A Dose of Parenting Inspiration!To be the best parents we can be, it helps to have an ongoing infusion of parenting inspiration. We get this by turning to friends, more experienced relatives, books, and Internet discussion boards for needed motivation, guidance, and a reality check when we start to wonder if our family could possibly be normal!These connections help us keep things in perspective: what’s important, and what’s not? All parents need this kind of support network. And when it comes to Jewish parenting inspiration in particular, it helps to be in touch with others who have been through the unique challenges and rewards of raising children in the context of Jewish life. The best thing of all is to have a Torah-knowledgeable mentor—a mashpia who can answer questions as they come up and helps steer you in the right direction when your course isn’t clear. What may be uncharted territory to you is probably old hat to someone else, who is just a phone call (or e-mail) away. Our Jewish sources are filled to the brim with parenting inspiration and information that can guide us and help us stay motivated, positive, and energized. From halachos (Jewish laws) that help shine a light on sticky child-raising issues, to proverbs and philosophical outlooks that help us develop a healthy attitude, to insights from sages and rabbis and teachers of all kinds that illuminate our sometimes foggy path—the Torah is rich with both practical and inspirational assistance. This is all available to every Jewish parent, if you know where to look or whom to ask (and that’s sometimes the tricky part). The essential thing to remember is that the Torah—with all of its wisdom—belongs to every single one of us. It’s there when we are ready to dig in and uncover all that it contains. The links below will take you to articles from the pages of Natural Jewish Parenting magazine that offer parenting inspiration and motivation. Some articles are reprinted in full; others are excerpts. (If an article title is plain text and does not link to another page, then it is currently available only in print copies of NJP. Back issues are available at the NJP Shop. Click here to order back issues. NJP Shop will open in a new window.) Over time, I will be making more articles available online. New articles will be added here after each new issue is published, and exclusive web-only content will also be added. Getting Through the Day
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