit, no more than two years of age, standing in front of the crowd. The toddler’s chocolate brown [...]
Modern v. old-fashioned parenting
After hearing stories this past week about how my relatives were raised during the 1940s and 1950s, I’m surprised my grandparents and their contemporaries were never brought up on charges. The fact that they weren’t featured in a movie-of-the-week or some best-selling memoir must mean that their parenting styles were accepted and even appreciated. Their [...]
Learn how to drive or get off the road: 5 ways to make our streets safer
For some people, driving has become a bit of a challenge. Blame it on Toyota or multi-tasking failures everywhere, but we now hear daily about too many people killing themselves or others in an attempt to get from Point A to Point B. Oprah Winfrey and overzealous legislators want to change all that. While there [...]
Disproportionately blessed...
Catherine Durkin Robinson
-
Snapshots
Learning Curves
Olivia’s Kiss
Ether Books
Find my short stories and columns on your iPhone, iPod, and iPad. Click here to download the app for free:
Circle Me Now
Socially Inappropriate
JOIN ME ON FACEBOOK AND TWITTER
