How come my bread didn't mold?

It’s that time of year again…time for the dreaded science fair project. Last year I won 1st place in the 2nd Grade Science Fair (oh wait, I mean LO won 1st place!) Ok, I admit, I probably helped her more than I should have.

This year I was determined to let her do everything she could on her own. She decided on the project of “Which Type of Bread will Mold the Fastest?” This sounded like an easy project to me – buy 3 loafs and bread and wait for them to mold…easy, right? What I didn’t realize was that the time allotted for the experiment would be right around Pesach. When I realized this I had to explain to LO that we couldn’t start the project until after Pesach. Even though this felt like waiting until the last minute there really was no way around it. Other than the fact that I knew we would have to adhere strictly to the deadlines for each part, I didn’t think it would make much of a difference. Boy, was I wrong.

Yesterday marked the 20th day of her experiment. The bread NEVER molded. LO and I joked that we should change the name of the project to “How come my bread didn’t mold?”

This morning I watched as she headed off to her classroom with her project board with her 3 pieces of non-moldy bread. Despite her failed experiment, she remained a good sport.

Note to self: Next year, no science projects involving chametz!

Explaining the Holocaust to LO

(Photo: Mariusz Kubik)

LO often has to do a current event for school. She always asks me to find a Jewish-themed article and this week's article was about Poland's Senate honoring Irena Sendler. Irena Sendler is a 97-year old Catholic woman who saved 2,500 Jewish children during the Holocaust.

LO and I have briefly discussed the Holocaust before but in a very simplistic manner since I struggle with feeling as though she may be too young to comprehend it all at this time. She is usually satisfied with my vague explanations but this time she decided to ask a whole lot of questions (which as usual I was not prepared to answer.)

I started by going over the basics which we had discussed before. She stopped me after my first sentence and said, "Ok, NOW you are freaking me out." Well, that freaked me out because I want to educate her but I don't want her to have nightmares because of it. So I proceeded on cautiously. She interjected, "Wait, why would anyone want to kill Jews? We are nice people." I tried to candy-coat it and explain that Hitler didn't think we were such nice people. Her reply? "Well, that Hitler guy is meshugganah." I agreed. She then asked if Hitler was still alive. When I told her no she said, "Good, cause I was scared he would come and get me. But even if he were alive maybe he wouldn't know I'm Jewish cause I don't look Jewish, I look Chinese." I didn't have the heart to tell her that he probably didn't like the Chinese people either.

How do you explain such an atrocity to a child?

Homework or Lunchbox?

(Illustration by David Shannon- one of LO's favorite authors)

This morning as I was walking in the parking lot on the way to my office, another mother from LO's school was driving by and stopped her car near me. She rolled down her window and said, "I thought you might want to know that your daughter is crying." This took me by surprise as I had dropped her off only minutes ago and when I left she was happily waving, blowing kisses, and saying "I love you" as she went to her classroom.

She told her friend's mother that she had left her homework at home. I was confused by this since I remember her specifically telling me last night that she was double checking everything in her backpack to make sure that she had all of her homework.

Since she is always on the "A" Honor Roll and one of the top students (yes - I'm kvelling) I figured that I could call the teacher and she would give her a break for this one time. So I called the school. I explained to her what happened and she basically said it was no big deal. She then let me talk to LO. As LO was coming to the phone, I could hear her crying. I could also hear her teacher telling her, "I hope that crying isn't because of your homework, who cares about your homework? You don't need to cry sweetie." Through her tears she told me that she left her homework on the table. I knew this wasn't the case because the table was empty when we left. Turns out that she left her whole backpack in the car when she got out of the car at school this morning...she did, however, remember to take her lunchbox. Nice to know where her priorities are.

If only leaving my homework at home could be my biggest problem.

The Flag of Spain

LO is doing a project for school on Spain for Hispanic Heritage Week. I printed out the flag of Spain for her to include with her report.

I'm out of town but have been trying to help her with the project over the phone. During our last phone call she asked, "Mama, what is that on the flag?" I told her that I was not sure what it was (since I didn't actually have a picture of the flag in front of me!) Her reply was, "It looks like the Torah".

While trying to stifle my giggles I explained that I was pretty sure that it was not the Torah. That's my Little Orieyenta for you - in her mind she sees a little Judaism in everyone and everything. Gotta love it.

Current Events

Each week LO is assigned a current event. She has to read a newspaper article and then stand up in front of her class and tell them about it.

Her topic this week was about Karnit Goldwasser visting the Greater Miami Jewish Federation. Mrs. Goldwasser will be making five stops while she is in the United States in hopes of ensuring that the world does not forget about her husband and the other captured soldiers, Eldad Regev and Gilad Shalit. You can read more about them at their website.

May we all continue to recite Tehillim and pray for Ehud ben Malka (אהוד בן מלכה), Eldad ben Tova (אלדד בן טובה), and Gilad ben Aviva (גלעד בן אביבה) until they are safe at home.

Do not let them be forgotten.