On Succos, we gather our crops, reflect on our harvest. In life, we gather our experiences, appreciate what we’ve gained

It had been a long day after a lousy night. I desperately needed a shower, a break, sanity. Dinner was running late and I was running on fumes as I tried to cobble something together.

“Mommy, Mommy, Mommy, can we have a freeze pop? Pleeeeeeease?” The kids crowded around me, begging with their most adorable faces on.

Make sure your interactions with your children are 80 percent positive and only 20 percent negative.

“No! Of course not! It’s almost dinner!” I snapped at them. Disappointed, they wandered off to the other room, where I heard them ask their father the same question.

“Sure, why not,” was his magnanimous reply.

If you want to prevent yourself from getting angry, take a deep breath, count to ten, take a drink of water.

I was instantly furious as soon as I heard this exchange.

Try not to fight in front of your children. Wait until later when you and your spouse can have a calm discussion.

“What are you thinking?” I hissed at my cheerful husband as he entered the kitchen.

Use “I” statements, not the more accusatory “you” statements.

“You’re making everything worse!” I continued my tirade.

Avoid using sweeping words like “always” and “never.”

“You always undermine me!” I declared.

Model the kind of behavior you want your children to learn.

I stomped upstairs and slammed the door behind me.