COMMUNITY eed some advice? Send your request to DearDebra@renmedia.us , and be sure to look for Debra's reply in the next Red Thread. Dear Debra: I never imagined send- ing our children to day school. But Debra Darvick as 1 have studied more and brought more Jewish traditions into our home, day school seems like a natural step. My wife is strongly opposed to the idea, and it's causing a lot of tension between us. Our first child begins kindergarten next year. How can we resolve this? Day School Dad Fine Renovations & Expansions Since 1978 Professional renovations for kitchens, baths, lower levels and more. Gittleman makes it SIMPLE, AFFORDABLE, EFFORTLESS. Follow Gittlemon Construction and Handymancare Call 248.538.5400 For A Consultation Today. I gittleman.net 28580 Orchard Lake Rd., Suite 102 Farmington Hills, MI 48334 HAN DYMANCARE 111 U • BY GITTLEMAN CONSTRUCTION • Get swim-ready with Jump Start Clinics! Over the Summer we're offering five consecutive days of swim lessons to help your child get ready for the beach, vacation, pool parties and endless swimming fun. You'll see significant swimming improvement in just five short days! vow-t- FoTacluTi Weekly Swim lessons! 4 months - 12 years of age 4:1 student to teacher ratio 30-minute weekly lessons Location times & details can be ur w Now franchising a GOLDEN oldfishfranchise.com hool.com f LIKE US on Log on to JNonline.us giveaways • forums • calendars VISIT JNonline.us 32 June 2013 I RD TIMM Dear Dad, So often it's one parent for, one par- ent against. You will stand a better chance if you can bring your wife around gently, respectfully and lov- ingly. You don't mention her reactions to the Jewish study and traditions you have brought home. Has she been a willing and equal partner? Or has it all been imposed upon her? If the latter, day school may be her way of telling you no more accommoda- tions to this new Jew-y you. Listen closely to her objections. Are they financial? Does she fear the children knowing more than she does? Will the carpooling fall entirely to her? Perhaps you and she can talk to a day school family who struggled with the issue you two are now. How can you meet her halfway or more than halfway if necessary? Day school can provide unparal- leled depth of Jewish learning and experience. But there are other ways to steep children in Jewish values, learning and rhythms. If your wife will not relent, continue enriching your family's Jewish home traditions. When the children are old enough, there are many fine Jewish summer camps, locally and nationwide. Loving agreement is paramount, for it teaches another important Jewish value — shalom bayit (peace within the home). Dear Debra: Wanting to be inclusive, I emailed my future mother-in-law a photo I took of myself in the bridal salon modeling my wedding dress. She went and posted it on her Facebook page. Now everyone knows what my dress looks like, even my fiance. I am furious at the liberty she took. My fiance doesn't think it's a big deal, he says I look beautiful; but I think it was a huge invasion of privacy. What can I do? Wedding Belle Blues Dear Blues, All manner of retribution and veiled threats come to mind, including telling her you've chosen chartreuse as your color. Even in an age where Facebook has made privacy as quaint as rotary dial phones, your future mother-in-law indeed crossed the sharing line. The next time you are together, take her aside and let her know that while you appreciate her excite- ment, she stole your thunder. Be forewarned, however, a woman this lacking in wedding etiquette may not understand the transgression. If you truly don't want anyone to know about your dress, and you haven't paid for the one mom-in- law posted, you could always keep looking. But if it's the dress of your dreams and you've already put it on the plastic, remember that a snapshot in the dressing room will in no way compare to the glow you will radiate on your wedding day. And, take note, when you and hubby are expecting, curb your enthusiasm. Dear Debra: Our daughter is graduat- ing from high school this spring. We want to throw a graduation party in her honor, but she says she doesn't want one. We have always celebrated milestones in the extended family and can't understand why she is being so difficult. Burst Balloon Dear Burst, Not everyone parties hearty; this is not always a bad thing. (Think Animal House). If yours is a large and very social family, and your daughter is more on the shy side, the idea of a big graduation bash may be unnerving. Have you asked her how she would like to celebrate this milestone? Perhaps she'd prefer a quiet dinner at a restaurant with a few close friends. Or maybe a small family gathering. You are right to want to honor her achievement. Just be sure that the honoree, your daughter, feels celebrated — not steamrolled. RT A successful author and blower, Debra Darvick is Red Thread's new advice col- umnist. The author ofThis Jewish Life: Stories of Discovery, Connection and Joy and I love Jewish faces, Darvick shares her unique take on life, books and more at debradarvick.com. www.redthreadmagazine.com