HOME & FAMILY

CUT AND SAVE ... CUT AND PASS ON ... CUT AND SAVE

One of the keys to functioning smoothly, efficiently at the most savings -- is information.

Cost-Cutting Tips for Weddings
Collecting for Hachnossas Kalla
by Yonina Hall

"Nobody realized my situation, maybe because I'm always smiling," confides one of our readers, a mother of nine. "But when my sixth child got engaged this year, I was really stuck. The wedding was going to cost me $20,000 and I had to do everything myself, including running to gemachim for loans. Finally, the Shabbos aufruf arrived.

Natural Nutrition Endangered Nursing Infant
by N. Katzin

Critical vitamin deficiencies can occur even in mother's milk. An infant who arrived at Schneider Children's Hospital in Petach Tikva in serious condition was diagnosed with a severe shortage of Vitamin B-12 because his mother was a strict vegetarian.

The Simple Life
by Y. Aharoni

Part II

The Ms, a typical American family, have decided to embrace the `simple life.' Mrs. M's first step was to quit her job and to take on part-time work that will leave her with more time for her home and child.

In Those Days, In This Season
Stories
by Kaila Kohn

Since time immemorial, parents and teachers have been using stories and parables as a teaching medium, as a pleasant way of inculcating good moral values. Children listen wide-eyed to a good storyteller. In fact, they listen eagerly to a mediocre storyteller, too. Stories are the sugar-coating on homilies, and can be used as rewards for anything from going to bed on time to finishing set work at school.

It's Worth a Try
by Batya Jacobs

Batya Jacobs is a therapist and social worker, living on Moshav Mattityahu. She uses the methods discussed below for her own children and with her private clients. They are fun, respectful of the child, are effective in healing tension- filled relationships and helping the problem.

"Nobody is a problem. The problem is the problem and the person is the person."

Bullying
by A. Ross, M.Ed.

Some children seem to be born with an aggressive streak in them, others are softer, more gentle and less assertive. Experts vie with each other to explain this trait and suggest that either a child has been treated aggressively or maybe, he has seen a great deal of friction and conflict at home. Mostly, however, there is no known cause at all; the child is born with this personality.

Your Medical Questions Answered!
by Joseph B. Leibman, MD

We continue on evidence-based medicine. Everyone has heard about head lice and we have written many times on the terrible Mediterranean louse which is resistant to almost everything.

Enjoying Shabbos & Yom Tovim Seudas
by Dr. Reuven Bruner, Ph.D.

Get extra enjoyment from those Shabbos and yom tov meals this year by being aware of what you are eating. Mindful eating can help you to avoid overeating -- and prevent stomach aches, bloating and other gastrointestinal discomfort. Approach your seudas as an exercise not in deprivation but in making smart choices and enjoying your food.

POET'S CORNER

Two Prayers

by Rivka Glick

Sometimes, our lips mumble a prayer:
"Oh, please, give me..."
(or "Please, spare me...")
"Please bring me here..."
(or "Don't take me there!"
While heart and soul (all unaware)
are screaming out another prayer.
Another prayer, entirely,
and seeming contradictory.

Sometimes, we think our mumbled prayer's ignored.
Maybe, instead,
that other prayer was heard --
the one we still don't know we said?

The Archery Lesson

by Ruth Lewis

"Tha..a..at's right," Miss Johnston said.
"Let the arrow rest there,
on your middle finger.
Balance it with
your forefinger on top.
Pull the bow back, taut...
More... more...!
Now aim for a spot
above the target..."

"Above...?"
I thought I hadn't heard right.
But Miss Johnston answered, "Yes,
several feet above.
Now, ve...e...ry gently...
release your arrow..."

I did. It sailed
in a great arc, a bow,
through the warm, lazy air
of that summer's afternoon,
so long ago.

It sailed far, far
across the fresh-mown lawns.
Higher, higher.
Then, down
with a thump.

It hit the target!

Paradox: to be happy,
forget happiness.
Set your sights
much, much higher...

And one of the lessons of our parsha, in Yaakov Ovinu's words, "Kotonti -- I am so small, so unworthy of all Your goodness..." So what are WE to say?

Then and Now

by Ruth Lewis

When I was a little girl,
my father used to lift me
up onto his shoulders, high.

And I would cry,
"Hey, Lookee!
Look at me!
I'm so big and tall!
I'm the highest one of all!"

But, of course, it wasn't me at all.
I was still the same:
the second-from-the-shortest
in my class.
I wasn't big or high or tall.
I was still very, very small.

Yes, well,
I wish I could report that
I'm smarter now.