With two similar experiences (like having two children, for example), it’s human nature to draw comparisons. But it’s those differences that make both of the experiences unique and special.

Duncan and I love taking road trips. For us, the stops along the way are equally as exciting as the final destination. When we traveled pre-children, we would simply leave with a destination in mind and an amount of time we had to get there. We’d stop when we were tired or if we happened upon a fun diversion.

Where do you go when you just need a little personal space to yourself? Parenting truly makes you value those moments, and this too is Torah.

When I worked in the day school world and we’d take the kids on a field trip, we had to keep track of the group throughout each portion of the excursion. That meant taking attendance about 100 times (at least it felt like that many). We’d check to see if we were all there when we got on the bus, when we arrived at a destination, and then when we got back on the bus (and in the evening and morning for overnight trips).

Parshat Pinchas isn’t just about leaving a legacy, but creating a plan (and even a contingency plan) for that legacy. Whether it’s a will, a trust, or a simple set of guidelines, it’s one of the most important responsibilities of parenthood, and yes, this too is Torah.

I can’t let things pile up. The first drafts of my High Holy Day sermons were done this spring. When I get home after a trip, I unpack immediately. I do laundry before the hamper is stuffed to overflowing. I don’t wait until the challah is finished baking before I start washing the measuring cups.

If some parts of the Torah seem far-fetched to the more skeptically-minded among us, Parshat Balak must seem downright crazy. Then again, imaginative play is a critical component of a healthy child, and perhaps this too is Torah.