Learn how Google Maps can help your protest!

There were protesters outside of the hubsters' office again this week. If you remember from the last time it happened, he works at a bank, but his entire building is just for the credit card portion of the company. They do not foreclose on houses, don't have anything to do with health care let alone it's reform and they don't club baby seals. This does not stop protesters from congregating outside, brandishing signs and chanting. Or from slinking away sheepishly when they are told what company they are protesting in front of. Don't they hand out maps with the picket signs? Does more thought go into catchy slogans than in the choice of target?

Yay for freedom of speech though. Where else can it be so easy to protest that the policemen will give you directions to the correct location?

There were protesters outside of the hubsters' office again this week. If you remember from the last time it happened, he works at a bank, but his entire building is just for the credit card portion of the company. They do not foreclose on houses, don't have anything to do with health care let alone it's reform and they don't club baby seals. This does not stop protesters from congregating outside, brandishing signs and chanting. Or from slinking away sheepishly when they are told what company they are protesting in front of. Don't they hand out maps with the picket signs? Does more thought go into catchy slogans than in the choice of target?

Yay for freedom of speech though. Where else can it be so easy to protest that the policemen will give you directions to the correct location?

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Tot shabbat recap

B"H (Thank the L-rd Alm-ghty!!) I survived my first Tot Shabbat. We had no snacks, no handouts, and 10x the number of kids I was expecting thanks to a local bar mitzvah that brought people from all over the country into our little shul. The age range was much different than our usual group as well.

I have no idea how I will survive when my kids hit that "too cool" age where nothing is fun.

"This game is boring"

"I don't want to hear that book"

"This is for babies!"

I tried a bit of hubster's psychology on them and said that when you come to something expecting it to stink, you are rarely disappointed. How much better to come expecting fun! Who said you can't talk to children like adults? The change was slight as they creeped back into the activities and I integrated them into helper roles as a little balm on their mini-egos.

But after a few false starts we had a good time with games and stories. The singing didn't go over so well. I'm not very musical, I'm a BT who doesn't know too many Jewish songs in general, let alone kiddie ones, and I'm better accompanied by anything more than just the chirruping of crickets. And people thing the American Idol judges are harsh critics!

They may take the wind out of my sails, but they'll never take my dignity!

B"H (Thank the L-rd Alm-ghty!!) I survived my first Tot Shabbat. We had no snacks, no handouts, and 10x the number of kids I was expecting thanks to a local bar mitzvah that brought people from all over the country into our little shul. The age range was much different than our usual group as well.

I have no idea how I will survive when my kids hit that "too cool" age where nothing is fun.

"This game is boring"

"I don't want to hear that book"

"This is for babies!"

I tried a bit of hubster's psychology on them and said that when you come to something expecting it to stink, you are rarely disappointed. How much better to come expecting fun! Who said you can't talk to children like adults? The change was slight as they creeped back into the activities and I integrated them into helper roles as a little balm on their mini-egos.

But after a few false starts we had a good time with games and stories. The singing didn't go over so well. I'm not very musical, I'm a BT who doesn't know too many Jewish songs in general, let alone kiddie ones, and I'm better accompanied by anything more than just the chirruping of crickets. And people thing the American Idol judges are harsh critics!

They may take the wind out of my sails, but they'll never take my dignity!

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1-2-3-4 You're protesting at the wrong door!

The hubsters and his coworkers watched in puzzlement while the protesters chant, wave signs, and march in front of their offices. They are protesting bank foreclosures and asking the bank hubsters works at to cease and desist kicking people out of their homes. A powerful argument, except for one thing. This bank doesn't give mortgages.

"I think they are from that ACORN group"one informs hubsters, who as a foreigner has no idea what that means.

"Do you think they are at the wrong address?" one office mate asks.

"Maybe someone should go tell them." says another.

