The Mothers of Downton Abbey
Downton Abbey closed its third season with the estate’s heir, Matthew Crawley, assuring his wife, Mary, that she’ll be a good mother to their new son because she’s a good woman. His comment rings all the more poignant because this fairy-tale couple is about to face disaster: Matthew is tragically killed in a car accident … Read more
Weaned: A Bittersweet Victory
Visions of riesling and NyQuil danced in my head. I missed them so much, especially the medicine, by the time I caught my third severe cold of the winter. Being sick is no fun, but being both ill and home alone all day with a spirited 21-month-old is possibly the definition of the Pits. Even … Read more
Toddleritis & Modern Parenting
More from the Annals of Toddleritis I was totally feeling Jordana’s piece on Toddleritis. New York Times columnist Frank Bruni’s recent parenting critique? Not so much. The childless Bruni considers modern parenting too indulgent and democratic. His self-described parenting credential is being Uncle Frank, but the gap between aunt/uncle and parent is like that between … Read more
Confronting My Fear of Driving for My Daughter
It’s a bit embarrassing. I didn’t even tell my friends. But now that it’s over, I confess: my new year’s resolution for 2013 was to take driving lessons. Yes, I already had a driver’s license. I’ve had a license since I was 17 and living in the New York suburbs. But I left for college … Read more
Roadtripping with Children and Other Modern Plagues
The Israelites spent 40 years wandering in circles in the Sinai. Strong youngsters walked ahead, while the elderly, infirm, children, and their parents followed. After this year’s Passover family road trip, winding through the wilds of New Jersey’s back roads, I understand why. Everything simply takes longer with children, including travel. My husband and I … Read more
Learning to Share My Food
Learning to Share All My Food With My Daughter I understood Joey Tribbiani. When I was single, I wouldn’t have liked a date who took my french fries either. I’ve always been particular about my food. But my understanding of food–its meaning and purpose–has also evolved somewhat over time. At every stage in my life, … Read more
Cupid in a Kippah
On Valentine’s Day, one is absolutely the loneliest number. It helps if you can make plans with some single friends, but most people would prefer to be out with their perfect person. Valentine’s Day isn’t our holiday, religiously speaking — Jews have Tu B’Av — but it is an American holiday, and Valentine’s Day nicely … Read more
Jews in SUITS
The Jews in ‘Suits’ Shortly after graduating from college in 2000, I found myself living and interning in Austin, Texas. Someone apparently mentioned to the friendly policeman who worked by my office that I was a Member of the Tribe. He was thrilled; he’d never met a New York Jew — or any Jew — … Read more
My Toddler and I Had Our First Fight
Every duo fights. It’s inevitable, especially when you’re always together. Until recently, Lila and I have had a pacific relationship. But increasingly, I’m interacting with a rapidly evolving and independent little person. This is wonderful overall, but Lila is less predictable and more difficult to manage than she was only a month ago, stretching me … Read more
Call the Midwife & Back-Alley Abortion
As a general rule, I prefer to maintain a strict separation between my art and my politics. My politics are admittedly at variance with most artists, but I also find that introducing politics can taint otherwise spectacular art, making it more mundane. I thought about this after watching a recent episode of Call the Midwife, an … Read more
Filed under Clips, Cultural Commentary, Motherhood, Politics · Tagged with Abortion, BBC, Call the Midwife, Heidi Thomas, Jennifer Worth, Kermit Gosnell, PBS, Women's Health