Luckiest?
“So we want to make certain that you are feeling well at Christmas!” enthused the doctor.
Beernut cast a sidelong glance in my direction.
After the pediatrician had made the third such culturally-incorrect comment, Beernut looked about ready to jump out of his seat. Wanting to correct the doctor, he found himself unable to say anything other than whisper “you tell her.”
Hearing that we don’t celebrate Christmas because we are Jewish, the doctor made the obligatory “oh, I have lots of Jewish friends” comment, whereupon she launched into a description of the garish “Chanukah” decorations used by her friends including blue-and-white Christmas lights and a large Christmas Tree “Chanukah bush.” “You know,” she said, “because most of my friends are in mixed marriages. But those kids are the luckiest, don’t you agree? They get so many presents.”
Beernut looked horrified and I, in a most uncharacteristic manner, said nothing. I think that she was trying to find a point of commonality and had no inkling how very uncomfortable the entire conversation was for us.
But I was curious to know what Beernut thought about the doctor’s assumption that kids who celebrate both Christmas and Chanukah are “the luckiest.” After all, he is a kid. And what kids doesn’t love getting presents?
FrumeSarah: So do you agree with what the doctor said?
Beernut: Not. At. All.
FrumeSarah: Why not?
Beernut: I think it would be too confusing. Plus they would have to go to shul and church all the time. Fridays and Sundays. Plus Religious School. Families should pick just one.
Some time after…
Beernut: So Mom, what date does Christmas fall on this year anyway?
Frume Sarah is Shabbos-observant -- in a Reform way, that is. Please note that from Friday afternoons until one hour after sundown on Saturday evenings, Frume Sarah will be unavailable, in observance of the Jewish Sabbath.
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Thank you for your understanding...and gut Shabbos!!! 
Frume Sarah's World 
You have got to love that kid.
I know. So cute.
answer to beernut’s question: Shabbes, the 18th of Tevet. It floats around though — some years it’s much earlier 😉
Great answer 😉
I ❤ Beernut 🙂
Seriously, though, might be time to get a doctor who knows you a little better? I'm just sayin'….then again, who am I kidding, right? I have the only non-Jewish OB around for miles….! (our family practice doctor is MOT though, and he spends 2 weeks at Ramah each summer. love it!)
Our pediatricians are MOT. However, it was a same-day appointment and this was the only doctor on at the time.
“What date does Christmas fall on” — hee!
When I shared this with my husband, his response was “you’ve done such a great job with them!”
Been there. All too often.
Yeah. It’s so tough being outside the cultural norm. I was at a shiur yesterday where it was mentioned that historically, we Jews have embraced our differences. Which is what this holiday is really about.
I wouldn’t have said anything to the doctor either. There’s no point in debating the issue of intermarriage in that setting.
Now, if Beernut on his OWN would have told off the doctor………THAT would have been amusing… :p
I don’t think that it was a matter of telling off the doctor. After all, as a non-Jew, I don’t think she understands the implications of Jews who celebrate both.
Also, Beernut has two cousins who are in a family where both traditions are honoured. So even though all three of our kids staunchly proclaim how important it is to for Jews to marry Jews, they are also sensitive to the choice made by their aunt and uncle.
That actually made me snort-laugh (Beernut’s comment at the end.).
I believe it because I had to stifle mine 😉
December is tricky for those outside of the cultural norm. Beernut has a good grasp of things – you’ve done well.
Thanks 😉 His grasp is better on some things than on others!
I liked your son’s answer! And I’m so happy to find your blog! I feel like we’d probably see eye-to-eye on a lot of issues. (My husband and I finally started calling ourselves “Reformadox.” . . . more intellectually honest than saying we’re Conservative or Conservadox. Anyway, I just started blogging three weeks ago on my own blog. I found your blog by looking through the blog of someone who left a comment on mine. The magic of the internet!
Happy Hanukkah! Nina 🙂
http://ninabadzin.com
Wow — your blog is super, Nina. Just added it to my Google reader so that I don’t miss a post. And yes, I think we do see eye-to-eye 😉
Hope it was a good Chanukah…and good luck with your wish list for next year!
🙂 FS
Yay! Honored!! Thank you so much for visiting! 🙂