Corn Starch, Markers & Rice Krispies
The other day my wife, Miriam, told me that she would like to write a book called “Corn Starch on the Carpet, Green Fingertips and Rice Krispies in my Bed.” Notwithstanding the fact that such a title is a bit cumbersome, it would sum up the content of the book perfectly. Basically, the book would be about raising children and the title was a reference to three episodes that took place in a short span on a typical Sunday afternoon in our home.
While trying to keep the kids busy my wife decided to make an art project that involved using corn starch - copious amounts of corn starch. While SOME of the corn starch ended up in its intended destination (an old tube sock on its way to becoming a puppet), a whole lot of it ended up all over the carpet. After spending considerable time trying to vacuum and sweep we succeeded in getting rid of most of the evidence.
That evening we went to a friend’s daughter’s bat mitzvah and while getting ready to go, my wife noticed green magic marker all over her fingertips from the aforementioned project (the markers were used to draw the faces on the puppet). Scrubbing her hands furiously while simultaneously trying to get ready to go (not to mention bathing the younger kids and getting them to bed), she managed to get enough of it off so that we could go to the bat mitzvah without too much of a trace left on her hands.
Finally, exhausted after a long, hard day she got into bed for a few precious hours of sleep. Settling in, she was startled to hear crunching sounds and feel something scratchy. Turns out the snap, crackle and pop was a result of a handful of Rice Krispies that my 3-year-old had brought into her bed. It’s hard to get a good night sleep when your bed is actually a cereal bowl.
None of these incidents will come as a surprise to people with little children. Everyone has their own stories they can share. The above was just a portrayal of what can go on in our house on any given day.
While it is easy to get frustrated and overwhelmed by these minor annoyances, Miriam and I try, more often than not, to take these things in stride. All it takes is a positive attitude.
Aiding us in developing this attitude is the fact that there is a significant age gap between our oldest and our youngest children. While watching our younger children go through their destructive “terrible twos” (and threes and fours…) we often reflect on how our older children used to do the same things. Thank G-d, they have grown out of those stages and moved on to other phases of life. The realization alone that this stage won’t last forever is enough to help us cope with the hardships of today. It is incredible how fast life moves and how it feels like it was only just the other day that they were at that young stage. More importantly, the recognition that life moves along so quickly allows us to try and enjoy the present as much as possible, despite all of its accompanying challenges, because before we know it, it will be gone.
Last week our family was caught up in the hype of the Powerball together with the rest of the country. Spending a few hours talking about what we wanted to do with the money if we won allowed us a few moments of fantasy. While we did not win the $1.5 billion, Sunday was a good example of why we are really wealthier beyond anything money can buy.
So the next time you see your daughter’s coat on the floor or step on your son’s lego piece and poke a hole in your foot take a deep breath (it’s ok to mutter something under your breath!) and appreciate the fact that G-d has blessed you with the ultimate Powerball. Just remember to focus on living in the moment.
Shabbat shalom!
Rabbi Yosef Koval
