Divorce Archives

Divorce is a word that automatically sends a chill down your spine — at least, if you're married. And yet, given that it's extremely common (about 40 to 50 percent of U.S. married couples divorce),… it's clearly a reality and a fact of life. And, apparently, divorce is also contagious. According to a recent study, which used research from across three U.S. universities, couples are 75 percent (!) more likely to get divorced if they have a close friend who also gets divorced. Yes, that's a really big number. Then again,… >> Read More

valentine's day

I’m a Single Mom and I’m Winning At Valentine’s Day

Roseanne Benjamin

Yes, it's a Hallmark holiday. And no, it's not a Jewish holiday. But, growing up, Valentine’s Day was a major event. My mother has always loved Valentine’s Day. The year I was in kindergarten,… she invited all her friends and my entire class over for a Valentine’s Day party. In preparation, we had cut out hundreds of paper hearts and taped them to the walls. She baked heart-shaped cakes with cream cheese frosting and bought bags of conversation hearts. She even roped my dad into making a pin-the-arrow-on-the-heart game.… >> Read More

mental health

Depression and a Love of Food: Traits My Jewish Mother Gave Me

Julie Charnet

“Call me tomorrow sweetheart,” my mother said, groggily. “I just can’t today.” I hung up disappointed. She was supposed to help me choose a new chicken recipe for a party at work. But I… knew her illness well. When I was eight, I first experienced how debilitating my mother’s problem was. “Come on mom, please get up!” I’d pleaded. It was my first lead in a dance recital, and my strict teacher held parents accountable for their child’s attendance. “Anyone who misses rehearsal is out," he warned. I shook… >> Read More

Holidays

Our Holiday Cards Look a Whole Lot Different This Year

Sarah Kay Steele

This was the second year in a row having family photos taken for holiday cards as a single mother. I’m not going to lie, I’ve always been “that mom” who wants beautiful family portraits of… love and laughter, with perfectly paired outfits and everyone’s hair just right. “That mom” who wants the photographer to capture exactly how I picture our family to be. “That mom” who even wants the card recipients to envy me and my sweet family. (But only a little bit.) The thing is, taking those family pictures… >> Read More

shabbat

After My Divorce, Shabbat Dinner Looks a Whole Lot Different

Lisa Greene

Oat cereal in loop shape in white bowl with spoon next to it

Set the table for dinner. That’s all I asked. It was a Friday morning and there was no school. I came home and found out that my three wise offspring had convinced our nanny that they didn’t need… to set the table for Shabbat. Why? Because, after all, we were just going to come home from synagogue and eat cereal and bananas or challah and butter. I immediately went into my internal Chicken Little “the sky is falling” routine. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NO04VXBIS0M I had grown up with this valued tradition of Friday night dinner… >> Read More

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