It appears Israel is the 25th best country in which to be a mother, the Times of Israel reported today:
Israel was ranked 25th on a list of countries where it is best to be a mother and have children, in an extensive study for the Save the Children charity, published Tuesday. The US came in five places lower, at 30; the UK was at 23.
Anyone interested in looking at the Save the Children‘s full report, can find it here. The full list of rankings is on page 69 of the report. Seems that we are in better shape than Japan, the US and Luxemburg (of all places, I sort of thought everything was fairy-tale perfect there), but that Greece, Estonia and Slovenia rank higher than us.
No matter, I still think it’s a phenomenal place to be a mom. Of course, you have to have thick enough skin not to take offense when perfect strangers tell you that your child is over/under dressed, when someone who has no clue when your baby last ate informs you with certainly that she’s crying because she’s hungry, or admonishes you for not having your child’s rash taken care of when in fact you’re on the way back from the dermatologist. It’s all part of the fun and challenge of living with one large over-extended family.
And, in anticipation of Mother’s Day for those of you living in North America, here’s an offering from The Forward, which asked readers to describe Jewish mothers in just six words:
You met a boy? Jewish, right?
— Olivia Bercow, 21, Miami Beach, about Julie Russin BercowLeaned out, leaned in, leaned on.
— Gabrielle Birkner, 34, New York, about Roni LangShe’s older. Now I’m the worrier.
— Bob Wolf, 62, Chappaqua, N.Y., about Annette WolfYou shtopt my soul with character.
— Edgar Weinstock, 71, Brooklyn, about Libby WeinstockUnconditional love but hates my outfit.
— Karyn Gershon, 51, Wilmette, Ill., about Gloria GrossmanStrong, independent rethinker of tuna casserole.
— Ari VanderWalde, 35, Los Angeles, about Joan VanderWaldeShe is lox to my schmear.
— Lauren Rosen, 42, New York, about Doris RosenStrudel, soup, challah — remembering the taste.
— Joan Hollander, 84, Siasconset, Mass., about Rose SwitShe’d divorce Dad for Jon Stewart.
— Danielle Klein, 20, Toronto, Ontario, about Wendy KleinMy father is the Jewish mother.
— Annette Powers, 40, Brooklyn, about Edward PowersWelcome home. Want something to eat?
— Naomi Adland, 27, Brooklyn, about Gale AdlandYou want I should worry yet?
— Rachel Gorman, 33, Morrisville, Pa., about Louis Astern