It’s
Shabbat afternoon, and the girls are putting on a beauty pageant in our
living room. To their 8, 6, 4, and 1-year-old minds, it doesn’t take
much imagination to see our modest floor as a full-fledged stage, red
carpet and all. The TV has been off for the last 20 hours, in accordance
with Orthodox custom.
The
lead story on CNN recently (which was not about adoption in any way,
shape or form) pointed out not once, but twice, that a couple adopted
their son. In one instance, they use the line, “…[She] carried him out
of the hospital in her arms, as ecstatic as if she’d carried and birthed
him herself.”
I
am a stay at home mom. And holy crap do I love it. I mean, wow! FOUR
human beings call me mom! I am blessed, lucky, honored. In total
mothering bliss! But, as being a SAHM seems to be an increasing rarity
in my circle of friends, I often get asked how I manage to keep from
feeling bored.
It
was my second time meeting with Chana with the hopes of renting her
Jerusalem apartment. I was in Israel on a research grant and following
an ulpan (intensive Hebrew immersion course) in Jerusalem, had moved to
Tel Aviv to be closer to my university. After just a few weeks of living
by the water, I felt pulled back to Jerusalem.
I
used to fumble my words when someone asked me what I do for a living.
Having a baby and being laid off while on maternity leave will do that
to you.