Ice Cream for Dinner
This week has been a stressful one for our family. Baruch Hashem, all for good reasons. For the past few days, I’ve been flying solo, while Aliza is in Israel celebrating our nephew’s Bar Mitzvah.
While I am, of course, incredibly supportive of her taking the time to be with family, it’s not simple to go from a two-parent household to a one-parent home. Even for a few days.
I’ve written about this experience before, when she joined a Rebbetzin’s mission to Israel last year. Once again, I’m struck by enormity of single parenthood. I have a new found respect for my own mom who, for years, raised us single handedly.
Most acutely, I’m in awe of the thousands of Tzahal wives who have said goodbye to their husbands over and over again, for weeks and months. Truthfully, I have no room to complain over a stressful morning of carpools.
But between all the FaceTiming with Aliza, running around the house, trying to figure out which kid needs which what, and co-parenting from a distance, there’s an uncomfortable truth that needs to stated. It’s a truth that we all need to know as parents, and as Jews. Especially Jews living in Chutz La’aretz.
No matter how much better my wife is at getting the kids ready, packing their backpacks and making dinner; when she’s not here, that job is mine. Which means that in those moments, the parent with the responsibility must have the authority to decide what’s best.
Every parent has their own style and their own skill set. There are many right and many wrong ways to get things done, and more than likely, open dialogue and communication will make things better. But in critical moments when only one parent is present, trust is more important than communication.
Trusting that your spouse is loving, capable and committed to your kids means that even if you’d do it differently, you can trust that they’re making the best decision in that moment. Because they’re there, and you’re not.
I’ve been thinking about this more and more as I see people making comments and writing letters about Israel, the government and Tzahal. Without doubt, we all agree that what happens in Israel affects us deeply. Whether it be issues about drafting Yeshiva students, negotiating hostage deals or the war in Gaza. All of this affects us. But the fact that it affects us, does not grant us sufficient information to have an authoritative opinion on it.
Ultimately, the people who are taking responsibility for the situation, are the people who have the right to make decisions about it. Discussions are important. Talking things out is wonderful. But our world seems to think that parenting from afar is the same as being on the ground... and it really isn’t.
From our vantage point, our brothers and sisters in Israel need us on the phone, on FaceTime, giving them support and love and encouragement. Even giving advice if asked.
But ultimately, it’s their right to decide if we’re having ice cream for dinner.