Browse by Tags

Holiday Concerts and the Anatomy of Melancholy

Every year, I try to find a way to embrace the ephemeral, cherry-blossom nature of December, and the way it wallops you over the head with the passage of time. Read More...

Published Thu, Dec 12 2014 12:04 PM by Motherlode

Filed under: parenting, Christmas, Hanukkah, Emotions, Highlights

Pausing for Hanukkah While Everything Else Keeps Going

Celebrating Hanukkah and Christmas has made me aware of how much easier the outside world makes it to protect one tradition over the other. Read More...

Published Tue, Dec 12 2014 2:05 PM by Motherlode

Filed under: parenting, Christmas, Hanukkah, Highlights

Quandary: Helping Younger Children Love to Give as Well as Get

Younger children can be more focused on the possibility of having all their Hanukkah or Christmas wishes granted than on choosing or making with others in mind. Read More...

Published Mon, Dec 12 2014 10:49 AM by Motherlode

Filed under: parenting, advice, Christmas, Hanukkah, gifts, Highlights

Children Need To Take Risks, and Parents Need to Let Them

The arguments for and against letting a child light the menorah—or peel potatoes, or, someday, take the train into the city on a Friday night. What is "ready," anyway? Read More...

Published Fri, Dec 12 2013 11:11 AM by Motherlode

Filed under: parenting, Hanukkah, Children and Childhood, Highlights

My Religion. My Mother-in Law. Our ‘Thanksgivukkah’

My husband converted to Judaism to marry me, and the rift between me and my mother-in-law lasted until the birth of my son. Now, with "Thanksgivukkuh," we're coming even closer together. Read More...

Published Wed, Nov 11 2013 8:47 AM by Motherlode

Filed under: parenting, Grandparents, Hanukkah, _featured, Marriages, Thanksgiving Day, Jews and Judaism, Highlights

The Holidays: A Bit More Giving, a Bit Less Getting

There are many ways to teach children to be generous without denying them the usual pile of gifts. Read More...

Published Thu, Nov 11 2013 6:34 AM by Motherlode

Filed under: parenting, Christmas, Hanukkah, gifts, Children and Childhood, Philanthropy, The Opposite of Spoiled, Nonprofit Organizations

Can You Have Holidays Without God?

Can you embrace the traditions without the faith, or do holidays need some religious significance to mean anything at all? Read More...

Published Fri, Dec 12 2012 6:33 AM by Motherlode

Filed under: Uncategorized, parenting, Christmas, Hanukkah, Feiler, Bruce

All He Wants for Hanukkah Are In-App Purchases

Is there any down-side to in-app game purchases that let kids short cut the "hard work" of the game? Read More...

Published Sun, Dec 12 2012 5:30 AM by Motherlode

Filed under: Uncategorized, parenting, Hanukkah, Holidays, Computer and Video Games, Holidays and Special Occasions, iTunes

How to Be a Jew at Christmas

When strangers ask "What do you want Santa to bring you?" the Jewish child has to find an answer. Read More...

Published Fri, Dec 12 2012 12:33 PM by Motherlode

Filed under: Uncategorized, parenting, Christmas, Hanukkah, Santa Claus, gifts, Jews and Judaism

Gifting, or Not, on Hanukkah's Eight Nights

Pajama Night, Give Your Sister a Present Night, and other Hanukkah gift-giving traditions. Read More...

Published Fri, Dec 12 2012 10:25 AM by Motherlode

Filed under: Uncategorized, parenting, Hanukkah, gifts, Families and Family Life, Holidays and Special Occasions

Tough Choices This Hanukkah (Holiday) Season

Hanukkah is what keeps many Jews from feeling alienated in this dazzling red and green season. But how do we keep it from becoming just a Jewish Christmas? Read More...

Published Mon, Dec 12 2011 1:18 PM by Motherlode

Filed under: Uncategorized, guest post, Hanukkah, judy bolton-fasman, holiday

Mixing Hanukkah and Christmas

My husband was raised Jewish; my parents weren't religious, but the religion we didn't practice was unquestionably Christian. Read More...

Published Tue, Dec 12 2011 12:08 PM by Motherlode

Filed under: Uncategorized, Christmas, Hanukkah, Religion, gifts, holiday

Kids Giving Gifts

What age is the right age for children to start giving presents? Read More...

Published Mon, Nov 11 2010 1:00 PM by Motherlode

Filed under: Uncategorized, Christmas, Hanukkah, gifts

Time-Shifting the Holidays

Changing the dates, just a smidge, to make the celebrating simpler. Read More...

Published Thu, Nov 11 2010 2:52 PM by Motherlode

Filed under: Uncategorized, Thanksgiving, Hanukkah, Bruce Feiler, time shifting

Forming Your Own Holiday Traditions

In a guest post, Johanna Stein writes about growing up with a complicated relationship with the holidays and with gifts. Read More...

Published Fri, Dec 12 2009 12:24 PM by Motherlode

Filed under: Uncategorized, guest blog, Christmas, Hanukkah, Holidays

Syndication

Recent Posts

Tags

Archives