lizrael update » summer

The Israeli summer daycare problem.

elie — Mon, 28 Jun 2010 17:29:03 +0000

I’m getting desperate. I don’t like me when I’m desperate.

Here’s the deal: I have a wonderful metapelet. There are always pros and cons, things you wouldn’t do yourself, things you wish you didn’t know. But overall, she’s great and my son adores her (and she adores him).

Which is why it’s been easy to overlook the fact that she ends her year at Tisha B’Av, or (this year) July 20th. I’m hearing this is very early; others go until the second week of August. Until now, I assumed that all daycares did that.

I’m realizing now that I’m quite screwed; instead of three weeks of no daycare for my kid, I’m looking at six.

Seriously, I don’t comprehend the August hiatus. Everyone needs a vacation, yes, but why wouldn’t some metapalet out there want to take advantage of the all the non-teacher working moms out there who are desperate for daycare in the summer? I’ll pay more. I’ll pay double. I have no choice.

I can’t take off for six weeks. I can’t take off for three either. Working from home five days a week is not an option. I have no available family here. My husband works.

Please weigh in: What’s a working Israeli mother to do?

Good old fashioned Friday fun.

elie — Fri, 13 Jun 2008 15:16:44 +0000

There are 87658345 reasons why it’s awesome to have a car, and today exemplified reason #5374, which is, freedom.

Today we ventured to neighboring Gush Etzion, where Rosh Tzurim (next to Alon Shvut) was hosting the annual cherry picking festival – פסטיבל דובדבנים 2008 בגוש עציון. We were going mainly for that reason, but the festival was also a carnival where vendors sold their wares (wines, olive oils, cheeses, clothes, etc), kids watched shows and played on rides.

You just have to love summer in Israel. The summer schedule is packed with family-centric activities, but those are my favorite kind, kids or no kids.

You also just have to love cherries. They’re pretty, delicious and so much fun when squished under your shoes. I hope they are good for you too, since they are the only thing I’ve eaten today.

Recipe: Homemade lazy lemonana.

elie — Fri, 20 Jul 2007 11:39:03 +0000

Heat’s on the rise, and it can mean a few things, but one in particular that I’m excited about: my homemade lazy lemonana. How to, you ask? It’s very simple. If it wasn’t, I wouldn’t do it (read the recipe title again).

1. Grow nana (mint) plants in your windowsill. Since this is the lazy lemonana, your husband has already done that for you.

2. Acquire lemonade flavored Crystal Light. Since this is the lazy lemonana, your mother sends you dozens of packets whenever she can.

3. Pour some Crystal Light into a pitcher.

4. Pour some cold water into the same pitcher.

5. Break off a bit of nana, wash it and bend the stem at different points.

6. Put the nana into the pitcher.

7. Mix.

8. Drink.

9. Go back to being lazy.