Blessings and Baby Steps: The Spiritual Path of Parenthood

by Behrman House

Overview

Blessings and Baby Steps charts the spiritual journey of parenthood from pregnancy through preschool. Author Rabbi Ilana Grinblat interweaves her personal experiences with those of friends, congregants, and mentors as well as with tales from Jewish tradition. Each short (2-4 pages), breezily told chapter offers a new insight from a particular moment of parenting and highlights a quality that this stage nourishes.

CONTENTS:

Six sections guide the parent on a spiritual journey from conception through the four-year-old child.

1. Pregnancy and Birth
2. The First Year
3. The Wondrous Ones
4. The Tremendous Twos
5. The Thrilling Threes
6. The Formidable Fours

SPECIAL FEATURES:

• Includes blessings for children from the Jewish tradition
• Each chapter offers relevant, bite-size text study

USES:

• Essential reading for new parents, grand-parents, and caregivers
• Makes a great gift on the birth of a baby, for Mother's Day, and as a thank you
• Provides rich topics for sermons, text study, and welcome addresses to congregants
• Ideal for parenting classes

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9780874418781
Publisher:	Behrman House, Incorporated
Publication date:	10/15/2011
Pages:	1
Product dimensions:	6.50(w) x 9.00(h) x 0.60(d)

Table of Contents

Introduction ix

Acknowledgments xi

Author's Note xii

Pregnancy and Birth

Conception: Holy Sex 14

Pregnancy Test: The Power to Bless 18

Morning Sickness: A Training Course in Compassion 21

Whether to Learn the Baby's Gender: Embracing Mystery 24

Are We There Yet? Testing Patience 28

Vulnerability: The Value of Friendship 32

The Last Days of Pregnancy: An In-Between Time 35

Labor: A Trial of Grace 37

Leaving the Hospital: Oneness 39

The First year

The Baby's Growth: Wonder 42

Weight Loss: Commitment to Health 45

Sleepless Nights: Transience and Memory 48

Worry: The Price of Love 52

Romance after Kids? A New Understanding of Love 55

Nursing: Interdependence 58

The Zoo: Conservation 61

Separation Anxiety: A Lesson in Confidence 65

Disneyland: How Was Your Year? 69

The Wondrous ones

Multitasking? Listening 74

My Blond Girl: Continuity and Change 79

First Steps: Becoming Present 83

Interruptions: Never Finished 88

Sleep Training: Mercy and Judgment 93

Greeting Strangers: The Power of a Smile 97

Learning to Talk: Finding My Voice 101

Toddling: Gratitude 105

The Tremendous Twos

The Next Morning: Letting Go 110

Bare Feet: Freedom 112

My Child Never Misbehaved! In Retrospect 115

Again? Developing Perseverance 118

"Not in the Mouth!" Awakening the Sense 121

Terrible Twos: The Power of a Hug 123

Transition to Preschool: A Lesson in Tzimtzum 126

The Thrilling Threes

A New Sibling and Potty Training: Adapting in the Nick of Time 130

The Phone Message: Kidness 134

Mine! The Art of Sharing 137

Walking into Preschool: Circuitousness 140

Money: Finding Balance 142

Cooking: Adventure Comes Home 145

The Formidable Fours

Playing Superheroes: Help or Do It Yourself? 150

Dancing in the Streets: The Love of Music 155

Cleaning: Just Do It 158

The Merry-Go-Round: Witness 161

The Kids Are Driving Me Crazy! Grappling with Frustration 165

Volume Control: Laughter 169

Swim Lessons: Growth Spurts 172

My Favorite Part 175

Blessings from the Jewish Tradition 176

Notes 178

Index 182