My hometown is in mourning. Last week the unthinkable happened in a place some thought of as sacred. Eleven worshipers in a synagogue were gunned down by a domestic terrorist. I was in San Francisco when I heard the news. I saw someone post on Facebook that there was an active shooter at the Tree of Life synagogue. I knew almost immediately that if there were any fatalities that someone I knew was amongst the murdered. Sadly, I was right.…
Baby Ruth has already been on 3 cross country flights. Her first flight was when she was 10 days old. We flew from San Francisco (where she was born) to Pittsburgh (where I was going to spend the bulk of my maternity leave). All of our flights have been relatively stress free thanks to advanced planning and some smart tips. Here are a few of my tips for a less stressful journey. (1) Space is your friend. If you…
Words matter both literally and figuratively. I want Ruth to not only love words and languages but to have a mastery of them. Some loves are instinctual and some loves have to be cultivated. If genetics have anything to do with it, Ruth will love learning. She will love words. She will love books. But to support and expand her love of words, I plan to do a bit of cultivation. I am exposing her to books, poetry, music, theater…
Read: Read together every day with your child Rhyme: Rhyme, play and cuddle with your child every day. Routines: Develop Routines, particularly around meals, sleep, and family fun Reward: Reward your child with praise to help build self-esteem and promote positive behavior Relationships: Develop a strong and nurturing relationship with your child as the foundation for their healthy development At the moment, I am on maternity leave and I have taken this opportunity to spend as much quality time with my…