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My Son, The Artist

My Son, The Artist

by Susie Feder

Expectations for a child with Down Syndrome.

In the Blink of an Eye

In the Blink of an Eye

by

My little daughter is growing up way too fast.

From the Heart of a Child

From the Heart of a Child

by

How my 5-year-old daughter taught me the true meaning of giving.

Coming Home

Coming Home

by

Coming home after a long day is fraught with expectations and surprises. Some tips for damage control.

Miracle at Dodger Stadium

Miracle at Dodger Stadium

by

Effort and prayer combine to beat impossible odds.

Flying Solo

Flying Solo

by

My middle son has a couple of hard acts to follow. He's doing it his own special way.

The Good Parent

The Good Parent

by

If we want to raise ethical children, we have no choice but to work on developing our character.

The Teenager Challenge

The Teenager Challenge

by

It's easy to push off the task of working on our character. But just wait till you have teenagers.

Marching to a Quicker Drummer

Marching to a Quicker Drummer

by

A brief report on ADHD in Jerusalem.

Bill Bennett's Vice

Bill Bennett's Vice

by

Accusations of hypocrisy leveled at the author of "The Book of Virtues" teach us an important lesson about how we instill values in our children.

Tell Your Children

Tell Your Children

by

Explaining the war -- and Passover -- to a six-year-old.

(Lack of) Parenting Expertise

(Lack of) Parenting Expertise

by

The longer I parent, the less I feel I know. But here are a few basic principles that I try to live by.

The Love Mirror

The Love Mirror

by

What do your kids see when they look in your eyes?

Take Back the Night

Take Back the Night

by

A user-friendly guide to parent-teacher conferences.

Sparing the Rod

Sparing the Rod

by

Most of us hit our children when we are angry or frustrated. We are not educating. We are venting.

Love Is Not Enough

Love Is Not Enough

by Rachel Schmidt, R.C.S.W.

Demonstrating love doesn't always come naturally. Parents need to know how to cuddle, kiss and hug their children.

Mothers and Daughters

Mothers and Daughters

by

The delicate and sometimes painful balancing act.

Letting Go

Letting Go

by

The sudden death of a young mother lends a stirring depth to her poetry.

Guess Who's Coming to Dinner?

Guess Who's Coming to Dinner?

by

Eating together as a family, even just once a week, yields tremendous benefits.

Stopping Lashon Hara

Stopping Lashon Hara

by

A primer on how to raise our children to look at the positive and speak well about others.

Tears of Pain and Joy

Tears of Pain and Joy

by

When our daughter was born, the feelings of joy were suddenly interrupted with the doctor's statement that she had Down's syndrome and possibly a severe congenital heart defect.

Green is a Jewish Color

Green is a Jewish Color

by

In the quieter moments, the questions the children ask and the statements they make are well worth hearing.

The Graduates

The Graduates

by

A different kind of school. A different kind of graduation.

The At-Risk Teen

The At-Risk Teen

by

Some frequently asked questions in parenting pre-teens and teenagers, especially those at-risk.

Early Hopes

Early Hopes

by

Being a parent of a preemie entails many challenges. The first one is hope.

Real Jewish Mothers

Real Jewish Mothers

by

Mother's Day is not a Jewish holiday; it's a brilliantly contrived marketing tool. But try telling that to my mother.

Throw Away the Xerox Machine

Throw Away the Xerox Machine

by

Face it: Your child is not perfect. So try to appreciate their challenges and enjoy their strengths.

Teaching Children Responsibility

Teaching Children Responsibility

by

Bailing your child out of a difficult situation may not be doing him a favor at all.

The Committed Life

The Committed Life

by

My first Sabbath taught me an important lesson about training the palate to enjoy the sweet flavor of success.

Life is for Love

Life is for Love

by

Raising emotionally healthy children requires plenty of attention and affection. Easier said than done.

Spice of Life

Spice of Life

by

Children are as varied as we are. Appreciating their uniqueness will add immeasurably to your pleasure -- and sanity.

Threats, Bribes, and Punishments

Threats, Bribes, and Punishments

by

In trying to instill discipline, positive encouragement will get you a lot farther.

Two Parents, One Voice

Two Parents, One Voice

by

Presenting a united front and speaking to our children with one voice is essential for effective parenting.

Parenting Teenagers: The Agony and the Ecstasy

Parenting Teenagers: The Agony and the Ecstasy

by

Mature, childish. Detached, clingy. Selfish, caring. Respect us, scorn us. Stop the insanity! Some practical tips on raising teenagers.

Talking to Our Children About the Tragedies

Talking to Our Children About the Tragedies

by

Our children are looking to us for calm and compassion, faith and hope.

Taking Charge: How To Discipline with Love

Taking Charge: How To Discipline with Love

by

Too much permissiveness is a sure-fire way to raise spoiled, unruly children. But how to enforce the rules and still communicate unending love?

Jealousy_

Jealousy_

by

Combating jealousy begins with the realization that God gives everyone just what exactly what he needs.

Cultivating Kindness

Cultivating Kindness

by

Tools for inspiring our kids to stretch beyond their comfort zones and become givers.

Respecting Your Child's Emotional Reality

Respecting Your Child's Emotional Reality

by

How to take your children's emotional reality seriously.

The Dangers of Criticism

The Dangers of Criticism

by

There is a big difference between lashing out with insensitive criticism and admonishing with respect and love.

Just a Slight Adjustment of Focus

Just a Slight Adjustment of Focus

by

Raising happy children sometimes depends only on a kind word and a moment's extra attention.

Mirroring Parents

Mirroring Parents

by

What lessons are your kids picking up by watching your day-to-day behavior?

Respecting your Child's Uniqueness

Respecting your Child's Uniqueness

by

Appreciating your children's uniqueness is essential to their overall self-esteem.

Who's Minding the Kids?

Who's Minding the Kids?

by

Our child's self concept is being built every day. Who's the primary person doing the imprinting?

A Self Fulfilling Prophecy - Part 2 - Building Positive Self Esteem In Children

A Self Fulfilling Prophecy - Part 2 - Building Positive Self Esteem In Children

by

Parents are like a mirror, reflecting back their children's self-image. What your children see is what you'll get.

Building Your Child's Positive Self-Image: Part 1

Building Your Child's Positive Self-Image: Part 1

by

A down-to-earth Jewish primer on raising kids with healthy self-esteem.

Helping Children Cope With Difficulties

Helping Children Cope With Difficulties

by

Failing a test, being unpopular, coping with divorce and worse. Children face many difficulties. What can we do to strengthen our children for life's challenges?

Family Holiday Guides

Family Holiday Guides

by

Let Shrilly the Shofar take you and your family on a guided tour of the High Holidays, uncovering the deeper meanings of the most awesome days in the Jewish year!

Married (A Second Time) With Children

Married (A Second Time) With Children

by

Forget the Brady Bunch. Here are six tools for coping with some of the unique challenges step-families present.

Understanding Your Child

Understanding Your Child

by

Good parents, help their children develop a roadmap to their own unique personalities. To do that, you've got to really know your child.