Всякому ребенку рано или поздно приходится пережить потерю близких, и нет такого возраста, в котором это происходило бы безболезненно. Как меняется структура семьи, когда умирают старшие, как переживают мальчики-подростки и что такое на самом деле «смена поколений» — в колонке Ксении Молдавской.

Маленькие дети — это, конечно, радость и гордость, а также бесконечный источник смешных и милых историй. Так о детях принято говорить и думать, но в реальности воспитание не состоит сплошь из розовых замков, единорогов, мудрых бесед и нежных объятий. О другой стороне родительства — в колонке Лизы Розовской, матери четырехлетней Рахель и двухмесячного Биньямина.

Помогает детям наша забота — или только мешает, делая их несамостоятельными балбесами и паразитами? Должны мы решать все проблемы наших детей, вне зависимости от их возраста, или наша задача как родителей — отпустить их в свободное плавание?

Мало что так фрустрирует родителей, как разговоры на тему воспитания «настоящего мужчины» или «настоящей женщины», особенно если родитель воспитывает детей один. О том, кто в доме альфа-самец и нужно ли пытаться быть идеальной матерью, размышляет Ксения Молдавская.

Последняя неделя декабря и первая неделя января — момент истинной проверки родителей на прочность.

In the past weeks, Booknik communicated with Shakespeare’s co-author, argued with Landau, studied snake habits, went to Israel to procure a New Year tree, waited for the end of the world, and never got it. Meanwhile, Booknik Jr. promised never to hurt his mama, and found out that a book is the best present ever.

In the past weeks, Booknik visited a therapist, blasphemed, and read a cookbook but did not actually cook anything; he also learned how to lure students to a lecture, and switched to kefir in the morning instead of cognac. Meanwhile, Booknik Jr. abandoned going to school, and realized that he was not Apollo.

In the past weeks, Booknik watched the world through green spectacles, experienced some groundless envy, learned English, corrected his mistakes, protested, and recollected other people’s past. Meanwhile, Booknik Jr. learned how to survive in school, and quenched his cultural thirst.

In the past weeks, Booknik visited Kolyma, witnessed to the end of the world, tasted the milk-and-honey cocktail, participated in a tournament, and opened the Jewish Museum in Moscow. Meanwhile, Booknik Jr. studied medieval art, and culinary recipes.

In the past weeks, Booknik felt miserable finding himself alone in the crowd, he found a way to man’s heart, killed Hitler, fought for Jews’ and Catholics’ rights, and conducted an orchestra. Meanwhile, Booknik Jr. shirked his music studies, and saved a drowning dolphin.

In the last weeks, Booknik has become an avid cineaste; he also excavated Troy, bought a coffeepot in Istanbul, exorcised the devil, pickled cucumbers, and read old postcards. Meanwhile, Booknik Jr. teased dogs, and developed photos

In the past weeks, Booknik visited a prison, burned paper bridges, fought insanitary conditions, argued with generals, did not buy a new coffee pot, and did not marry. Meanwhile, Booknik Jr. smoked in a school lavatory, and studied the art of Ancient Egypt.

In the past weeks, Booknik worked as a loading workman, stocked his library, evaded hospitable citizens of Soodoma, leafed through old newspapers, and tasted the fruit of passion. Meanwhile, Booknik Jr. moved his flippers, and exchanged trucks for babies.

In the past weeks, Booknik killed time by reading mystery novels, preferred Hebrew to Esperanto, tried to become a vegetarian yet he found himself unable to resist the lure of kielbasa; he travelled through Estonia by streetcar, read sentimental love stories, and quoted Bible profusely. Meanwhile, Booknik Jr. watched Western reruns, and re-read Kafka.

In the past weeks, Booknik mastered some new tricks of literary work, did a comparative study of sacrilege, sniffed at various goods at a flea market, pined for some okroshka cold soup, and went mushroom-hunting in a new York forest. Meanwhile, Booknik Jr. was over his head in a book.

In the past weeks, Booknik flew Aeroflot, gathered two trunks of memories, got to know new Pygmalion, counted Calcutta Jews, separated sheep from goats Zionists from Black-Hundreders, and hopped through New York. Meanwhile, Booknik Jr. fought his fears and won.

Слова Шике Дриза, музыка Жени Лопатник. «Из чего сделаны хорошие сны? Из милых вещичек, зверюшек, сказок бабушки и нежных пальцев мамы, а плохие? Зачем я буду вас пугать, плохие сны я лучше удалю».

In the past weeks, Booknik celebrated his birthday in the pouring rain, discussed difficulties of translation, painted graffiti, asked the price of success, and invented the toilet brush. Meanwhile, Booknik Jr. spoke “smart” with Meir Shalev, and counted sheep.

In the last weeks, Booknik was engulfed in Jewish life, read books, talked to movie stars, took great interest in culinary, visited Latvia, learned how to be an alien in Moscow, and spoke with a millionaire about money. Meanwhile, Booknik Jr. struck up some good connections in movie business, and raised up some hell.

In the past weeks, Booknik counted octopus’s hands, discussed the necessity of a revolution, lit up with delight at the light festival, comprehended mysteries of Kabbalah, and the logic of Talmud, and was hospitable in Moscow and Tel Aviv. Meanwhile, Booknik Jr. became a soccer fan, and planned his winter vacation.