Reality star and author Jill Zarin. Credit: Gary Gershoff, WireImage.com
Zarin took a few moments to tell Holidash a bit about their book, just in time for Mother's Day. Hey, what better time to hear secrets from a Jewish mother, right?
What does being a Jewish mother mean to you?
Speaking up for what's right, and for my family and friends. Not being afraid to speak up and speak out.
We've often seen your mom doling out wisdom on episodes of "The Real Housewives of NYC." What is the best advice she has ever given you?
So much good advice, hard to choose. Best? To understand that a marriage goes through ups and downs, that it is normal to have the bad times as well as the good.
What's your favorite thing about your mother?
She always tells us the truth. It has been her greatest gift to us.
If you could change one thing about your mom, what would it be?
We would want her to understand the reaction her words have on others. Sometimes she doesn't understand body language.
Your sister is also an important part of this book and you're both parents. Do you guys ever compare notes on how to be a good mom?
Yes we do. It's important to get feedback from each other, since we take great pride in each other's kids.
What do you think the "Real Housewives" cast mates can learn from your book about motherhood?
All the lessons about parenting are universal. Our particular motto is "don't take the blame; don't take the credit." Remember that you do the best you can, but not everything is within your control.
Those of us who watch the show have seen the highs and lows between Jill and Bethenny. Now that she's going to be a mom, what advice would you give her?
My advice to Bethenny? Make that child your first priority, along with your husband. This is very difficult to achieve when you have a career in media. But you need to set your priorities and keep to them.
How will you be celebrating Mother's Day?
At noon at Planet Hollywood with my mom, dad and sister, and book fans.
melania,5-10-2010, 1:46PM
TO JILL ZARIN:
Jill Zarin has shown herself this season in a very bad light. She is
constantly bad mouthing, constantly mean-spirited. In every single
instance where someone wanted to apologize to Jill for wronging Jill
in some way, Jill blocked the apology. She then inexplicably gets
angry that the other person is upset.
To Jill Zarin: It is documented how Betheny wanted so many times to
talk to Jill and work it out, but Jill refused for no good reason.
One time she said that she "didn't have her notes" with her with her
listed perceived gripes. WHY would anyone buy your book Jill, when
you sickly keep a list of perceived gripes about friends. You can't
move on with friends and make up, with a list of gripes laying
around. Sometimes friends can't be there for you, but that is not a reason to cut them out, treat them like crap, or to tell all your friends how mad you are at them, and not to invite them to anywhere you are- that is sick selfish behavior. It is not "ambushing" if a person shows up where you are and wants to talk like a mensch about why you are so angry.
Attention Jill Zarin, if a friend tells you to get a hobby, and is
very busy for a few months with work, family, new boyfriend, you are
supposed to be UNDERSTANDING. That is what a friend is for, to be
there through the ups and downs.
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Jen,5-10-2010, 1:56PM
I agree that Jill treated Bethanny badly. When she got mad at Bethanny, Jill had that strange notion, that she tells all her friends to "be on her side" and not to invite Bethanny to anywhere she was, and would not talk to Bethanny to give her a chance to explain and apologize. Luanne ushering an inexplicably teary Jill out of Ramona's apt when Bethanny arrived to talk to Jill was the most nutty behavior by any housewives ever. That is just the lowest mean girl behavior I ever saw.
And does Jill ever let anyone get a word in?
Natalie,5-10-2010, 2:09PM
Did you see with Alex, how Jill also refused to let her apologize at the Party. And then when Alex finally got a chance to let out her anger at jill for once, Jill kept up with that sick smile, and then said a snarly threat that "fine, we just won't be in the same circles anymore", meaning "I will tell all my friends not to be friends with you". Instead of addressing the points Alex was making, and resolving some issues, she just uses a social threat.
Here is what Jill could have said, if she had any good sense and good nature:
Alex, I understand why you are upset. You have a rason to be, as I have not been very kind when speaking about you and your kids and husband. I know that Bethanny has turned to you, and I feel badly that I have not given Bethanny a chance to work things out with me, and she is frustrated, too. I really want to start fresh with the two of you. I really value you both as friends and I have not been generous with recent behavior and my bad angry attitude has blocked any good will. Please talk to Bethanny and ask her to meet with me at her convenience so we can talk and I can apologize, without Luanne or anyone else there to incite me. Please allow me to meet with you and Simon alone and talk things out and apologize.
CC,5-10-2010, 2:18PM
Jill has had the biggest fall from grace of any Housewife. She started out pretty nice and now she is just a petty shrew, telling all her friends who they can invite and who they shouldn't be friends with.
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Lisa,5-11-2010, 2:53PM
And what's up with Jill's raccoon makeup .
Jill's modus operandi: Fling arrows, get mad, then say you are in tears, IN TEARS, varklempt, and can't talk when people want to talk things over and work things out. Or, she says, she needs to go find Booby. And how dare someone invite someone that SHE is angry with to a place that she is going to be, How dare they.
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anon,5-11-2010, 3:11PM
Jill has a lot to learn from her husband. He was so classy at the party when he spoke to Alex. Then Jill did her evade ignore routine, and left when Alex wanted to apologize....... Jill's rule is, no apologizing to Jill until she has felt she has tortured you sufficiently and complained about you to everyone she knows at least 20 times......
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Tammy,5-11-2010, 3:48PM
How could Jill explain how she was furious at Ramona at the party for not texting her immediately when she heard Bethanny's father died, that how could she not have told her that afternoon, she needed to know, But then it turned out that Alex came into the Party and said that Jill texted her that afternoon to say that Bethanny's father died-SO SHE KNEW! Why did she then pick a fight with Ramona? Nothing about Jill makes sense.
B. tried many times to talk, at least 3 times that was shown, and Jill shut her down every single time, and then she says she was "ambushed" and so that was why she never talked things over with B.???? And that she didn't have her Notes??????? Really Jill needs help with the truth and with human interaction, and anger management.
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cheap,5-21-2010, 9:39PM
your article is very good,you seems so educated
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