Thursday, May 24, 2012
Shavuot Food
Shavuot is coming and I have the vague feeling I should make something dairy, like a cheesecake or my mom's blintz casserole or a batch of homemade ice cream. What should I make? What are you making?
Sunday, May 20, 2012
Screen-Free Week: The Aftermath
A couple of weeks ago, my family turned off the TV, logged off Facebook and dedicated seven days to doing more things together as a family. When it was over, we couldn't wait to go back to our old habits. But then something interesting happened--we realized we hadn't missed our screens as much as we thought.
Now, instead of heading to the television after breakfast, most mornings my four-year-old plays with his toys or creates something at his art table. I've stopped worrying that I missed someone's Facebook status update. (If it's that important, I'll find out anyway.) And Eric and I quit taping some television shows that we stopped caring about so that we don't have to feel like slaves to our ever-filling DVR anymore. All-in-all, I think Screen-Free Week was good for us.
Did your family go screen-free? Leave a comment and tell us what happened!
Friday, May 11, 2012
Red Velvet Cupcakes
Now he's making cupcakes out of Play-Doh.
 |
| My young chef! |
Monday, May 7, 2012
Our Screen-Free Week
When I told my friends we were going a week without television, most of them had the same reaction: “Why on Earth would you do that?”
“Wow, Noah must have done something really bad,” said one dad. “It’s more like you’re punishing the adults,” said a mom. “No, no,” I explained, “It’s a way for us to spend more time paying attention to each other. We’re having fun.”
“Even after the kids go to sleep? Aren’t your bored? You can’t even go on Facebook?” they asked. “I think I’d just go to bed early,” said the dad.
For all those who want to know why it was worth it to turn off the screens, here’s an idea of how our week went. (And, in case you’re wondering, my husband, Eric, still used his computer at work and I still had to use mine for email and to work from home, which included reading a lot of articles and occasionally corresponding via Facebook.)
Day 1:
Immediately after breakfast, my four-year-old asks for the Backyardigans.
Me: “It’s screen-free week, remember? No TV. Why don’t you draw a picture?”
Noah: “Oh. Okay. How about after school?”
Me: “Not until next week.”
Noah: “How about tomorrow, then?”
Me: “It’s Monday. You can watch TV again next Monday, in seven days.”
Noah: “Aaauuugghhhh!”
Thanks to some beautiful weather, we spend the afternoon outside with friends. That evening, Eric, insists that the iPad doesn’t count if he uses it to read. I sit back and enjoy a Jennifer Cruisie/Bob Mayer novel that’s been sitting on my nightstand gathering dust for months.
Day 2:
“I want Elmo!” that morning is followed by, “Hey, look, I made a train” with his Bristle Blocks the afternoon. I think to myself, “Either he’s enjoying himself or he’s given up.”
While waiting at the doctor’s to get the cast off his arm that morning (yea!), he tries to crane his head around to watch Bubble Guppies while we wait, but I head him off with one of his favorite books—a kids’ encyclopedia.
Day 3:
Instead of asking for TV, Noah heads straight for the art table after breakfast. Score! Instead of staring at the screen he makes a card to send to his grandmother in Florida.
My friend’s husband is out of town on business, so she meets us with her two kids at the local nature center for a few hours during the rainy afternoon, then they come to our house for pizza.
Eric is out late at Kung Fu, so I read some more of my novel, which is really getting good.
Day 4:
I start to miss Facebook. Logging on quickly to respond to a message (it’s work-related!), I see out of the corner of my eye that a friend might have broken … something. On her body. What? What did she break? What else is happening that I don’t know about? Ugh.
Even though I’m not supposed to know about her broken whatever, I decide to call or text her and see how she’s doing and if she needs any help. Just as soon as the kids let me.
We go to another friend’s for a play date, which helps me make up for my lack of “socializing” online. The kids color and play inside a giant cardboard box, dance and sculpt things out of Play Dough. That night, Eric and I cook together for the Cinco de Mayo party his office is having the next day.
Day 5:
I find a few minutes to relax before it’s time to pick up Evelyn and Noah from daycare and preschool. With no Facebook to turn to, I decide to polish my silver jewelry—a task that has sat on my to-do list for months, taunting me. Ooh, I forgot how pretty this one was!
I take the kids grocery shopping and Noah helps pick out flowers to decorate the house for Shabbat.
Eric and I spend the evening in the kitchen, munching on appetizers and playing Trivial Pursuit without the Wii. Just like old times.
