Category Archives: Family

13 Years in the Making

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Bar Mitzvah Video: Through The YearsAt many bar/bat mitzvah celebrations, there is a video of the child through the years. There is a stop in the action, and a video is projected, and everyone stares.

The bar mitzvah video includes the baby pictures, family pictures, and  friend pictures. There are the aww pictures, vacation pictures, and being silly pictures.

For some reason, BR did not want Mrs. MMK and I to share a video of him with the 130 or so invited guests to his Bar Mitzvah.

Can’t imagine why not. You?

Anyway, while he wasn’t comfortable with us projecting the video for all to see, he did say it was okay to share it on my blog. Thanks Mrs. MMK for those negotiating skills.

And yes, I did mention his bar mitzvah in a previous post. This part of the celebration was for family, friends, and neighbors.

But really, do you need another reason to have a party?

By the way, both picture and music selection and arrangement were by Mrs. MMK. She’s got skills.

Pardon me while I enjoy the retrospective. Feel free to join me. Here it is:  the bar mitzvah video

I hope you like it. But please, remember, don’t embarrass BR. I’ll never hear the end of it!

 

It’s Just 20 Minutes

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Value of TimeAs I turned the car towards the driveway, I turned to BR.

“Do you have the key?” I had given him the house keys prior to me taking him and SJ to the dentist’s office for their semi-annual appointment. It had been his responsibility to hold on to the keys. Now, he needed to produce them.

“They’re in my jacket.”
“Okay.” He was in his shirtsleeves. “Where’s your jacket?”
He looked down at his feet. No jacket. “It’s at the dentist’s office.”

There was no key at the neighbor’s house like their usually is. Instead, it was in our house after the boys had to borrow it during their last miscommunication. The garage was locked.

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Mr. Positive on the Baseball Field

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Mr. Positive outside of his Baseball UniformAn old friend has resurfaced. Or so it seems. A while back I wrote how BR seemed to have morphed into a Mr. Positive like Tony Robbins.

In that previous post, I noted that, “BR is regularly giving me high fives for effort, calling out such encouragements as “nice try” or “nice one.” He has offered comfort by telling me, “at least you tried.”

Now all this was occurring when he was nine-years-old. Today, at thirteen, he is a full blown teen. This age is known for a lot of things – moodiness, selfishness, and smart aleckness.

No, I am not saying every thirteen year old displays all these characteristics all the time. In my exposure to children at that age, I have also witnessed many positive behaviors and actions.

But…

Anyway, BR seems to be returning to his Tony Robbins days. But unlike previously, now I see a pattern.

The positive attitude etc. comes out while playing baseball especially during games.  Yup Mr. Positive comes out on the baseball field.

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Growing Up in a Complicated World

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Growing Up in a Complicated WOrldIt’s a complicated world. Yeah, I know that’s not a newsflash.

This week my family and I celebrate a meaningful moment in BR’s life. He becomes Bar Mitzvah. He enters a new phase in his life and is viewed in a different light. It’s a toehold into the adult world. As he turns 13 and formally enters the teen years, he is on the verge of big changes, physically, emotionally, and spiritually.The boy is growing up.

Exciting. Time for reflection. Special. Memorable.

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