Shabbat

When I return to synagogue after not going for weeks, I always end up feeling uplifted and happy that I decided to go. I especially love taking Rachel with me; it's like having a Friday date night. She was a little squirmy tonight because of the little girl behind her (I'd estimate she was 3) who would NOT stop chattering and whining, and finally her mom (mercifully) took her away for a while. But she more than made up for it by crawling into my lap right before the sermon, wrapping her arms around my neck and whispering, "Happy early Mother's Day" into my ear. MELT!!!

Afterward I had hoped we could go to Kenny & Zuke's for dinner, since I hadn't planned on cooking and I am so tired anyway (I woke up in the middle of the night and had a very hard time getting back to sleep), but Rachel said her tummy hurt, and she wanted to eat pasta at home. She said she still had a headache from all the kids today who a) wouldn't hold her hand correctly; b) made fun of her, and it sounds like she's just overwhelmed by how annoying kids can be. (Who can blame her, really?). It was quite hot today, which I'm sure didn't help her mood, and I insisted she drink some water.

We had a nice Shabbat dinner and I let her stay up late while we read "The Giving Tree" and I washed her face with cool water, which she said during dinner that she couldn't wait for me to do. I insisted she wear the summer nightie that Tia Daniella got her for Passover (thank you, Tia Daniella!) and Rachel asked me to turn on the fan. It should be hot tomorrow, but not AS hot, and then it will cool down and rain into next week.

***

"Mommy, I kind of wish you were little," Rachel said tonight.
"Why?" I asked.
"'Cause we could be friends," she replied. "And we could be in the same school, we could be in the same class, and we could....live together!"

Can someone please remind her of this conversation when she's a surly teenager??

***

"Mommy, I can hardly believe it!" Rachel exclaimed as I finished preparing dinner. "You're doing ALL the chores. I don't want the only thing for you to not do is set the table!"

"I have to do everything," I said. "There's no one else!"

***

"If you died, that would break my heart and I would kill myself," Rachel said.

"Rachel, don't EVER say that," I said firmly. Then I stopped what I was doing, looked over at her (she was in the midst of setting the table for dinner), and said, "Rachel, when I die, you'll be ready for it. You really will."

"Ready?" she said.

"Yes," I said. "You'll be prepared." Then trying to lighten things up I added, "Besides, I'm too mean to die."

"You're not mean at all!" she answered. At least it got us off that grim topic....