Even God Had Bad Parenting Days

New parents get overwhelmed, regularly pushed to their limits and confused by contradictory feelings of elation and near-despair.

To soothe the frazzled and lift their spirits, writer and Bible scholar Alicia Jo Rabins has created Even God Had Bad Parenting Days: ancient Jewish wisdom for new parents.
Humorous, self-reflective, and comforting, Rabins’ musings on both heartening and cringe-worthy biblical examples of parenting can help any caregiver see beyond the detritus of day-to-day living with young children and recapture a sense of wonder at the process of raising small humans.

Parents do worry about their failed attempts to be perfect, and these short, personal essays can lead them to new perspectives and even to embrace a vital concept that English psychologist and pediatrician D.W. Winnicott called the good enough parent. The supportive and inspirational writings of this gentle parenting book can help any soul embarked upon this wild, sacred work recognize the wisdom of poet Norman Fischer’s advice that the only transcendence is fully embracing the ups and downs.

This collection draws on Alicia Jo Rabins’ years of experience as a writer, Bible scholar, and feminist Jewish educator, and is based on her popular series of articles on parenting for Kveller.