Day 6:
Noah tells me of his plans to watch Backyardigans, Handy Manny and Bob the Builder on Monday. I think he must really miss TV, because he can’t stand Bob the Builder. Ten minutes later he’s asking me to glue together a book he made out of construction paper. He even invented a story to go with the pictures he drew!
We all pile in the car to go for frozen yogurt, where Bob the Builder is playing on a screen I never noticed there before. The sound is off, but Noah sits entranced. Oh, well.
That night, Eric and I attempt to play Scrabble. I forgot how terrible I am at this game. I manage, rather easily, to convince him we should be doing something else. (I’ll leave out the details—this is a family blog! But it beats catching up on episodes of Eureka.)
Day 7:
Noah: “Tomorrow we can watch TV, right?”
Me: “Tomorrow.”
He sings the entire Backyardigans theme song.
I’m writing a story for The Alternative Press on Westfield’s big street fair that day. Without TV to entice him to go home with Dad when his little sister needs a nap, I decide to make Noah my junior reporter. He does pretty well.
I read some more that night and realize that I don’t really mind waiting a little longer to see Game of Thrones.
Today:
Noah asks if he can watch TV now, because it’s Monday! The two-year-old points to the TV and hops up and down. Then she grabs the remote and brings it to me. I didn’t even know Evelyn noticed the television. She certainly doesn’t watch it for more than a minute at a time.
I feel a little relieved that Screen-Free week is over, but a little empowered, as well. Now I know that we can survive and even enjoy more time together without the television, and I’ve been less stressed because I haven’t been trying to keep up with what’s on or who’s saying what on Facebook.
Speaking of Facebook … I can’t wait any longer. Gonna go log on!
“Wow, Noah must have done something really bad,” said one dad. “It’s more like you’re punishing the adults,” said a mom. “No, no,” I explained, “It’s a way for us to spend more time paying attention to each other. We’re having fun.”
“Even after the kids go to sleep? Aren’t your bored? You can’t even go on Facebook?” they asked. “I think I’d just go to bed early,” said the dad.
For all those who want to know why it was worth it to turn off the screens, here’s an idea of how our week went. (And, in case you’re wondering, my husband, Eric, still used his computer at work and I still had to use mine for email and to work from home, which included reading a lot of articles and occasionally corresponding via Facebook.)
Day 1:
Immediately after breakfast, my four-year-old asks for the Backyardigans.
Me: “It’s screen-free week, remember? No TV. Why don’t you draw a picture?”
Noah: “Oh. Okay. How about after school?”
Me: “Not until next week.”
Noah: “How about tomorrow, then?”
Me: “It’s Monday. You can watch TV again next Monday, in seven days.”
Noah: “Aaauuugghhhh!”
Thanks to some beautiful weather, we spend the afternoon outside with friends. That evening, Eric, insists that the iPad doesn’t count if he uses it to read. I sit back and enjoy a Jennifer Cruisie/Bob Mayer novel that’s been sitting on my nightstand gathering dust for months.
Day 2:
“I want Elmo!” that morning is followed by, “Hey, look, I made a train” with his Bristle Blocks the afternoon. I think to myself, “Either he’s enjoying himself or he’s given up.”
While waiting at the doctor’s to get the cast off his arm that morning (yea!), he tries to crane his head around to watch Bubble Guppies while we wait, but I head him off with one of his favorite books—a kids’ encyclopedia.
Day 3:
Instead of asking for TV, Noah heads straight for the art table after breakfast. Score! Instead of staring at the screen he makes a card to send to his grandmother in Florida.
My friend’s husband is out of town on business, so she meets us with her two kids at the local nature center for a few hours during the rainy afternoon, then they come to our house for pizza.
Eric is out late at Kung Fu, so I read some more of my novel, which is really getting good.
Day 4:
I start to miss Facebook. Logging on quickly to respond to a message (it’s work-related!), I see out of the corner of my eye that a friend might have broken … something. On her body. What? What did she break? What else is happening that I don’t know about? Ugh.
Even though I’m not supposed to know about her broken whatever, I decide to call or text her and see how she’s doing and if she needs any help. Just as soon as the kids let me.
We go to another friend’s for a play date, which helps me make up for my lack of “socializing” online. The kids color and play inside a giant cardboard box, dance and sculpt things out of Play Dough. That night, Eric and I cook together for the Cinco de Mayo party his office is having the next day.
Day 5:
I find a few minutes to relax before it’s time to pick up Evelyn and Noah from daycare and preschool. With no Facebook to turn to, I decide to polish my silver jewelry—a task that has sat on my to-do list for months, taunting me. Ooh, I forgot how pretty this one was!
I take the kids grocery shopping and Noah helps pick out flowers to decorate the house for Shabbat.
