KIDS Issue 1091 · December 17, 2025

Kvetch Culture

Why we complain and what we can do about it

Kvetch Culture

Project coordinated by Elana Moskowitz

Chanukah is a time for l’hodos u’lehallel, expressing our gratitude and praise to Hashem for all the good we enjoy in life. For some of us, this is intuitive. For others, it’s an insurmountable task. Let’s talk about complaining

 

Kvetching, Full Stop

PTA is fairly low on my list of favorite venues for a Tuesday night. That may have something to do with standing in a school hallway at the unholy hour of 10 p.m., 15 mothers ahead of me.

As I settle in with the rest of the ladies-in-waiting, I hear someone praising the advantages of short winter Shabbosos. “It’s so cozy on the couch after the seudah, and then we have the whole Motzaei Shabbos to actually do something after cleanup.”

Oh, please, as if that makes up for the Erev Shabbos marathon. “Come on, nothing makes up for the hassle of getting five kids under the age of ten bathed and dressed by four p.m. and frantically getting the food on the blech — assuming you managed to finish cooking,” I point out.

“You must really love summer Shabbos — lots of time to get ready,” says the mother next to me.

Continue reading with Mishpacha.

Create a free account to keep reading.

Everything you need to stay close to Mishpacha.
← Previous installment Safe Haven Next installment → Stick the Pin. Make the Call.