Come for Soup

I promised this wasn't going to be a cooking blog and it's not. BUT.....remember that fable Stone Soup from childhood?  Yes that one! The ultimate farce where selfish villagers are tricked into being hospitable, giving and kind with the promise of soup magically made from just stones!
Disclaimer: I don't make stone soup. I do however make lots of scrap broth.

Scrap Broth

The thing is we in the Kalish home love soup. It's economical, it's healthy, it's delicious. As any chef will tell you, every good soup starts with stock, a broth etc. In the good old US of A I was spoiled by Trader's Joes, Imagine and Tabatchnick boxed broths. These don't exist in Israel. What does exist is a huge variety of MSG powders in every color of the rainbow. Enter scrap broth, otherwise know as what Shulamit does with all those veg peels, tops, tails and otherwise less desirable/edible parts of vegetables instead of composting. Not that I'm opposed to composting. Composting is great. But for us in the concrete jungle of Jerusalem scrap broth just makes so much more sense. 

So come for soup, fennel soup, carrot dill soup, tomato roasted red pepper or mushroom red lentil. We're here!

The Best Mother

When my son was born, one of my sister-in-laws said "Remember, no matter what, YOU ARE A GOOD MOTHER!". I have to repeat this to myself every waking nano second of every day and some sleeping nano seconds besides.
Today for example, I sat for what seemed like the nth time, making my way home with my screaming one year old on the bus. Screaming ceaselessly because he hadn't had his afternoon nap in his crib, screaming because he had been in a stroller for too many hours, screaming because my poor little guy was just so past his limit. All I could do was sit and offer lullabies, cuddles and bottles for the duration of 40 minutes while he screamed and flailed.  I could feel the eyes of elderly grandmothers, young school girls and boys and middle aged working class men boaring into me and accusing me of ruining their ride and not being a better mother.
In reality I know this is only in my head. People are sympathetic even if overtired piercing screams are not on their checklist of a pleasant bus ride. People don't actually think I am bad mother. Heck they don't know me. Yet haven't we all had those moments. Forgoing the afternoon nap to get the grocery shopping done moments. Ice cream for dinner moments. Pajamas to the park moments. Floor that hasn't been mopped in a few weeks moments (you know, if you can't afford a cleaning lady....).  I just want to say this on behalf of us all. I am a good mother, you're a good mother. XOXO

So there is this Buzzfeed video going around (there is ALWAYS a Buzzfeed video going around), "Here are the types of Moms you meet". It's hysterical, but also sad. I am glad there is a sense of humor about the pervasive mommy culture that exists in our times, but really? It's like World War V being a woman and being a mother sometimes. There is a constant competition and judgement. How natural are you? How long did you breastfeed? Did you breastfeed? What Are your views on breastfeeding? YOU'RE BREASTFEEDING IN PUBLIC??? Ewww please cover up.....And that's just breastfeeding.... Don't get me started on which diapers you use, when you're child hit their milestones, are you enough of a helicopter mom, is everything you feed your child free range, organic, home cooked, sugar free, gluten free, nut free.....how about just free for those of us trying to make ends meet???
Why did I just write a huge run on paragraph with improper punctuation AND why can't we just support each other as women and mothers? Something to think about while we self righteously judge our fellow woman who vaccinates or does not vaccinate her child, while we self righteously proclaim our feeding, clothing and child rearing practices to be superior. Anyway, rant over for now.

I am the queen of starting projects and not finishing them, dreaming of enterprises and not acting on them, buying things with a purpose and then fearful of using and enjoying said things. This blog for example. My intention was to write a bit every day. Not a blog about anything specific because I am no expert or even amateur at things like cooking, DIY, saving money, fashion etc. Not a parenting blog, because as a first time mommy of one, I am hardly an expert at that either, in addition to the  fact that I am just not interested in contributing to current mommy culture. And what is current mommy culture? Well, that would be a topic for another post. In short though, I prefer not share my parenting practices and preferences. I've made this choice so as not contribute to a culture where we have become judgmental instead of supportive of our fellow women and our fellow people. As my MIL said to my several months ago, however you choose to mother and love your baby is the right way. I am not sure where this blog will go, but for now I'm signing off.

Intro

Hello! Shulamit Kalish here. I am a 33 year old mother living in the heart of the Holy Land with my English teacher husband and our adorable 10 month old son. Like so many other things in my chaotic but rewarding mommy life I started to create this blog months ago, but never got around to writing my first post!

A little bit about me. I was born and raised in Minnesota where we are known for being "nice" and the "Frozen Chosen". From elementary till 12th grade I enjoyed both a private Jewish Day School education and public school education. I was often involved in more cerebral extra curricular activities such as the World Zionist Organization sponsored National Bible Contest, Math Team and National Honor Society. And that was when I wasn't teaching Hebrew School or sitting my room day dreaming, making beaded jewelry and writing poetry. The beading and poetry were joined by music, incense and a cat during my 20's. 

At 18, I left Minnesota for NY to go to college and although I didn't know it then, I never looked back. I spent the next 12 years in NY on a quest of learning, searching for my life partner, and working in capacities varying from group home cook to bone marrow donation advocate/coordinator. 

Two years ago I came to Israel for my brother's wedding, decided to "take a break from life" and was set up with my husband. After a year and half of marriage and citizenship in this crazy but wondrous country, I can only say life has never been more interesting. 

I hope to write things in this blog about my life in Israel, my feelings and views on motherhood, and anything else interesting I might be doing at the moment. Come and join me for the ride :)