“Mommy,” my eight-year-old daughter asked, “How did you learn how to take care of babies and kids? How did you know what to do?”

What timing! It was early Sunday morning and we were driving to TBE; she would attend Limud Hebrew School, while I attended Parenting Through a Jewish Lens with Rabbi Philip Sherman.

As all parents quickly discover, there is no parenting school. We learn how to parent on the job; asking family, friends, pediatricians, the Internet, strangers in line at the market–anyone who might have helpful advice.

And in our chaotic modern daily lives, it’s hard to “zoom out” and think about what we’re doing. The days are long (potty training, anyone?) but the years are short (before you know it kids are #adulting!). The concepts of mindfulness and kindness are popular, but how can you infuse them into day-to-day parenting when you’re trying to figure out a smoother bedtime routine?

Enter Parenting Through a Jewish Lens. With sessions titled “Finding Peace in Our Homes,” and “Parenting for Kindness,” attending class was like hitting the reset button on family life. Our group shared different perspectives as we considered how to apply ancient and modern Jewish concepts to daily parenting situations.

In one session we read the “Birkat Habayit,” (“Blessing for the Home”) and discussed how we cultivate peace in our homes. After the laughter subsided (Peace? With kids?), we discussed the role of ritual and thought about how parenting could cultivate peace. We emerged from the session with a unique blessing for our homes, written for our family’s particular needs.

This course allowed me to pause, listen, share, and consider how to become a better parent. I am grateful to the wonderful parents in our group and Rabbi Sherman’s patience and guidance.