Menachot 70 · Parenting voice, Bite-sized

Insight: The Growth Mindset of "Good Enough"

In Menachot 70, the Sages grapple with a complex agricultural dilemma: If you tithe your grain, then replant it and it grows even more, does the new growth need to be tithed again? They debate whether the original intent (the first tithe) "covers" the new growth or if the new expansion requires a fresh start.

As parents, we often feel like that grain. We set our intentions, we "tithe" our energy into our kids, and then—suddenly—they grow, change, or hit a new developmental stage that feels like a "new crop." We worry if our past efforts are enough or if we need to start the whole process over. The takeaway? Growth is rarely linear. Just as the Sages debate the status of the "additional growth," we must accept that parenting isn't a one-time harvest. Every new phase requires us to show up differently, and that’s not a sign of failure—it’s the reality of a living, breathing family.