Our definition of friendship evolves over the years. At first, our friends are the kids we play with, even when we envy them or hate them. As we grow up, our definition becomes deeper and more meaningful, but also more selective.
This year, when my sister had her first baby at the age of 41, we had a discussion about the oldest age that is still reasonable for mature parents to have kids.
I had Eden at the age of 24 and I was convinced Gal and I were the first parents in our class, but last year, when we met our high school friends after many years, I was surprised to discover that some of them had kids older or closer to Eden’s age.
Since I had my first child 20 years ago, society has changed and 24 is now considered an early age to have kids in many places. Statistically, people now have fewer kids and start having them when they are older.
There are many advantages to having kids early, and as many disadvantages. Similarly, there are many advantages to having kids late, and just as many disadvantages.
Read Mature Parents Having Babies »
While many people are in a constant battle to get more and more things in life, this brings with it more and more of the things they do not want. The Genie of the Universe who grants our wishes cannot separate the good from the bad and provides both. You ask for more money and the Genie gives you a promotion with more time away from your kids.
Read Balancing Act »
What has the world come to? When little girls perform in provocative outfits, would you not agree this is a bit too much? When dancing is not an art, but another form of instructive subject, have we not gone too far?
Read Dirty Dancing »
Unfortunately, there are a lot of things we should have learned at school, because as a society, we cannot rely on parents to be able to do it by themselves. For example, we cannot expect all parents to teach their kids literacy and numeracy because not all of them know enough and out of those who do, not many are also good at teaching.
When I was 16, I joined the school council and fought for kids’ rights and freedom of speech. People said it was because I was a Libra, but the teacher who coordinated my school’s leadership programs (school council, school newspaper and class representatives) told us we were the future and what we were doing was very important. We wrote protest poems, listened to Joan Baez, negotiated with school authorities to make sure our education went beyond learning math and literature and made a big difference in the life of our fellow students.
Read Kids Making a Difference »
As you will be well aware, most of the systems in our life are made to suit some standard, albeit nonexistent, person. We all have to follow the same laws, we are measured and compensated in the same ways as our work colleagues and our kids go to schools that treat them the same too. How annoying!
Read One School Fits All – NOT! »
When I was growing up, the world was a lot nicer. There, I have said it. There were no computers, no Internet (and I like both), cars were simple, roads were narrow, but life felt free and full of adventures. Now, there are way too many dangers everywhere. Or are there really?
Read How Life has Changed »
Having lived in several places around the world and worked in multinational companies, I have a list of people who regularly send me interesting emails about family matters (mostly about being married), personal development, growing old and creating wealth. Every now and then, I get something from them I really want to share with others. One of these emails was a lecture by Barry Schwartz about wisdom and motivation.
Read Do the Right Thing »
Although my mom could not read properly, my dad read a lot of books. He was a crossword puzzle and word search person and eagerly solved everything in the daily and weekend papers when I was a kid. Most of the books in our home library he won by sending his answers to the newspapers. Inside each one was a sticker saying he had won this book as a first, second or third prize. So you see, for me, books were rewards since before I was able to read.
Read Confession of an Author »
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