Teaching Yael and Diana the Value of Chutzpah
Chutzpah isn't being pushy. It's the audacity to care out loud. On raising two bold, kind daughters who aren't afraid to ask for the thing.
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From Hero to Human: What My Dad Taught Me About Work, Grit & Life
A tribute to my dad, Brian Oberlender: VP, mentor, and morning coffee buddy. Lessons in grit, failure, and why human beats hero every time.
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Never Again: Reflections on International Holocaust Remembrance Day as a Jewish Father
On Holocaust Remembrance Day: rising antisemitism after October 7th, my Tia's survival story, and what I owe my daughters in remembering it.
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Celebrating 93 Years of Wisdom: Lessons from My Grandmother, Buba Luba
My grandmother Buba Luba turned 93. Her story as an immigrant, and what she taught me about forgiveness and family, still shapes how I show up.
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The Eighth Night, Illuminating What Truly Matters
Eight nights, five locations, and a lot of candles. What my parents' first menorah still teaches our family on the last night of Chanukah.
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How the Dreidel Reflects the Wins, Losses, and Surprises of Life’s Journey
Sixth night of Chanukah, and the dreidel has thoughts about life's twists. Work wins, Marlins heartbreak, every spin carries a lesson.
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Chanukah, Balagan, and the Missing Dress: A Modern Miracle
A missing dress, a chaotic family morning, and a fourth-night Chanukah miracle. Sometimes the balagan is exactly where the light shows up.
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Day 1: Lighting the Way: What the Menorah Means to Me
Night one of an eight-part Chanukah series, starting with the story of one particular menorah, what it survived, and the light we hand down.
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Latkes, Oil, and Lessons in Imperfection: Why the Messiest Traditions Are the Best
The Oberlender latke tradition is a mess, and that's the recipe. On imperfection in parenting, marriage, and every family kitchen at Chanukah.
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A Heart-Pounding Morning That Ended with Determination and a Familiar Send-Off
A 911 call for my daughter, a morning of pure fear, and a four-year-old who still insisted on going to school. Here's how it actually went.
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Raising Curious Kids: Why I Always Answer ‘Why?’ (Even When It’s Annoying)
Answering the hundredth 'why' of the day is how curiosity survives childhood. What endless questions are actually building in your kid.
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Lessons in Patience: What Bedtime Battles Taught Me About Myself
Late-night parenting struggles turned out to be about me, not them. What bedtime chaos taught me about my triggers and my patience.
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