Mommash: The Oy & Joy of Family with Lori Fein

An absolutely incredible conversation with Avigail Gimpel, mother of three sons and three daughters, author of two books on raising a child with ADHD symptoms, college professor, community activist, and exercise enthusiast. Avigail shares how her early experience teaching a class full of rowdy boys led her to think deeply about root causes for ADHD behaviors, and search for diet, exercise, and behavioral strategies to nurture each child's strengths. She discusses the centrality of fun to family life, sending her children off to war, relying on her kids as a multiplier for her work, and how Jewish practice and belief centers her family life. Avigail also shares reflections on her work preparing women for burial after 10/7. Plus, a three-year jaunt to Moscow with toddlers in tow, running marathons as a family, monthly trips to the Tomb of the Patriarchs (Maarat ha Machpelah) in Hebron, avoiding using your kids as your therapists, and building a close community to guide each other in tough times.

While raising eight sons and daughters, Ahava Ehrenpreis overcame numerous challenges to provide her children with a rich experience including world travel, academic achievement, and deep support from family. An incredibly positive and spiritual person, and an accomplished author of numerous articles and three books, Ahava shares her experiences raising her large family, including a child with Down's Syndrome, her son Saadya; we dive deep into how the siblings both supported him and grew themselves through love of and interactions with their brother. We discuss fostering Saadya's independence, including riding NY subways and attending college, and draw lessons applicable to all children. We also discuss how parents and families can overcome tragedy, including how Ahava dealt with the loss of two sons. Plus, schlepping kids to Japan, summers in Israel, finding balance in a busy life, and unique ways her Jewish community supported her in good and bad times.

Ahava Ehrenpreis is author of  More than Special: Perspectives from the World of Special Needs, On My Own…but Not Alone and My Special Uncle, a book for children about special needs adults in their lives.

In this bonus episode, Lori recounts some recent family adventures, schlepping seven people to move Daughter #3 into college (the minivan miracle -- it fit!), making a colossal mess on the eve of a trip, summer rituals that imprint for life, and how to make memorable moments of both ordinary and extraordinary, Joy and Oy events. Enjoy Labor Day weekend and your family -- there's Mommash Nothing like it!

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A mother to six and grandmother to OMG 36!!!, Bracha is also an author of 42 books and a Harvard grad. She speaks of her personal search for joy and purpose, how she found it by focusing on gratitude, the root of Judaism, and how her current work centers on spreading that joy to others. Plus, dropping out of med school, addiction and anorexia, teaching children about tough issues in life, finding your joy and purpose, countering the epidemic of entitlement, and how to reset your child's "Happiness set point" (and your own).

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Bracha's books are available on Amazon or purchase directly at https://www.goetzbookshop.com/