Someone finally goes down and hubsters and the rest watch from their perch above as there is a little gesturing, pointing, then finally a sheepish retreat by the protesters. An unfortunate case of #protestfail

The hubsters and his coworkers watched in puzzlement while the protesters chant, wave signs, and march in front of their offices. They are protesting bank foreclosures and asking the bank hubsters works at to cease and desist kicking people out of their homes. A powerful argument, except for one thing. This bank doesn't give mortgages.

"I think they are from that ACORN group"one informs hubsters, who as a foreigner has no idea what that means.

"Do you think they are at the wrong address?" one office mate asks.

"Maybe someone should go tell them." says another.

Someone finally goes down and hubsters and the rest watch from their perch above as there is a little gesturing, pointing, then finally a sheepish retreat by the protesters. An unfortunate case of #protestfail

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Tot Shabbat ideas?

So the hubsters and I are excited to be more involved in our new community. One of the first things is that I am the new Tot Shabbat teacher. I have never led, nor attended a Tot Shabbat, but since I was willing & able that made me qualified enough I guess! Here's what I envision: a little davening by song, talk about the parsha, some games (maybe or maybe not shabbos/parsha related), then some more shabbos songs. I have no idea what ages will be there beyond my two toddlers and a few of the rabbi's kids. Anyone have any ideas? Anything I'm forgetting? Words of wisdom? They'd be much appreciated!

So the hubsters and I are excited to be more involved in our new community. One of the first things is that I am the new Tot Shabbat teacher. I have never led, nor attended a Tot Shabbat, but since I was willing & able that made me qualified enough I guess! Here's what I envision: a little davening by song, talk about the parsha, some games (maybe or maybe not shabbos/parsha related), then some more shabbos songs. I have no idea what ages will be there beyond my two toddlers and a few of the rabbi's kids. Anyone have any ideas? Anything I'm forgetting? Words of wisdom? They'd be much appreciated!

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Droolworthy Doodads: The orange peeler

This is another gadget that I am oh so happy to posses: my orange peeler! I hate peeling oranges, the juice squirting everywhere, the orange/white crud that ends up all over my hands giving them a bitter taste, the sheer effort required to free the fruit from it's cute little packaging. This handy little device scores the peel into neat little rows which are then easily peel-offable. Yay! We have seriously increased our orange consumption since we got this bad boy. Scurvy, begone!

This is another gadget that I am oh so happy to posses: my orange peeler! I hate peeling oranges, the juice squirting everywhere, the orange/white crud that ends up all over my hands giving them a bitter taste, the sheer effort required to free the fruit from it's cute little packaging. This handy little device scores the peel into neat little rows which are then easily peel-offable. Yay! We have seriously increased our orange consumption since we got this bad boy. Scurvy, begone!

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What's mine is mine & what's yours is mine: Struggling with toddler sharing

I keep telling myself that sharing will get easier and better once Awa and RE are older, but things have gotten only worse and more complicated lately. Awa is usually the culprit. If RE has something she wants it, no matter what it is.

It used to be that RE would wait patiently during the hostage negotiations for his toy and if they were unsuccessful would happily accept a replacement if the toy had to disappear for world peace. A baby can only be pushed so far apparently.

Now it's all screeching and WWF wrestling. I've bought different toys so they can be individuals, didn't work. I've bought identical toys to keep the green eyed monster at bay, they are apparently still different at some molecular toddler level. I try empathy "wouldn't it make you sad if someone took away your toy?" "wouldn't it make RE soooo happy if you gave it back?", hardball (taking the offending object away), timeout, walking away and ignoring. I pick tactics based on situation, my mental state (frazzled or really frazzled), and toddler attention span which ranges from potted plant to goldfish.

One hang up I have is saying "Don't grab from your brother" as I grab the item back for her. Rather than teaching not taking, I feel it's just teaching that you must be the biggest to take. Same as yelling at them not to yell (I try to whisper), or spanking because they hit (hands are not made for hitting no matter what size).

The major downside besides all the yelling, crying, baby WWF, is that my sweet, gentle RE has started hitting and biting in retaliation. :( I'm praying that the good days stretch into good weeks and that I find the right balance of protecting my sweet boy from my aggressive girl while still allowing them to mediate themselves, not enforcing their weaker vs stronger roles creating a victim mentality, and other gobblygook they might need therapy for later. Hmm, when I hit the mall later I should keep an eye out for a black n white striped shirt.

