A Box of Matzah and Counting

Chag Sameach!

So it's 1:17 am on the third day of Pesach. I have already practically finished the Temptee cream cheese and I have eaten the better part of a box of Matzah today (it's hard to know how much was in the box to begin with since we have about 10 open boxes floating around - but it was mostly full.)

Other than that, this holiday is going rather well. My father arrived despite a full day of airline delays on Wednesday. Despite the usual last minute stress and aggravation, H.'s annual community seder (150 - 600 of our closest friends depending on the day of the week the Seder falls on - this year it was around 150) went off without a hitch. In fact, it was downright delightful. But only because E. was such a sweetheart all evening.

I'm not really sure what has happened to our child, in fact. Over the last week he has undergone some giant developmental leap that includes reasoned arguments, scintillating conversation, excellent behavior, and a willingness to be helpful that, quite frankly, I didn't think I'd see until his mid-thirties. The great public unveiling of this new and improved E. included the discovery that our son had, just as he had insisted, learned all of the Four Questions and was more than ready to stand up on a stage and sing them into a microphone. If that wasn't enough (no pun intended) he was the only volunteer to get up and sing Dayeinu as well. He didn't get cranky or hyper (his Uncle Z's mere presence usual whips him up into a frenzy), but instead acted as the gracious host and offered people food and then decided his job was to go around and see if people were done eating and clear their plates if they were. I don't think I really experienced "kvelling" or "nachus" until that night - I was so proud of him.

Unfortunately, because he went to bed at midnight the first night, he was pretty cranky by the time our families and friends arrived for the second Seder. But, to be fair, E. did basically reserve the right not to be quite that well behaved all of the time. He kept saying, "Sometimes I behave, but sometimes I'm still naughty." Smart kid - don't let those high expectations get in the way of your fun.

Now, however, my short vacation is over and I must return to work. Working during Passover is so much fun. I love answering 10,000 questions all week about what I'm eating - or not eating. This week will be even more fun, since I have a "lunch" meeting on Thursday. They will not be ordering in KLP food - I checked.

My going back to work tomorrow also brings up the point that this blog was actually created for: to discuss the particular trials (and joys) of being a working Jewish Mom while my husband stays at home with the kid. While I go back to work tomorrow, H. will be starting a week of fun-filled, action-packed activities with E. and some of his school friends and their Moms. Since his school is closed all week, they planned a whole bunch of terrific playdates and daytrips - tomorrow is the zoo.

Now, I have been trying to get us to the zoo for 3 years and H. always has an excuse why it isn't a good day to go. So, now E. will be going for the first time since he can talk and I will miss it. These are the times I get really upset about our situation. And what is even more frustrating is that H. either doesn't see these activities as all that much fun, or is unapologetic about my missing them.

Well, perhaps this will pave the way for more and frequent outings to the zoo. Here's hoping everything goes smoothly and H. wants to go back again soon - with me included.

Countdown to Passover

If you had asked me when I first got married, when do I start preparing for Passover, my answer would have been something like "Oh crap! It's Passover again already?"

It's not that I was less observant, or less interested. I wouldn't even say I was less organized - 'cause let's face it - I couldn't be any less organized.

I was, however, less attuned to the cycle of the Jewish year. I always knew what holidays fell during the year, but I didn't know when. They were always sneaking up on me. H. would say, "We should really start making some decisions about Passover." I'd wave him off - yeah, yeah, yeah, whatever, we have plenty of time. Then suddenly it would be less than a week before Pesach, all the stores would have run out of chocolate covered macaroons and chocolate chip mandel loaf, and since I would have forgotten to ask for the day(s) before the first seder off from work, I'd be looking at several late nights of deep-cleaning and chometz removal (not to mention thinking up excuses for calling in sick for at least the day of the first seder, since despite the late nights, I'd still be cleaning after the last chometz was burned. Shh. Don't tell.)

Somehow, though, during the past two years, I have learned to remember to consult the Jewish calendar (both the requisite freebie on our kitchen wall and the Outlook calendar at work to which I added the Jewish holidays) ahead of time. This year I marked on the calendar - even before planning for Purim - which days I would request off from work for Pesach. I even sent out a Save the Date email to my family to make sure they could get here for the second seder - at the beginning of March!

I guess to a certain extent you could maybe say I'm more organized also. I did save my planning TO DO lists from last Passover and was actually able to find them for this year. That was pretty amazing. And last year we finally got tired of schlepping the dishes up from the basement for the week, so we moved some things around and found a permanent home for them upstairs.

But really I think it is just a matter of awareness. It has become second nature to look ahead and plan more. Because it was in the forefront of my mind I was actually able to fulfill all four mitzvot for Purim this year: tzedakeh (charity), mishloach manos (gifts of prepared food to friends), seudah (festive meal), and hearing the Megillah (story of Esther) read.

Okay, the only reason I was able to make sholach manos bags for my co-workers was because Chef Boy-Har-lee made hamantaschen ahead of time. And the only reason I got to go to a Seudah and hear the Megillah (the full Megillah - not the puppet version we took E. to on Thursday night) was thanks to this year's odd timing of Purim ending just before Shabbat. Last night we went to a Chabad Hawaiian Purim Seudah/ Shabbat dinner. It was a lot of fun and they did the fastest Megillah reading possibly in the history of man, to get it done before candlelighting.

And so, with Purim behind us, both H. and I woke up this morning, looked at each other and said, "As soon as Shabbat ends we have to start planning for Passover." A warm fuzzy feeling crept over me as I reveled in the feeling of shared values and seven years of learned habits. I remembered how much fun last year's giant second seder was - our biggest ever - with 20 people crammed into our tiny little livingroom, and thought, "If we made that work, this year will be a piece of cake."

...Until H. announced, "Oh, by the way, I invited an extra nine people to the the seder this year."

Good thing we are starting planning so early. I think I know how we can get the couch out of the livingroom...the piano, though, is going to take some serious thought.