By Lori Gurtman on July 13, 2020 ·
The Favorite Child.
There’s a running joke in my family that my son is my favorite child. Of course, I don’t play favorites. Well, maybe I’m lying––just a little. The truth is I love them both equally, but my relationship with each of them is different. After all, no two relationships are the same. I have lots of close friends whom I turn to for various reasons depending on what’s happening in my life. For example, I might call one of my besties to discuss family concerns, another I call when I’m looking for a light-hearted conversation, and a few others are great when I need a laugh. They all serve a purpose, and on some level, they’re all a reflection of me and how I identify myself. Read more
By Lori Gurtman on June 29, 2020 ·
My greatest parenting failure.
When the stay-at-home requirement was put in place in my community, I decided I was going to redo my biggest parenting mistake––enforcing household chores. I had visions of my teenage son making his bed every day: folding the top sheet over the blanket, tucking in the sides, fluffing the pillows, and arranging his throw in a perfect rectangle. No longer would I see his dirty laundry scattered on the floor, but rather, placed in his hamper. He’d empty his garbage can, take his evening glass of water and place it in the dishwasher the following morning, and his schoolwork would be piled neatly on his desk. He and his sister would take turns vacuuming the floors in the house, emptying the dishwasher, and wiping the kitchen counters after we eat. Read more
By Lori Gurtman on June 15, 2020 ·
Thank you for the light, class of 2020 high school graduates.
Many Americans who lived through 9/11 carry an invisible scar etched in their minds, a reminder of the unspeakable tragedy that plagued our nation. Time helped us heal, the pain made us stronger, and collectively, we transcended. Once this occurs, life has new meaning.
During the catastrophic event, I was teaching social studies in a middle school right outside New York City. A few students lost their parents that day, and my husband lost his best friend from childhood. Our hearts broke for the innocent lives lost and the countless people who were suffering. Read more
By Lori Gurtman on May 18, 2020 ·
The picture that’s worth a thousand words.
The photo above is revealing on many levels. At first glance, five gorgeous seventeen- and eighteen-year-old young women are standing tall, looking like models in their gowns and high-heeled shoes. But knowing when the image was taken gives new meaning to the story. It was captured on May 2, 2020, the date that their high school prom had been scheduled. Along with every other senior-year milestone that had been wiped out by the pandemic, that, too, was abolished. Read more
By Lori Gurtman on April 16, 2020 ·
Spiritual lessons learned from pandemic.
About a month ago, life appeared to be drifting peacefully in perfect sync with the Earth’s rotation. And then suddenly, we hit turbulent waters. We were forced to readjust our sails and find a new direction amidst the unexpected chaos. Often the greatest lessons are revealed during the darkest times, but when our minds are filled with fear and anxious thoughts continue to rapid-fire, we have a hard time understanding the deeper meaning as to why this pandemic is happening. Read more
