Family PrOFiLe
at Akiva Hebrew Day School,
where Elana is in the 8th grade
and Moshe is a 5th-grader.
How They Met: Alan and Lissie,
both native Detroiters, were in the
same Hebrew class at Wayne State
University. Lissie says, "It was friend-
ship at first sight."
Professionally Speaking: Lissie is
director of the nursery, cis well as a
teacher for the nursery and a par-
ent-toddler class at Akiva Hebrew
Day School. Alan is a
lease/finance manager for a local
car dealership.
What's Important: Our Jewish
family life," Lissie says. "I love our
Jewish family life together. It affects
everything we do — a new food
we might try, the way we dress, the
way we behave."
Family Togetherness: The Rothsteins
believe in plenty of family time.
Both parents make an effort to
spend time alone with each child,
as well as enjoy activities that
involve everyone.
A key element in a successful par-
ent-child relationship, Lissie says, is
day-to-day conversation. "When
you talk to your children, things
come up all the time because
there's always dialogue," she says.
"Parents can learn to be good lis-
teners by asking children what's
important to them, what matters in
their lives."
Food For Thought: The Rothsteins
never feel limited because they
keep kosher. "We have so much
available to us," Lissie says. "We
can go into any grocery store
and there's so much to choose
from." Of course, there are other
challenges. Dena is a vegetarian.
Mindy is allergic to dairy prod-
ucts, sesame seeds and nuts. Ellie
is allergic to nuts, and Elana and
Moshe cannot eat fish or nuts.
8/20
1999
70 Detroit Jewish News
What everyone can agree on:
pasta with tomato sauce.
Free Time: Because the Rothsteins
love to read, "our home is filled
with books," says Lissie. One of her
favorites is Mendel's Dwarf by
Simon Mower. The children love
reading, too. Moshe enjoys non-fic-
tion, especially books that focus on
how the human body functions.
Dena and her mom tend to like the
same stories.
Shabbat: Friday night in the Roth-
stein home is always family time.
"When everyone is home, it's
noisy," Lissie says. Dinner often
begins with lentil or minestrone
soup when vegetarian Dena is
home from school (chicken when
she's not). The main course usual-
ly consists of chicken and plenty
of vegetarian side dishes.
Lissie, Mindy and Elana do most
of the cooking. Mindy makes the
cholent for Shabbat lunch and
Elana's specialty is desserts. -
Moshe helps out, too, by making
a salad.
On Saturday morning, the family
goes to shul — first Alan and
Moshe, then the rest of the family.
In the afternoon, Alan and Lissie
enjoy a walk alone together,
while the younger children have
friends over sometimes. "VVe play
games, too," Lissie says. "But our
favorite activity is just talking."
How To Build A Happy Family:
"Prioritize," Lissie says. You
have to know what the most
important things in your life are. It
may mean that your house is
messy, or you don't have the fan-
ciest things in the world. What is
most important in our lives? Our
family.
"The issue is, 'What comes first in
life?' For me, no matter what I do
throughout the entire day, my chil-
dren are first on my mind and first
on my agenda." ri
Teachers Talking
Great advice
from those who
know — about
making an easy
transition back
to school.
Can Waldman
Special to Appletree
Whether you are the parent of
a child going to kindergarten for
the first time, or a veteran at send-
ing your son or daughter back to
school, you know the next few
weeks will be a time of transition,
Carefree summer schedules and
Parent Tips For A
relaxed bed times will be
exchanged for alarm clocks, -
lunch bags and after-school
sports.
When it comes to getting pre-
pared for Back to School, who bet-
ter to give advice than teachers?
Gayle Elias, who teaches third
grade at Hillel Day School of Met-
ropolitan Detroit, says that the
child's good attitude is the most
important thing to bring on the first
day of school. Shiny pencils and
new crayons are nice, she says,
"but a positive attitude makes all the
difference.
Children can have mixed feelings
at the beginning of the school year,
Elias notes.
"They are unsure of new teachers,
nervous about what they will be
learning, and apprehensive about
making new friends," she says.
"Parents can instill confidence in
Easier Transition
ack To School:
1. Start o– the school year with a good
attitude. A parent's support can make
the difference.
2. Get your children to start reading again if they have not picked up
a book all summer.
3. Begin enforcing stricter schedules for bedtime; start waking up your
children earlier; get into a routine.
4. Give your children a tour of their new school. Show them the location
of tne bathroom and principal's office.
5. Instill the importance of grades from the day your freshman son or
daughter enters high school.