Election Day

I admit that I sometimes took my older son to the polling place with me because I figured it was entertaining for the volunteers to see such a cutie. Now that my big boy is 3, I may try to take him anyway. Yes, I might not go with him if this were a presidential election year when I might expect to wait for a long while, but I do like the idea of showing him how I get to help decide things and that he can, too. They just "voted" at school on a name for their guinea pig and didn't quite get the concept. The teacher reported that some kids voted more than once. Still, the idea of being a part of big decisions is an important thing to impart early.

Don't forget to vote!

ShalomBaby play date on Super Sunday

Stay tuned for more, but here's an event for December...

Shalom Baby playdate or parents and their children (birth- age 3) on Super Sunday in NoVA!
10-11:30am on Sunday December 12 at the JCC of Northern Virginia.
Meet in the new activity room downstairs. This is a parent/child activity. Babysitting will be offered separately.

Raising girls - October 31st, 1 pm

Most of the events I post are ones that I'd love to attend. I fear that I'm not the target audience for this one - after all, I have two sons! Looks good, anyway.

Gesher Jewish Day School PTS and the JCC of Northern Virginia Invite You to an Afternoon with Meredith and Sofie Jacobs, authors of Just Between Us: A No-Stress, No-Rules Journal for Girls and Their Moms. (You may recall Meredith Jacobs from her widely-regarded The Modern Jewish Mom's Guide to Shabbat: Connect and Celebrate--Bring Your Family Together with the Friday Night Meal.

Details:
Sunday, October 31 at 1pm, at Gesher Jewish Day School
Cost: FREE

RSVP by October 27 to crutzick@cox.net or download the registration form.

Books will be available for purchase on site.

Being honest with your kids

I was talking with my older son's preschool teacher about how much she enjoys coming to work each day. (Wonderful to hear, of course!) What was interesting is that she said a lot of parents tell their kids that they wish they didn't have to go to work. I suspect they say this not because that's really how they feel (well, of course we might all like to be independently wealthy, but you know what I mean) but because they don't want their children to think they are choosing work over them. I recall reading somewhere - and I can't remember where - that this is actually highly inappropriate for a number of reasons.

First, it makes kids think that work is something bad, to be avoided whenever possible. Second, it makes kids think that the choice is work vs. being with them, when it's really a much more complex series of trade-offs. Third, it denies them the opportunity to understand that we are not only parents but that we have other interests, too. Frankly, I like my "day job" and I want my kids to understand that I do it because I like it and think it's a valuable contribution, and, as my son's teacher pointed out, it allows me to do more for my kids in other ways. Yes, it's a choice we've made as a family rather than a necessity. Finally, though a three-year-old isn't ready to hear that sometimes we need a little bit of time away to maintain our sanity, I still don't think it's appropriate to lie. Some days I wish I didn't need to leave my kid at just that moment, but it's not because work is so terrible.

Gary Rosenthal Hiddur Mitzvah Project

Once again, you can complement your time at the JCC during the Book Festival with some crafty time. From November 7-14, you can drop in and complete one of any number of Judaica projects. You select the piece and you receive a glass plate, which will serve as the base for the fused glass section of your artwork. Glue pieces of colored glass to the base in the pattern you want. Gary Rosenthal's team will fuse it and adhere it to your selected project. Learn more about it on the JCC's web site. There are a wide range of projects and prices. Order yours in advance or just drop in and see what's available. Children can also complete a project by using pieces of paper, which the team at the studio will match with glass pieces.

Drop-in workshop hours:
Sundays (November 7 and 14), 10am—3pm
Monday–Friday (November 8-12), 9:30am—2pm & 5pm—7pm

JCCNV Book Festival - Schedule Announced!

It's here! The schedule for the Book Festival has been posted. Here are the highlights:

Sunday November 7, 9:30 am
Children's event: breakfast with Curious George and Friends

Sunday November 7, 2 pm
Afternoon tea: A conversation with Cathleen Schine, author of The Three Weissmans of Westport

Sunday November 7, 7:30 pm
Evening chat with Mark Feldstein, author of Poisoning the Press: Richard Nixon, Jack Anderson, and teh Rise of Washington's Scandal Culture

Tuesday November 9, 7:30 pm
Israel night - a discussion based on the New York Times bestseller Start-up Nation, The Story of Israel's Economic Miracle by Dan Senor and Saul Singer

Thursday November 11, 12 pm
Lunch with Noralee Frankel (author of Stripping Gypsy: the Life of Gypsy Rose Lee)

Thursday November 11, 7:30 pm
Book club night: Myla Goldberg (author of just-released The False Friend and bestseller Bee Season)

Friday November 12, 9:30 am
Share a Shabbat. Event sponsored by the PJ Library and the Harold Grinspoon Foundation

Sunday November 14, 2 pm
Poets, Pastries & Popcorn: Join Debbie Levy, author of Maybe I'll Sleep in the Bathtub Tonight: and Other Funny Bedtime Poems for an afternoon of fun!

More details on each event are posted on the JCC's web site. I'll look forward to seeing you there!

An Ethical Start Ice Cream Social

Join us for a sweet treat as we explore the concept of community together! This event is best suited to 2-5 year olds and their caregivers, parents and grandparents.

A reason to eat ice cream AND talk about community? Sounds good to me.

Sunday November 7, 2-4 pm at the JCC
Cost $3 member/ $5 nonmember
Contact the JCC at 703-323-0880 for more information or to register.

Flu clinics

With an infant who won't be able to receive his first influenza immunization until early November, I'm keeping an eye on options for the rest of us to be immunized soon. Besides your neighborhood pharmacies, here are some options:
--Fairfax County Health Department - more information will be posted online as it is available - last year children were included (my then 2-year-old received his through the county)
--Fairfax County Public Library clinics - schedule posted online - (adults only)
--Find vaccinations online using flu.gov

I'm hoping the JCC has a flu clinic, too. They offered one last year. I will post information when it's available. My company tends to have one at our other area office, that is not the one at which I work, which means it's actually easier for me to find a local site than to travel to get a (free) vaccinination.

Stay healthy!

Mark Your Calendars - November 7

This is always one of our favorite events of the JCC's Jewish Book Festival. On Sunday, November 7 from 9:30-11am, your kids can meet some of their favorite characters, including Curious George and The Man with the Yellow Hat, at the JCCNV. We'll have breakfast and stories and crafts for the kids. Full details to follow.

DCJCC's Literary Festival - Children's Event

The title of this book sure caught my eye - "Baxter, the Pig Who Wanted to be Kosher." Author Laurel Snyder will be reading this amusing tale at the DCJCC on Sunday October 17th at 10:30 am. Tickets are $11/nonmember family and $9/member family. It's suggested for kids 2-6 years old. Find out more or purchase tickets online.

There is a full line-up of the DCJCC's festival on its website. Look for more information to be posted here about the JCCNV's upcoming Book Festival, to be held from November 7-14, or keep an eye on the schedule yourself.