Hello there. My name is Jerrika, but you can call me Tzippy. It’s complicated. Which could very well be the theme of this blog. And of my life. I live in sunny South Florida and I am one of that small demographic that was born and raised here. My younger years consisted of the basics of any Hispanic childhood: loud music, louder family, corporal punishment, and Disney trips. Childhood helps frame your life and mine certainly did that on both ends of the spectrum, what I loved, and what I was never going to do to my kids, as we all say. I have many theories about different aspects of my childhood and what life choices had been framed by those memories but I have a hard time pinpointing the episode or the moment that made me decide that I should be an Orthodox Jew. I obviously make easy choices so stick around, it only gets better. I often feel I am living a double life inside my head, and that affects all parts of my life, including parenting and marriage. The old school vs. the new.
Every story has a beginning, and for mine, it was the same as most little girls, wanting to grow up and live the dreams I acted out with my Barbie Dolls. I wanted to be a chef, a doctor and a teacher, but always as a second thought. Being a mom was my goal in life. I never planned or thought of my dream wedding, as being married was not event part of the dream. I guess in the end, I chose the job that allows me to be a chef, a doctor and a teacher all in one.
Of course I did get married, to my husband Jonathan, who I often like to call some pet names, such as logic, common sense and budget. He is the exact opposite of me in every way… which is really fun. He really is the better half. Together, but mostly me, we created 3 beautiful and perfect children. My daughter Yael is 8, my son Yosef is 6 and my baby, Ariel, is almost 2 years old. While they are perfect to me, they are me absolutely insane, as is my life and I will assume yours as well.
I have always believed that certain people come to this planet, to change your life, to challenge you, and to make you better. My 3 kids and my husband, do that for me in different ways. I have made so many changes in my life and in my belief systems because of my marriage and most importantly because of my kids.
I created this blog to be an outlet for myself, as well as a search, to find other moms that want to talk with understanding and laughter about parenting, marriage, family life, religion, education… the usual suspects. I created this blog as a form of personal development and growth for myself, in hopes you will grow with me. I know we all have had enough on the topic of families and children by the time we have a moment to actually sit and attempt to read something for ourselves, but I encourage you to come along for this ride. Trust me, there is nothing that makes you feel better about anything going on in your life then seeing someone else who has nothing together. We all have stories to tell and learn so much from sharing our journey with others. Thanks for coming with me on mine, and I hope we can connect and share a piece of your journey with me. I hope I can help you laugh, or at least commiserate on my successes and failures, and just everyday life as a mediocre mom, with a big heart and a bigger rap sheet.
Thanks for reading and supporting me!
Tzippy