Hanukkah Happening at the JCCNV

There are a lot of fun activities on Sunday for Hanukkah at the JCCNV on Little River Turnpoke in Fairfax. The fun is from 2 - 5 pm and costs $10 per family for members, $18 for non members. Check their website for more details! the fun includes arts and crafts, story time, face painting, latkes and sufganiyot!

A Flame-Free Menorah

My sister shared an article from the current Family Fun magazine with me for a really neat idea – a flame-free menorah. Made of corrugated cardboard, it uses tissue paper wrapped toothpicks for flames. Check it out at http://www.FamilyFun.com/magaine. Do a search for menorah and you will find many additional creative (and child friendly) variations.

I enjoyed making this with my son yesterday and having him color the menorah - in the special way only a 2/12 year old can decorate, favoring black permanent marker and making intricate circular scribbles. Last night Joshua told his Daddy that tomorrow was a holiday and he has been pointing out the menorah in the house. This year marks a special time – he is beginning to understand what things mean. I can’t wait to have him watch us light our menorah tonight, while he “lights” his own. I look forward to bringing out this special menorah for many years to come.

Oh, and to mark the first night of Hanukkah I am going to try my hand at sufganiyot – jelly donuts served in Israel during Hanukkah. Tomorrow my mother-in-law is bring her latkes, another recipe on my “must master” list because they are so delicious!

December Decisions

One of the most challenging times for an Interfaith couple/family is December and what do about the holidays. For those who grew up celebrating Christmas, it is hard for us to think about not doing so and if we have children, passing on to our own children the excitement and wonder that we experienced at this time of year. My son is now 2 ½ years old and I remember walking through the mall and pointing out Santa when he was 6 months old. It was exciting for me to do this, but at the same time it felt a little weird, because we are raising our son as Jewish. It was a moment of excitement followed by a feeling of maybe I should not have done that. When a friend came to visit that year we found ourselves walking the mall and she insisted that my son have his picture taken with Santa. Part of me thought, “Yes, of course, family tradition” while the other part thought, “Hmm, I bet my husband never sat on Santa’s lap.…” Tradition won out and we have an adorable picture of an inquisitive 6 month old sitting on Santa’s lap. The next December rolled around, and I didn't feel the need for a picture, so I have never done it since. I am grateful that my husband is so easy going and does not have any preconceived notions on how things must be for our family of three at this time of year. I want to say that we are still making it up as we go along, but that makes it sound as though it not thought out...and this mother thinks a lot about it!

Calling it What it Is

I subscribe to a listserve of moms from the Mother’s Circle (moms raising, or thinking about raising, their children Jewish) and this December season topic has generated a lot of discussion. One mother challenged the group to think about this time of month as “December Decisions” rather than the “December Dilemma.” I like this approach because it really is more about making decisions for your family about how you honor the season, and the faith of each person and about the traditions, both carried on and newly made, that you wish to pass on to your child. Just phrasing it as decisions give me more clarity on what this month means to us, and will in the future. My husband and I are making conscious decisions for ourselves and our son, rather than allowing the struggle that the word dilemma brings to mind. A dilemma brings to mind a constant struggle, while a decision is a carefully thought out choice. And of course as a woman, I always reserve the prerogative to change my mind!