One of my favorite things about writing this blog is getting to “meet” so many other Jewish parenting bloggers. I’m fantasizing about some giant Jewish mommy cocktail party one of these days. (Not giant Jewish mommies, mind you, but maybe giant cocktails. And snacks, of course.)
I’m delighted to share a great piece on spontaneous prayer with you from the blog of Minnesota Mamaleh:
Hello friends! I couldn’t be happier to be here at Homeshuling with you! I’m doing the Jewish Mama thing with my wonderful husband and three little ones 5-and-under in the freezing cold Midwest. *Brr!*
Over the last three decades and some change (dear lord, does that sound like a lot to anyone else?!) I have used many, many words to define myself. Daughter. Traveler. Mover. Home owner. Artist. Student. Teacher. Wife. Mom. Mama. Mommy. *Mommy* said in a sweet voice, a sleepy voice, a whiny voice, a yell, with an eye roll. Hmm. I love being a mom and this most recent 24:7 job DEFINITELY defines me like no other has before.

This Fall I started a new stint as a columnist for a completely fabulous site www.tcjewfolk.com “Twin Cities Hub for Hip Jewish Stuff.” Every Friday I dish about my ins and outs, days and nights, everyday and the extraordinary parts of being a Jewish Mama in Minnesota.

Amy has invited me to share this recent piece below with you (Thanks, Amy!). It’s about the quick thinking that my husband and I were forced into when my three year old announced that it was time for the family to “Pray It Up!” I hope you enjoy it and drop on by anytime! http://tcjewfolk.com/category/minnesota-mamaleh/
Last week my family brought in the New Year with two out of three sick kids. Ugh! After many, many bouts with Pine Sol and an equally many number of loads of laundry, we finally got the signals that everyone was feeling better.
How did we know, you say?
The first clue was the extremely high noise level. The second was Jason and I not being able to finish a conversation, much less a sentence with each other. And the third was tripping over dumped out kitchen utensils.
Hooray, we’re in the clear!
So Sunday morning Jason ran out for donuts as I put on the coffee and the girls set the table. We sat down to eat and three-year-old Chloe announced, “Let’s pray it up!”
Jason and I glanced at each other, brimming with curiosity at what was coming. I wouldn’t classify us as especially religious. We don’t belong to a synagogue yet (I know, *gasp!* Let’s talk about that one another time, shall we?). And outside of holidays, we haven’t talked a lot about prayer at home. At school, Chloe says a blessing before snack, so we assumed (Friendly note: never, ever assume with a three-year-old, okay?) that this was the route we were heading. But we were wrong. The route that she did take was so very much better.
Chloe said at the top of her voice: “Baruch atah adonai, eloheynu melech haolam, asher kidshanu bemeetzvotav that we are having yummy donuts together, there are no icks and it’s so much fun!”
Hebrew and kid-speak translation: “Blessed are you, Eternal our God, Sovereign of the universe, who has sanctified us by your commandments and instructed us to (have) yummy donuts together, (that) no one is sick and it’s so much fun!”
We were floored at how natural it was for Chloe to be grateful for feeling healthy and for being together. And for donuts.
To read the rest of her post, click here. (I know you will.)