Triple Threat

Triple Threat parenting triplets in the Capital District

Celebrating a milestone

A B’nai Mitzvah for the triplets caps a year of challenges

One of the most magical days of my life was when I found out I was pregnant with Olivia, Benjamin and Rebecca. It was like a cross between prayer, science and magic had decided I was worthy of these tiny beings. There have been many other days since that have been magical, and they have always revolved around my kids. I became the kind of mom I never thought I could be. In the past 13 years, Olivia, Madeline Cantarella Culpo, Director Madeline Cantarella Culpo, Director Benjamin and Rebecca have learned to walk, talk, read and have started school. On the first day of pre-K, the three of FALL DANCE CLASSESFALL DANCE CLASSES them sat down on the cold tiles

next to other kids and quickly became friends. After they sat down, Harlan and I walked away, and they never looked back at us. I wasn’t sure if this should make me sad or not. Part of me was so proud! I watched their smiles over backpacks that were big compared to the little hands clutching them in excitement.

After graduating from fifth grade, my babies were off to middle school. Benjamin, Rebecca and Olivia soared like falcons and found their footing. Being the mom of middle-schoolers felt weird in the beginning, but by March, I had figured out the best balance of time and energy. Then … COVID happened and all reasonable expectations went out the window. At the end of sixth grade, there were plenty of questions and very few answers. The start of seventh grade could only be defined as anti-climactic. The only thing that changed between sixth and seventh grade were the teachers. The classes were completely virtual for half of sixth grade and all of seventh. So much screen time!

There have been so many moments that did shine brightly through the blue light of the computer screens this year. One that will forever shine brighter than the sun for me is the moment my amazing, smart, by Jennifer Steuer funny and courageous children became adults in the eyes of the Jewish faith. On June 16, Benjamin became a Bar Mitzvah, Olivia became a Bat Mitzvah and Rebecca became a Bat Mitzvah! The original date was set long before COVID happened, and we held our breath hoping that the world would re-open so we could celebrate with friends and family. We were also hoping that everyone

Madeline Cantarella Culpo, Director Continued on Page 7

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Ages 6-8 10:00 am Ages 4-5 12:00 pm Ages 9-11 12:30 pm Ages 12 & up 2:30 pm Madeline Cantarella Culpo, DirectorPre-Ballet * Adult Ballet * Mommy & MeBallet * Adult Ballet * Mommy & Me Madeline Cantarella Culpo, Director Madeline Cantarella Culpo, Director

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Ballet * Pointe * Modern * Lyrical * Pre-Ballet * Adult Ballet * Mommy & Me NUTCRACKER AUDITIONSNUTCRACKER AUDITIONS Ballet * Pointe * Modern * Lyrical * Pre-Ballet * Adult Ballet * Mommy & Me Ballet * Pointe Pre-Ballet * Modern Lyrical * Pilates Classes Start Friday, Sep. 7Sunday, Sep. 16th Sunday, Sep. 16th Classes Start Friday, Sep. 7 Classes Start Friday, Sept. 10th 114826_4 NUTCRACKER AUDITIONS Sunday, Sep. 16th Ages 6-8 10:00 am Ages 4-5 12:00 pm Ages 9-11 12:30 pm Ages 12 & up 2:30 pm Ages 6-8 10:00 am Ages 4-5 12:00 pm Ages 9-11 12:30 pm Ages 12 & up 2:30 pm Ages 6-8 10:00 am Ages 4-5 12:00 pm Ages 9-11 12:30 pm Ages 12 & up 2:30 pm NUTCRACKER AUDITIONS NUTCRACKER AUDITIONS Sunday, Sep. 16th Ages 6-8 10:00 am Ages 4-5 12:00 pm Ages 9-11 12:30 pm Sunday, Sept. 12th Ages 6-8 10:00 am Ages 4-5 12:00 pm Ages 9-11 12:30 pm Ages 12 & up 2:30 pm admin@schoolofabb.org * www.schoolofabb.org 100 Montessori Place North Greenbush 12-2:30 pm –––––––––3-5 days/ week admin@schoolofabb.org * www.schoolofabb.org Ages 12 & up 2:30 pm 518-426-0660 * 25 Monroe Street, Albany, NY 12210 518.283.5400 • woodlandhill.org

admin@schoolofabb.org * www.schoolofabb.org 518-426-0660 * 25 Monroe Street, Albany, NY 12210518-426-0660 * 25 Monroe Street, Albany, NY 12210admin@schoolofabb.org * www.schoolofabb.org 0660 * 25 Monroe Street, Albany, NY 12210admin@schoolofabb.org * www.schoolofabb.org 518 426 0660 * 25 Monroe Street, Albany, NY 12210

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would live through COVID.

Rebecca, Benjamin and Olivia were originally scheduled to celebrate the B’nai Mitzvah (the plural of Bar or Bat Mitzvah) in early March of this year, approximately one year after the world shut down. As a family and with the help of our rabbi and cantor, we decided to postpone until June so that maybe vaccines would have time to work and we could have the service in our synagogue. The number of people who could be with us in person was very limited, but we also had the ability to livestream the service so family and friends from far away could celebrate with us.

There is so much work that kids do to become a Bar or Bat Mitzvah. Sometimes the tears and frustration lead to long talks or deep breathing. The challenges were not just learning to read Hebrew and understanding what the part of the Torah they each were reading, but as I listened to them practice over and over, I watched their confidence rise. I felt the texture of the wool on their prayer shawls (Tallis). I saw them grow up. I encouraged them.

On the weekend of Pride Shabbat, my trio of teenagers stepped up to the lectern and showed Harlan and me that they knew their stuff. Proud of our kids doesn’t begin to describe how we felt that afternoon. Verklempt – Yiddish word for being overwhelmed beyond words – is more like it. I looked at them, really looked at them,

Benjamin, Olivia and Rebecca have spent the past 13 years learning and growing and preparing to soar.

and saw the passions that will fuel each of them. Rebecca, Olivia and Benjamin see the world in their own special ways. Seeing them, hearing them and listening to them created a memory that I will never forget.

My brother couldn’t be with us, but my sister and my mom were in the synagogue for the celebration. I was told by the kids it wasn’t my celebration, and the party wasn’t for Harlan and me. I get that, but my kids are everything to me. I will celebrate each and every accomplishment, and eventually they will understand that my voice will always be the loudest and yell the longest when the timing is right. Watch out world because these kids are going to create A LOT of noise!

Jennifer Steuer is an Albany mom whose busy household includes her husband, Harlan, and 13-year-old triplets Olivia, Benjamin and Rebecca. Follow her on Instagram: jennifersteuer.

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