I keep telling myself that sharing will get easier and better once Awa and RE are older, but things have gotten only worse and more complicated lately. Awa is usually the culprit. If RE has something she wants it, no matter what it is.

It used to be that RE would wait patiently during the hostage negotiations for his toy and if they were unsuccessful would happily accept a replacement if the toy had to disappear for world peace. A baby can only be pushed so far apparently.

Now it's all screeching and WWF wrestling. I've bought different toys so they can be individuals, didn't work. I've bought identical toys to keep the green eyed monster at bay, they are apparently still different at some molecular toddler level. I try empathy "wouldn't it make you sad if someone took away your toy?" "wouldn't it make RE soooo happy if you gave it back?", hardball (taking the offending object away), timeout, walking away and ignoring. I pick tactics based on situation, my mental state (frazzled or really frazzled), and toddler attention span which ranges from potted plant to goldfish.

One hang up I have is saying "Don't grab from your brother" as I grab the item back for her. Rather than teaching not taking, I feel it's just teaching that you must be the biggest to take. Same as yelling at them not to yell (I try to whisper), or spanking because they hit (hands are not made for hitting no matter what size).

The major downside besides all the yelling, crying, baby WWF, is that my sweet, gentle RE has started hitting and biting in retaliation. :( I'm praying that the good days stretch into good weeks and that I find the right balance of protecting my sweet boy from my aggressive girl while still allowing them to mediate themselves, not enforcing their weaker vs stronger roles creating a victim mentality, and other gobblygook they might need therapy for later. Hmm, when I hit the mall later I should keep an eye out for a black n white striped shirt.

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I love toddlers because:

• They will nod along while you are talking to them and when you ask they say they understood, but they really had no idea what you are talking about.
• You will talk while they look at you blankly or ignore you, but they heard every word and can repeat it back to you later!
• Full diapers make them walk like John Wayne.
• Getting the giggles is a common occurrence.
• You never know what the next thing to come out of their mouth will be. Belabela = peanut butter, asses = glasses, Blow bubbles = lovable, wheels on the bus go wound & wound
• They put so much energy into hugging and kissing they grunt with the effort.
• They never, ever get bored of pointing out airplanes, trucks, dogs, cars, leaves, anything they find interesting, even if it's the 100th one that day
• The same kid who is digging in the dirt will later come up to you, hands outstretched, horrified that they got dirty
• Wearing mommy's shoes & being able to walk around in them is a badge of pride
• "Wight, I'm a big giwl?" Wight!
• Choosing nursing over a cookie, or with a cookie, or in between bites of a cookie, or while covered in cookie crumbs.
• All it takes is a little song to get them in the mood to do something they didn't want to do a second ago.
• Mommy is still a superhero!

• They will nod along while you are talking to them and when you ask they say they understood, but they really had no idea what you are talking about.
• You will talk while they look at you blankly or ignore you, but they heard every word and can repeat it back to you later!
• Full diapers make them walk like John Wayne.
• Getting the giggles is a common occurrence.
• You never know what the next thing to come out of their mouth will be. Belabela = peanut butter, asses = glasses, Blow bubbles = lovable, wheels on the bus go wound & wound
• They put so much energy into hugging and kissing they grunt with the effort.
• They never, ever get bored of pointing out airplanes, trucks, dogs, cars, leaves, anything they find interesting, even if it's the 100th one that day
• The same kid who is digging in the dirt will later come up to you, hands outstretched, horrified that they got dirty
• Wearing mommy's shoes & being able to walk around in them is a badge of pride
• "Wight, I'm a big giwl?" Wight!
• Choosing nursing over a cookie, or with a cookie, or in between bites of a cookie, or while covered in cookie crumbs.
• All it takes is a little song to get them in the mood to do something they didn't want to do a second ago.
• Mommy is still a superhero!

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