Kutnick's Korner

Picture a snow globe. I saw everything that was going on inside of it... but I wasn’t a part of it because I was on the outside looking in. That’s how I've always felt about Judaism. I was going to take on this Bat Mitzvah challenge in my 50s as an empty nester. But, when I spoke to Rabbi Kedar at a Lincolnshire party a few years ago-she encouraged me to do this BEFORE my kids. I didn’t want to steal their thunder, I told her. And, she said one of the best things I can do for my kids is set an example. And, not surprisingly, she was right. My family has heard me chanting my Torah Portion over and over again (they all know it now). They have occasionally come with me to Saturday Kol Shabbat services (my favorite service!). My kids know that on Tuesdays I won’t be home at 7pm when they get home from Hebrew school... Because I am at Hebrew School! My son and I even have the same teacher. They've seen my dedication, I am so glad it taught my kids a little something about accou...

It's February 3, 2014. Here I am. 40 1/2 years old. Mother of two. Wife. Daughter. Friend. Account Executive. Membership Director at the local swim club. If you look at my life, all of these things define me. My role in this world right now. They are all good things. But, just as many middle aged, women find...sometimes it's just not enough when you are giving so much of yourself to the world around you and so very little to yourself. I drop my kids off at Sunday school. I carpool to Hebrew School for my 5th grader. He goes every Tuesday evening begrudgingly. I consistently attend services for the High Holy Days since we've joined our temple. I started going in college. And, when I moved to Chicago I continued to go with the exception of when my son was an infant. I celebrate Passover. I understand that I am Jewish. I was born to two Jewish parents. And, they too, were born to two Jewish parents. My parents didn't have temple affiliation. And, I never went through ...

It's been 6 years since I jumped on the bandwagon of Facebook. January 2008. I first went on because my British camp friends told me about it after I wrote them a "Hi How Are You?" email.  The beginning was really fun. Seeing people grow from 5th grade to 34. It was fun connecting......And, I believe a lot of great things have come from it....reconnecting with old friends. The ability to see my friends' kids grow up from babies to toddles to children. The ability to post my photos so that my friends can see my kids and dogs...my exposed life. Facebook birthdays are fun too, but keeping up with them is hard also! I believe it is now time for me to take a break. I woke up today feeling blue. For a variety of reasons. Endless snow. My husband's grandma died Monday at 92 only two days after we visited with her. I am grateful that we had that visit, but I feel sad that she died. She was 92, and that's amazing. But, she was alive. And, now she's not. That kind...

Last year I posted a list of the things that I wanted to accomplish by the time I turned 40. I have to say that my over-thinking and equally dramatic build up to this number.... might be actually softening the blow. However, I will be honest when I say that I am exiting my 30s with a conscious over indulgent explosion of celebration...from a girls weekend in Mexico, several special nights out planned with my husband (yay Book of Mormon finally), my parents coming in for the "actual" event of 40 and some other celebrations with girlfriends. I haven't looked at this list all year. I have decided now with less than 2 weeks to go, I can check in and see where I fell. Accept change-I was better at this than I thought I would be. There's been a lot of change this year. I have dealt with it the best I can. Be the best mom I can-My kids seem to like me, so I think I am doing okay. Then again, it depends on the day. Especially when you have a daughter......

I always find myself extremely introspective when life change happens. Today I found myself thinking a lot about my past and the present because school starts tomorrow. Summer is over. Not the season but the vacation away from school life. Schedules happen. Bedtimes matter. Homework begins. In these moments I think about my own personal experiences in grade school as I watch my kids move up the #s each year. This year actually marks the first time in 9 years that school is essentially free (aside from property taxes aka suburban tuition, school supplies, lunch and a small registration fee), and it also marks a time where both of my kids are in an official numbered "grade", 4th and 1st. I remember every one of my teachers K-6. I remember feeling like a big kid on my first day of kindergarten. I also had a lot of reflection today when I thought about 1st and 4th grade because I had the same teacher, Mrs. Ermilio, for both. Mrs. Ermilio was a demanding teacher, but she was m...

Tomorrow is Friday the 13th. I was born on Friday, July 13, 1973. And, while some people won't work on the 13th floor of a high rise.... or sit in the 13th aisle of an airplane...I look at 13 as my lucky number. Tomorrow marks my 39th birthday. The last year of my 30s. It does not seem possible. Where did 30-38 go? Why do the days go slowly and the years go fast? Fortunately or unfortunately (depends on how you look at it), I am a goal-oriented person. I sell advertising, and I am constantly surrounded by the word "goal". It is amazing to me how much I want to hit my goal or surpass my goal. It's just how I am programmed. But, lately I have lost sight of personal goals. Life gets busy. So, I have decided to put a list together as I enter my 39th year, and see where I land in 366 days. I would I really would like to enter 40 gracefully as a woman should. And, I keep telling myself that 40 is the new 30. Right? I know that have to keep focused on what is important. ...

One of the benefits of spending a lot of time alone is the ability to listen to and explore music. Over the years I have really opened up my mind to all kinds of music. I love listening to old music. I love sharing music with others. And, I truly don't know how I would get through many of my days without it. Here's my list of songs (not in any particular order) that I listened to the most in 2011. They aren't necessarily my "favorites", but they made strong IPod appearances. It doesn't mean that these songs were released in 2011. Some of them I Shazamed. Some of them were sent to me by friends. Some of them are pretty old. Some are really new. Some are fun. Some are classic and soulful. Some are happy. Some aren't. But, I hope you take at least one of them away with you to enjoy in 2012. The Scientist-Coldplay For You-Tin Sparrow Magnolia Mountain-Ryan Adams Alex Chilton-The Replacements Cuyahoga-R.E.M. Fade into You-Mazzy Star Stop for a Minute...