Lizrael Update: babbling about the expat life since 2004
-

Oh, just another childbirth.
Here’s what I felt more than anything after the birth of my fourth nearly two months ago: so, so grateful. I’ve felt very lucky to have had mostly positive experiences in pregnancy and childbirth, even if at times there has also been frustration, stress, and fear. My heart goes out to women and their partners…
-
Welcome to the weird, Zooey.
Hi Zooey. Just taking this quick opportunity to explain to you why Zooey? Nothing significant, nothing overwhelmingly meaningful (or underwhelmingly meaningful). When your mama comes up with a blog nickname, it’s not going to necessary mean anything at all. In your case, it was as simple as this: I was watching this old SNL skit…
-

The Giving Tree.
“She’s like the Giving Tree!” That’s what Koala said when I learned that my grandmother was at the end of her life, after I explained that his great grandmother was so tired. “She is like the Giving Tree! She lived a long time and she’s like at the end when the tree is old and wrinkly and…
-

For only ₪10.90: Sexism + newborn onesies!
What do you get when you combine a ₪10.90 clothing bin with a reliable dose of modern society? Classic sexism, in newborn flavor! Here are just a few of the options I noticed at a clothing shop yesterday: 1. Money money money. And Daddy. Nothing is more classic and sexist and just plain gross than “Daddy,…
-

New parenting level unlocked: Israeli school children on Yom HaZicaron
Here’s the scene. A mother is playing out her son’s childhood through a laundry metaphor. First the onesie. Then the tzitzit. School uniform shirt. Pants. Teenager jeans. Button down shirt. Army tzitzit. When she gets to the army uniform, there’s a ‘knock at the door.’ She sees the soldier. She crumples. He salutes. She cries…
-
Questions I answer for my kids on Holocaust Remembrance Day.
“Those bad guys… ummm… what are they called again?” “Nazis.”
-
Koala update: seven years
Koala, This was a great year – I loved going through age six with you. The questions you ask. The interests you take on. The requests you make, constantly, for an ‘iPhone, iPad, or even a computer.’ Uh huh. Anyway, I can’t keep up with you. Here are (just) seven new things you learned to do…
-
Hey girrrrl.
Slid into home plate just 18 hours shy of her due date… welcome baby girl! It will take a little while to fill in the details (hint – this is back dated). But we’re pumped for a brand new story to tell.
-
Next year in… your country.
Something really extraordinary happened at work today. In startup world. In the center of Jerusalem. We had the pre-Passover הרמת כוסית, or company holiday toast. Our CEO spoke a few words, leading to how blown away he is by how the company is growing, both in team… and in the number of pregnant women. Then…
-
Not just a fairy tale: the Determined Mother, the Five-Year-Old, and the Princess Birthday Party
While I knew I couldn’t hold out forever, I didn’t think it would be this soon. Bebe proudly declared: “I want a princess party this year!” Always up for a challenge, I knew I could make this work – make my daughter insanely happy at her 5-year birthday party while pass down and keep some…
-
Bebe update: five years
For the sweetest person I know, I want for you strength. For you to recognize the right time and place. To continue loving the little things, for not even knowing what is ‘little’. I want for you to recognize your power. I want for your love to never be bound. For your creativity to go…
-
Dear unborn baby.
Dear unborn baby, I wanted to give you some reasons why I haven’t yet acknowledged you out loud or here or written you an encouraging letter about life on the outside or my hopes and dreams for you. Haven’t been reflecting, haven’t been meditating, haven’t been exploring. I wanted to do it elegantly, passionately, beautifully……
Questions? Comments? Advice?