Why We Live Here

It's Book Club time! I am really enjoying my online book club, From Left to Write, because I have been reading books that I may not have picked up otherwise. Like our book for this month, I am Forbidden.

This post is inspired by I AM FORBIDDEN by Anouk Markovits. Though not sisters by blood but through their Hasidic faith, Mila and Atara views the rules and structure of their culture differently. Mila seeks comfort in the Torah while Atara searches for answers in secular literature she is forbidden to read. Ultimately each must make an irrevocable decision that will change their lives forever. Join From Left to Write on May 8 as we discuss I AM FORBIDDEN. As a member, I received a copy of the book for review purposes. One of the characters in the book decided to give up her family in favor of pursuing a different life, one that could not, due to religious laws, include a relationship with her family. I cannot imagine that. If you'd read my blog, you know that I usually write about my family. Family is so important to me! Before Spencer was born, Joe and I lived in Southern California and loved it. I had a great job, he was doing work he loved, we enjoyed the big city feel...and we were even getting used to traffic! Then, our baby boy was was born and when we would come back "home" to see our family, it took him the whole weekend to warm up to his grandparents. He had cousins around and we'd hear stories of family outings and functions that we were missing. Even the simplest things, like getting together for dinner was so common for them, but so special to us. We made a hard decision to move back when he was one year old. We decided we were lucky enough to have both sets of grandparents in town, as well as several cousins and aunts and uncles. It wasn't an easy move, we did make some sacrifices: Joe couldn't do his line of work up here, and while I enjoy teaching still, I miss my old partners and school(The lack of restaurants is a huge bummer for us, too!). However, what we lost in salary has been been worth it, I can honestly say. My kids adore spending time with grandparents as often as they can! They've all said at one point or another, that "Grandma" and "Grammy" are their best friends. They go on dates, have sleepovers, get spoiled by them. Spencer and his cousin Jake have best friends since they were one-inseparable for many years. Though the kids are all getting older, and with soccer or commitments getting in the way, family dinners are becoming rarer and rarer...though my kids still enjoy having special times with their grandparents. We are looking ahead to a future where we may be moving on, though making sure we are within driving distance from family. I know not everyone would agree with me on my feelings, but growing up like I did, in the same town as my grandparents, I knew I needed this for my own kids as well.