Tag Archives: Christmas

The Jew and the Christmas Tree

As a Jew growing up in suburban Connecticut, I always wanted a Christmas tree. My  parents, raised blocks apart in the Bronx while the Holocaust raged overseas, refused to yield. We celebrated Hanukkah, proudly displaying our menorah in the living … Continue reading

Posted in Family life, Holidays, Marriage | Tagged , , , , , | 9 Comments

The Magic is Gone. Or is It?

It’s been a sobering week: we bid farewell to both the Tooth Fairy and Santa. First my 9-year-old daughter lost two teeth. When I suggested she put them under her pillow for you-know-who, she flopped around on her bed and, … Continue reading

Posted in Family life, Kids, Parenting, Reality check | Tagged , , , , , , , | 9 Comments

Making a List

Of the many things I dislike about December, presents rank right near the top. Partly that’s because we, a mixed-faith family (half Jewish, half Christmas), celebrate everything, so the excesses are head-spinning. But I also remain vastly insecure about who … Continue reading

Posted in Family life, Kids, Parenting, Reality check | Tagged , , , , , , , , | 7 Comments