Searching for and Getting Rid of Our ‘Chametz.’

Last night as my husband led the children around our home to fulfill the traditional ritual of searching for chametz (leavened bread) before the Passover holiday, I sat on our couch and rested (it had been a long day of cooking … Continued

Behind the Mask: Connecting to What is Real in Ourselves and Others

Many people get dressed in costume on the upcoming Jewish holiday of Purim, and I believe that in order to capture the essence of the holiday, the best costume is a mask. For me the Purim holiday is a time … Continued

“Mama, Do You Love Me?” Our Teens’ Quest for Belief and Reassurance as they Emerge into Adulthood

Adolescence is a time of searching and a time when many teens are lacking belief in themselves.  It is also a time when they require belief from their parents and the other important people in their lives.  This gives teens … Continued

What We All Really Need: Raffi (and Abraham Maslow) Get it Right.

In last week’s post, I wrote about the significant role the parent-child relationship plays in preventing at-risk behavior in our children.  This week I want to focus on the simple, most basic, foundational needs of any healthy parent-child relationship. Abraham … Continued

The Parent-Child Relationship as a Defense Against Bullying and At-Risk Behavior

Our hearts break and we feel so helpless when we hear stories about how our children are ridiculed, abused, called names, taunted OR engage in risky behavior, such as drug use, risky sexual exploration and/or self mutilation. What can we … Continued