Eric and I spend the evening in the kitchen, munching on appetizers and playing Trivial Pursuit without the Wii. Just like old times.
Day 6:
Noah tells me of his plans to watch Backyardigans, Handy Manny and Bob the Builder on Monday. I think he must really miss TV, because he can’t stand Bob the Builder. Ten minutes later he’s asking me to glue together a book he made out of construction paper. He even invented a story to go with the pictures he drew!
We all pile in the car to go for frozen yogurt, where Bob the Builder is playing on a screen I never noticed there before. The sound is off, but Noah sits entranced. Oh, well.
That night, Eric and I attempt to play Scrabble. I forgot how terrible I am at this game. I manage, rather easily, to convince him we should be doing something else. (I’ll leave out the details—this is a family blog! But it beats catching up on episodes of Eureka.)
Day 7:
Noah: “Tomorrow we can watch TV, right?”
Me: “Tomorrow.”
He sings the entire Backyardigans theme song.
I’m writing a story for The Alternative Press on Westfield’s big street fair that day. Without TV to entice him to go home with Dad when his little sister needs a nap, I decide to make Noah my junior reporter. He does pretty well.
I read some more that night and realize that I don’t really mind waiting a little longer to see Game of Thrones.
Today:
Noah asks if he can watch TV now, because it’s Monday! The two-year-old points to the TV and hops up and down. Then she grabs the remote and brings it to me. I didn’t even know Evelyn noticed the television. She certainly doesn’t watch it for more than a minute at a time.
I feel a little relieved that Screen-Free week is over, but a little empowered, as well. Now I know that we can survive and even enjoy more time together without the television, and I’ve been less stressed because I haven’t been trying to keep up with what’s on or who’s saying what on Facebook.
Speaking of Facebook … I can’t wait any longer. Gonna go log on!
Sunday, April 29, 2012
7 Jewish Ways to Celebrate Screen-Free Week
Starting tomorrow, my family is going to take part in Screen-Free Week, a yearly celebration presented by the Campaign for a Commercial-Free Childhood that encourages children, families, schools and communities to turn off the screens and “turn on life.” For the kids, that will mean no screens at all, and for the adults it will mean no screens for entertainment. We'll actually have to talk to each other!
The concept seems to fit in well with living Jewishly, so I gave my friend Rabbi Leah Doberne-Schor a call to see what she thought. Of course, she loves the idea.
“With our eyes away from the screen, we have an opportunity to shift our focus and perspective,” she said. “This is a chance to not only to find ways to occupy ourselves and our kids without screen time but, and perhaps more importantly, make that time meaningful.”
Keeping the kids (and, let’s face it, the grownups) amused without technology sounded pretty daunting, but I discovered that the CCFC's website has plenty of great ideas on how to enjoy our screen-free time together (as well as how to keep a toddler amused and out of trouble while you take a shower.)
In addition, Leah and I thought up an idea for each day of the week based on traditional middot (Jewish virtues) and mitzvot (good deeds, commandments) that focus on connecting with one another and with the world around us—ideas that help us pay attention to what's right in front of us and what matters most. I can’t wait to get started!
1. Bikkur cholim, visiting the sick. With the TV off, it’s the perfect time for families to make cards together or even cook a meal or some treats to bring someone who is ill, in the hospital or who has just had a baby. Don't know anyone like that? Find out if your local nursing home would like visitors, or if the local hospital could use donations of books, kids’ artwork or some homemade cards.
2. Feeding the hungry. Find out if a local food pantry could use your help organizing or getting donations. If your kids are little, getting a shopping list from a pantry and then shopping together for those items is a great way to teach kids about tzedakah.
3. Enjoying nature. The beauty that God created is all around us. In the story of creation, God repeatedly calls things in nature “good” for a reason! To get started, take a walk in the park, look for shapes in the clouds or pick up a field guide at the library and look around to discover what kinds of plants and animals live in your area.
4. Living with simcha, joy! Look for and find moments of joy by appreciating the simple things— a dish of ice cream, a game of cards or a shared story. Create simcha by putting on some music to dance, painting a picture or blowing bubbles. The idea is to show gratitude for the blessings we enjoy by living with joy.
5. Hachnasat orchim, welcoming guests. It’s a mitzvah to be hospitable, especially to someone who is new to town. Look around—is there a new kid at school, or a new family at your synagogue? Invite them for dinner or ask if they’d like to meet for a play date. You’ll not only do them a favor by making them feel welcome—you could end up with some great new friends.
6. Getting ready for Shabbat. Getting ready for the Sabbath is a mitzvah in itself. There are lots of ways kids can get involved. For example, you can teach them to make challah, set the table together, make paper flowers to decorate the house and even dress up in nice clothes to make Shabbat dinner extra-special.
7. Resting on, and enjoying, the Sabbath. It’s the original screen-free day, and one that many non-Orthodox Jews are reclaiming to put down their iPhones, log off Facebook and step away from the TV. It’s a great time to go to synagogue (yours or any, for that matter) and meet other Jews in your community. Then take this day specifically to relax and do something enjoyable as a family.
The concept seems to fit in well with living Jewishly, so I gave my friend Rabbi Leah Doberne-Schor a call to see what she thought. Of course, she loves the idea.
“With our eyes away from the screen, we have an opportunity to shift our focus and perspective,” she said. “This is a chance to not only to find ways to occupy ourselves and our kids without screen time but, and perhaps more importantly, make that time meaningful.”
Keeping the kids (and, let’s face it, the grownups) amused without technology sounded pretty daunting, but I discovered that the CCFC's website has plenty of great ideas on how to enjoy our screen-free time together (as well as how to keep a toddler amused and out of trouble while you take a shower.)
In addition, Leah and I thought up an idea for each day of the week based on traditional middot (Jewish virtues) and mitzvot (good deeds, commandments) that focus on connecting with one another and with the world around us—ideas that help us pay attention to what's right in front of us and what matters most. I can’t wait to get started!
1. Bikkur cholim, visiting the sick. With the TV off, it’s the perfect time for families to make cards together or even cook a meal or some treats to bring someone who is ill, in the hospital or who has just had a baby. Don't know anyone like that? Find out if your local nursing home would like visitors, or if the local hospital could use donations of books, kids’ artwork or some homemade cards.
2. Feeding the hungry. Find out if a local food pantry could use your help organizing or getting donations. If your kids are little, getting a shopping list from a pantry and then shopping together for those items is a great way to teach kids about tzedakah.
3. Enjoying nature. The beauty that God created is all around us. In the story of creation, God repeatedly calls things in nature “good” for a reason! To get started, take a walk in the park, look for shapes in the clouds or pick up a field guide at the library and look around to discover what kinds of plants and animals live in your area.
4. Living with simcha, joy! Look for and find moments of joy by appreciating the simple things— a dish of ice cream, a game of cards or a shared story. Create simcha by putting on some music to dance, painting a picture or blowing bubbles. The idea is to show gratitude for the blessings we enjoy by living with joy.
5. Hachnasat orchim, welcoming guests. It’s a mitzvah to be hospitable, especially to someone who is new to town. Look around—is there a new kid at school, or a new family at your synagogue? Invite them for dinner or ask if they’d like to meet for a play date. You’ll not only do them a favor by making them feel welcome—you could end up with some great new friends.
6. Getting ready for Shabbat. Getting ready for the Sabbath is a mitzvah in itself. There are lots of ways kids can get involved. For example, you can teach them to make challah, set the table together, make paper flowers to decorate the house and even dress up in nice clothes to make Shabbat dinner extra-special.
7. Resting on, and enjoying, the Sabbath. It’s the original screen-free day, and one that many non-Orthodox Jews are reclaiming to put down their iPhones, log off Facebook and step away from the TV. It’s a great time to go to synagogue (yours or any, for that matter) and meet other Jews in your community. Then take this day specifically to relax and do something enjoyable as a family.
Friday, April 27, 2012
Screen-Free Week is April 30 to May 6!
Does plopping my son on the couch while I check my email, clean the house or bathe his little sister make me a horrible parent? I sure hope not. But, as with any choice we make, there is “opportunity cost.” What are we missing out on when he’s tuned in to the TV and not to the world and the people around him?
To find out, next week we're going to take part in Screen-Free Week, a yearly celebration presented by the Campaign for a Commercial-Free Childhood that encourages children, families, schools and communities to turn off the screens and “turn on life.”
Come back on Sunday, when my friend (a rabbi and a wonderful mommy) Leah Doberne-Schor and I will share some of our own ideas for Jewish ways to celebrate a week without screens.
Thursday, April 26, 2012
Happy Birthday, Israel!
I was 16 the first time I visited Israel, about to turn 17. It was a NFTY (North American Federation of Temple Youth) trip, and there were about 40 teenagers in our group. The first night there, in Jerusalem, was also the first time some of us tried hummus. "What is that stuff? I'm not eating that," I heard someone say, but I ripped off a piece of pita dived right in. Funny to think of how much hummus we've all eaten since then.
What's your favorite Israel memory?
What's your favorite Israel memory?
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